Our Mentor Program enables current Fletcher Pilates® Students and Licensed Providers to stay in touch and get advice from our Fletcher Faculty and Facilitators from around the world. Please ask any questions that pertain to your Fletcher Pilates® teaching and study.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Fletcher Pilates® Percussive Breath™
The Fletcher Pilates® Percussive Breath™ is one of the integral elements of our work. You understand its importance, but maybe your clients don't. Having trouble communicating this aspect of our work? Ask your questions here.
It seems to me the harder the work gets the louder the sound gets. I know that comes from me. I'm getting better how do I get me clients to let the breathe support not do all the work
Something we do here at Body Harmony to highlight the importance of the breath work, is to change the breath patterns during our classes. Most often the students will comment that a movement does not "feel right" when we change the breath pattern. Rolling back on an exhale (instead of an inhale) in Rolling like a ball is a good example of this. When we reverse the breath pattern, often our students will describe how the movement feels more labored and lacks flow. In addition to this type of experience, changing the breath pattern may have a positive effect by bringing a new level of awareness to the body. Often we find that adding breath to a complicated piece of movement may provide more control and facilitate a deeper connection to the core of the body. In either type of example, the end result is often a conversation about the importance of the breath patterns. Most of our students say that they can't imagine practicing Pilates without focused breath patterns. Not only does the breath focus the intension of your body but it also brings focus to the mind allowing for a deeper mind, body, spirit, breath connection.
I love this suggestion on measuring your "rib cage differential"from Fletcher Qualified Teacher, Mylene Brock: Use a tape measure to measure your rib cage at full exhalation and then at the top of your inhalation. The difference between these 2 numbers is your "differential" number. Mylene has begun measuring her clients differentials regularly, to encourage activation of the breathing musculature and breath in general.
I have yet to pull out a measuring tape for an actual measurement of my clients' rib cage differential, but I have encouraged my clients in the past 2 weeks to expand their rib cage "AS IF" they could achieve a 3 inch difference between the inhalation and the exhalation. Visualizing the difference has had positive and beneficial results as it's given my clients a goal to achieve in activiating the breathing muscles! Thank you Mylene & Kyria!
It seems to me the harder the work gets the louder the sound gets. I know that comes from me. I'm getting better how do I get me clients to let the breathe support not do all the work
ReplyDeleteSomething we do here at Body Harmony to highlight the importance of the breath work, is to change the breath patterns during our classes. Most often the students will comment that a movement does not "feel right" when we change the breath pattern. Rolling back on an exhale (instead of an inhale) in Rolling like a ball is a good example of this. When we reverse the breath pattern, often our students will describe how the movement feels more labored and lacks flow. In addition to this type of experience, changing the breath pattern may have a positive effect by bringing a new level of awareness to the body. Often we find that adding breath to a complicated piece of movement may provide more control and facilitate a deeper connection to the core of the body. In either type of example, the end result is often a conversation about the importance of the breath patterns. Most of our students say that they can't imagine practicing Pilates without focused breath patterns. Not only does the breath focus the intension of your body but it also brings focus to the mind allowing for a deeper mind, body, spirit, breath connection.
ReplyDeleteI love this suggestion on measuring your "rib cage differential"from Fletcher Qualified Teacher, Mylene Brock:
ReplyDeleteUse a tape measure to measure your rib cage at full exhalation and then at the top of your inhalation. The difference between these 2 numbers is your "differential" number. Mylene has begun measuring her clients differentials regularly, to encourage activation of the breathing musculature and breath in general.
She asks us all: "So what's your number?"
Let us know!
I have yet to pull out a measuring tape for an actual measurement of my clients' rib cage differential, but I have encouraged my clients in the past 2 weeks to expand their rib cage "AS IF" they could achieve a 3 inch difference between the inhalation and the exhalation. Visualizing the difference has had positive and beneficial results as it's given my clients a goal to achieve in activiating the breathing muscles! Thank you Mylene & Kyria!
ReplyDelete