Six years teaching Pilates and the #1 thing I see holding people back has nothing to do with strength — it's breathing.

Most people brace and hold their breath during the hard rep of an exercise (think: the top of a hundred, or the hardest part of a teaser). That breath-hold spikes intra-abdominal pressure the wrong way and your deep core (transverse abdominis) actually checks out right when you need it most.

Quick fix: exhale fully on the hardest part of every rep. Not a big dramatic breath — just steady air out through pursed lips as you curl up or lift. It should feel like you're deflating a tire slowly.

Try it on your next set of hundreds. You'll feel your lower abs engage in a way they probably haven't before.

What's your go-to cue for staying connected to your core mid-set? Curious what's worked for other instructors and clients here.