Pilates instructors: What are your favorite cues for teaching lateral breathing?
If they’re lying supine on a mat or carriage, I tell them to feel the back of the rib cage lightly pressing into the mat/carriage, and as they exhale to feel that pressure release.
I also put hands on w/ a new student, my hands on the sides and back of their rib cage and ask them to push out into my hands w/ an inhale & tighten the abs w/ an exhale.
As people progress, I begin to explain & show them the diaphragm ( a picture of) and explain what happens when it contracts and releases.