“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last.” —Joseph Pilates

Breathing is one of the Pilates principles and a foundation for movement. Lateral breathing focuses on expanding the rib cage laterally “while maintaining a consistent inward pull of the deep abdominal muscles during inhalation and exhalation” (Isacowitz & Clippinger 2011). This technique helps Pilates practitioners achieve stability and proper alignment. Try this visual cue when teaching lateral breathing to new clients: