Lateral breathing

Lateral breathing is the technique used in Pilates exercises to allow you to maintain contraction of the abdominal muscles (aka abs) throughout the exercise.

When the abdominals are engaged properly, they protect the spine and act as a supportive corset for the trunk, the midsection of the body.

This technique only needs to be applied when performing Pilates exercises, and normal diaphragm breathing or belly breathing is still the healthiest way to breathe regulatory.