“Keep your pelvis completely still.” “Lock your ribs down.” “Don't let your knee move.” “Pull your shoulder blades down and back.” “Stabilise your core.” If you teach Pilates, you have probably used some version of these cues. The intention is usually good. We want clients to move with control. We want them to manage load appropriately. We want to reduce unnecessary movement when the goal of an exercise requires a particular body region to remain relatively controlled. But so

Breathing is one of the foundational principles of Pilates, yet many instructors are taught only surface-level cueing around inhale and exhale timing. In reality, breathing directly affects trunk stability, movement control, pressure management, and client confidence during exercise. Understanding how to cue breath effectively changes the quality of your teaching significantly. Building confidence with movement is one of the most valuable things a Pilates instructor can do. B