Pilates typically teaches a form of breathing called thoracic or lateral breathing where you focus on breathing out to the sides and the back of the ribs.  However, there is a lot of debate among teachers about the correct way to breathe which is why I was interested in reading a book called Breath - The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor.

The author underwent a range of breathing experiments analysing how his body responded to nasal and mouth breathing.  He studied athletes, children and went on archaeological digs to discover how our breathing habits have adapted to the change in shape of our skulls over centuries of evolution.

James explains how people who constantly breathe in and out through the mouth are more likely to snore and therefore have disturbed sleep.  Mouthbreathing also causes the body to lose 40 per cent more water which can leave you feeling parched and dry, which oddly enough increases the need to urinate, rather than decreasing it!

James found that Indian Yogis, Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Doctors and Japanese Samurai all follow the same principle of breathing slowly.  The optimum inhale and exhale should be in the range of 5.5 seconds each which means you will be breathing 5.5 times per minute.  The perfect breath will give you 5.5 litres of air per minute at rest.

He concludes, that the key to optimum breathing and all the health, endurance and longevity benefits that come with it, is to practise fewer inhales and exhales in a smaller volume.  To breathe, but to breathe less.

If you're interested in finding out more, I can highly recommend you add the book to your Christmas list!!