Revolutionise Your Movement: Why Jane Mackenzie is Bringing the Oxygen Advantage to your Pilates Classes
We breathe roughly 20,000 times a day, yet few of us stop to consider how we are doing it.
We are thrilled to share some exciting news! Kent’s leading Pilates instructor Jane Mackenzie has officially graduated as an Advanced Breathing Instructor through the globally acclaimed Oxygen Advantage program; a science-backed approach to human performance and respiratory health. This advanced qualification allows Jane to bridge a critical gap in your health and fitness: the powerful synergy between functional breathing mechanics and mindful movement.
The Cost of Dysfunctional Breathing
Many people unknowingly suffer from ‘dysfunctional breathing’. This typically looks like chronic mouth breathing, shallow chest breathing, or subtle over-breathing (hyperventilation).
When we breathe inefficiently, we unintentionally trigger a low-grade stress response in the body. This can manifest as:
- Constant fatigue and poor stamina
- Core instability and recurring lower back discomfort
- Brain fog and heightened anxiety
- Tight neck and shoulder muscles from using upper chest muscles to force air in
By correcting these patterns and returning to biochemical balance—primarily through strictly nasal, light, deep, and slow diaphragmatic breathing—we unlock a massive upgrade in our energy, focus, and physical resilience.
The Perfect Match: Oxygen Advantage Meets Pilates
Joseph Pilates famously wrote that breathing is the first and last act of life, stating, “Above all, learn how to breathe correctly.” Yet, in modern fitness, the exact science of the breath is often left on the backburner.
By integrating Oxygen Advantage techniques directly into her classes, Double Level-4 qualified Pilates instructor Jane Mackenzie is taking core conditioning and functional movement to the next level:
- Deep Core Stabilisation: The diaphragm is not just a breathing muscle; it is a primary core stabiliser. Learning to breathe low and wide—without losing abdominal control—creates true intra-abdominal pressure, protecting your spine during tough exercises.
- Enhanced Stamina and Flow: Oxygen Advantage focuses on increasing your tolerance to carbon dioxide. In class, this means you will find it easier to maintain a smooth, controlled flow through challenging classical sequences without feeling completely winded.
- Reduced Muscle Tension: If you often leave a workout with a tight neck or shoulders, you might be gripping with secondary respiratory muscles. We will teach you how to switch those off and let your main breathing engine do the work.
- Autonomic Nervous System Regulation: Pilates is a mindful practice. Layering in functional nasal breathing helps anchor your body in a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state, meaning you will leave class feeling deeply restored rather than physically exhausted.
The science behind Oxygen Advantage: optimizing oxygen delivery to tissues. Source: Breath Control.
What to Expect in Class
Whether your goal is to improve your physical fitness, recover from chronic stress, or simply get more out of your regular Pilates practice, these science-backed breathing exercises will be seamlessly woven into your weekly classes. Also, keep an eye out for dedicated breathwork masterclasses in the near future!
We’ll also be adding breathwork content to our Online Pilates 24/7, starting with an introduction to breathing and movement, specially recorded for you at the spectacular Mont Saint-Michel in France. Here’s a short clip:
Ready to unlock your respiratory potential? Chat with Jane before or after your next class to learn more about how functional breathing can transform your Pilates practice, and your life!
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