BREATHWORK
Breathe better, move better.
Explore science-backed breathwork that supports your Pilates practice, nervous system, and everyday life.
How OA® Breathwork Changed My Practice
I discovered the Oxygen Advantage® method when I was looking for ways to calm my nervous system and sleep better. As I practiced the OA® techniques, I noticed real changes: deeper sleep, less intense hot flashes, feeling calmer in stressful situations, and better breath control with steadier energy during my Pilates workouts.
As a full-time traveler, I head south to sea level for winter and north into the mountains for summer, and adjusting to the altitude change always used to hit me like a ton of bricks. On my first hike at 8,000 ft that year, I realized I wasn’t huffing and puffing like I used to. My breathing had become more efficient, and I could do more with less air.
When I started applying this method to my Pilates practice, my long-term mentor and teacher immediately noticed that I was moving with more ease and flow. In 2025, I decided to go all in and became a certified Oxygen Advantage® Functional Breathwork Instructor so I could bring these benefits directly into my teaching and share them with you.
The Oxygen Advantage® Method
Oxygen Advantage® begins with the essential principle of nasal breathing.
It is a science-based functional breathing method created by Patrick McKeown, a leading international expert on breathing and sleep, and author of bestselling books including The Oxygen Advantage.
It focuses on three key dimensions of functional breathing.
Biochemistry: how your body tolerates carbon dioxide (CO₂) and delivers oxygen to your cells.
Biomechanics: how you use your diaphragm, strengthen your breathing muscles and support healthy spinal alignment
Cadence: the rate and rhythm of your breath to support a calm, regulated nervous system.
Who is it for?
This OA® method can be tailored to meet you where you are at. It is for everyone from Pilates practitioners, professional athletes, recreational runners or those just seeking everyday wellness.
Breathwork for Better Pilates
As Joe Pilates said, ‘above all, learn how to breathe correctly’ - because without functional breathing, you can’t have truly functional movement.
In Classical Pilates, breath is built into the system. Joe Pilates was talking about nasal breathing and “squeezing every atom of air from your lungs” long before breathwork was trendy.
These 2 methods blend seamlessly because we already know diaphragmatic breathing supports your posture from the inside out, reduces neck and shoulder gripping, and can ease lower-back tension so your core muscles can actually do their job.
By incorporating the Oxygen Advantage® technique into Classical Pilates you’ll gain better CO₂ tolerance and calmer, more efficient breathing, you’re less likely to fatigue early, hold your breath in tough exercises, or feel wiped out after class.
Plus, this science-based technique offers us answers into the breath cues we practice in the breathing exercises like “The Hundred” or “Chest Expansion”. It’s an opportunity to go deeper in your practice and see the results throughout all aspects of your life.