Have you ever stopped to think about your breathing? Most of us don’t. We take roughly 20,000 breaths a day without a single conscious thought. But what if those automatic breaths aren’t serving us as well as they could?

At InnerCore, we believe that breathing is the foundation of everything we do. It’s not just about getting oxygen into your lungs—it’s about creating a connection between your mind and body that transforms how you move, feel, and live.

The Problem with Modern Breathing

Through years of poor posture, stress, and sedentary lifestyles, many of us have developed inefficient breathing patterns. We breathe shallowly into our chests rather than deeply into our diaphragms. We hold our breath during moments of concentration or tension. These habits might seem insignificant, but they have a ripple effect throughout our entire body.

Poor breathing patterns can contribute to tension in the shoulders and neck, reduced core stability, increased stress levels, and even digestive issues. When we’re not breathing to our full potential, we’re quite literally not living to our full potential.

How Pilates Retrains Your Breath

This is where Pilates becomes genuinely transformative. Every exercise in a Pilates session is coordinated with breath. At our studio in Chelsea, we use the STOTT PILATES® Reformer methodology, which places breathing at the core of the five basic principles: breathing, pelvic placement, rib cage placement, scapular movement, and head and cervical placement.

When you work with one of our instructors in a private 1to1 session, you’ll discover how proper breathing activates your deep core muscles, supports your spine during movement, and creates a rhythm that makes exercises feel more natural and flowing. It’s not about forcing anything—it’s about reconnecting with something your body already knows how to do.

The Benefits You Can Feel

Our clients often report feeling calmer and more centred after addressing their breathing patterns. Some notice reduced tension headaches. Others find they sleep better or manage stress more effectively. These aren’t coincidental benefits—they’re the natural result of teaching your nervous system to work with you rather than against you.

The beauty of focusing on breath in Pilates classes is that it creates awareness you can take with you throughout your day. You’ll start noticing when you’re holding tension in your shoulders or breathing shallowly during a stressful meeting. And you’ll have the tools to correct it.

Starting Your Journey

If you’re based in London and curious about how breathwork can transform your fitness practice, your first session at InnerCore begins with exactly this: understanding how you breathe and how we can optimise it. We perform a postural analysis and discuss your health history to create a tailored programme that addresses your unique needs.

Working from the inside out means starting with breath. Everything else—the strength, flexibility, and body awareness—builds from there. It’s a holistic approach that’s been refined over 15 years, and it’s waiting for you in the heart of Chelsea.