Did you know that carbon dioxide, not oxygen, is the primary driver of your breathing? 🫁
Your body constantly monitors CO₂ levels in the blood. When you become sensitive to CO₂, even a small rise can create an urgent feeling that you need more air. This may lead to faster, bigger breaths or switching to mouth breathing. Over time, mouth breathing can reinforce chronic hyperventilation, dry and irritate the airways, and make oxygen delivery less efficient.
In this workshop, we’ll explore how using functional breathing techniques during your Pilates workout can help you reconnect with your internal rhythm and develop a calmer, more efficient breath.
Benefits of nasal breathing include:
⭐️ Filtering, warming, and humidifying the air.
⭐️ Supporting more efficient breathing and oxygen delivery.
⭐️ Encouraging diaphragmatic breathing.
⭐️ Helping maintain a healthier balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
⭐️ Supporting focus, exercise tolerance, and nervous-system regulation.
⭐️ Better recovery post workout.
Your Internal Rhythm - Contrology Club Workshop
Saturday, August 29
12:30–2:00 PM
At Strong Body Pilates
$65 | In person or Zoom
☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️
Join Pilates with Mela this weekend, a second-generation classical Pilates teacher and Oxygen Advantage functional breathwork instructor, to explore the connection between breath, movement, and your body’s natural rhythm.
🔗 Link in bio to register
Pilates with Mela
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Online and On the Road Pilates Classes
08/22/2026
What a wonderful surprise in class today! heathermcfar was my client for 6 years, when I left LA she began taking classes with MY FAVE teacher Ken Krech . I knew she would love his teaching like I do. I have seen these two over my years of travel virtually in Ken’s Saturday class but what a treat to have them today IRL in MY Saturday vault class at Strong Body Pilates
My heart is warm 💕
08/19/2026
That after workout glow Daniela Escobar ☺️
13 years ago I cofounded this studio with Daniela Escobar. 7 years ago I left Los Angeles for new adventures and left the studio in Daniela’s very capable hands. Returning after all this time it is heartwarming to see the growth and what has changed, and also what has remained the same. A sense of community and a safe space to get to know your body.
Thanks for class Daniela!
Joe Pilates called this a breathing exercise for a reason. The breath isn’t decoration here. It organizes the entire movement, protects your lower back on the reach, with the option to deepen your center on the pull back in - the exertion.
And the best part? Once you understand this breath pattern, you start finding it everywhere in your practice.
Are you aware of your breath as you workout? Do you ever hold your breath and if so, in which exercise?
🔗You’ll find my latest video in the link in my bio and today’s story.
08/11/2026
The friends who teaser together are easier together 😉
This weekend we went to Topanga beach with my bestie Kathleen, and of course I pulled her in for my photo.
I also taught a mat class for a group of lawyers as a fun team building event. The comradery during class was beautiful to witness. They supported each other, we laughed and I had them provide hands on assistance for each other in the teaser as it was the first time many were learning it. They weren’t all able to do it alone, but together they made it happen.
Connection is EVERYTHING
PS. I had to include the beautiful brunch that followed our morning beach time. It was a feast for the eyes and tummies!!!
Helicopter on the spine corrector is one of those advanced Pilates exercises that feels equal parts challenging and delicious. It asks a lot of your hip mobility, control from your center, and coordination, while the barrel gives just enough support to explore the range with more confidence.
I especially love this one after a lot of sitting. And the leg series on the spine corrector is such a helpful warm-up to compliment it.
What exercises help you get back into your body after a long day?
🔗You’ll find my latest video in the link in my bio and today’s story.
08/04/2026
Thank you Los Angeles for such a warm welcome back! It’s and this week I’m doing my teaser at Ecstatic Dance Los Angeles on Venice Beach.
Going back to the west side really felt like we were coming home. But honestly all our friends and Pilates colleagues over LA have just made us feel so welcome.
Thank you The Berry Fairies Haberdashery for the invite and we look forward to dancing and getting to know you more!!
Take aways from Ecstatic Dance:
⭐️ Movement heals
⭐️ Don’t forget to play
⭐️ Pilates in the sand feels good! Try it
⭐️ The cool ocean breeze helps a lot in this heat!
The Hundred isn’t just something to get through and it’s definitely not something you should skip. It’s where your breath and movement start learning to coordinate.
In Classical Pilates, this is your first real opportunity to build rhythm, control, and endurance through your breath. When that clicks, your center works more efficiently, you improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery… and everything else starts to work better too.
If you start your practice out right, it will carry through your whole practice (and honestly, your day).
I’m Mela, a 2nd generation Classical Pilates teacher and an functional breathwork instructor, and this is the first video of series discussing the breathing exercises embedded in the matwork.
Are you using your breath to support your movement?
🔗You’ll find my latest video in the link in my bio and today’s story.
07/21/2026
On route to Los Angeles, we stopped at GrandCanyonNPS for one last adventure during this wandering life before settling into a more rooted rhythm in LA.
Balanced in teaser at the edge of the rim, I’m reminded that life itself is a constant negotiation of balance. The possibilities stretch wide and endless, just like the canyon. Expansive, humbling, full of depth we can’t always see.
And while this first photo captures a moment of stillness, the teaser is never truly still. In your workout it is continuous movement, strength meeting control, effort meeting ease.
Life is the same. Never static. Always in motion.
Our challenge is not to find perfect balance, but to stay present within the shifts… to move with them, adapt to them, and trust ourselves in the in-between.
The Pilates apparatus is not all about making you work harder… It’s about helping you find the connection that’s been missing in your matwork.
Using the spine corrector for Shoulder Bridge can help you feel the support of the barrel to teach your body how to find the necessary connections in your back body and center for this exercise.
Once you feel that connection, try taking it back to your mat without the support. Notice what carries over.
Wanna learn more about this exercise? Check out the full video on YouTube.
🔗You’ll find my latest video in the link in my bio and today’s story.
What’s your favorite Spine Corrector exercise and what mat exercise does it help?
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