How Scolio-Pilates® Helped Me Breathe Again, Even During a Lung Function Test

Living with scoliosis isn’t just about posture or appearance, it’s also about function. And for many of us with more severe curves, that means breathing.

My scoliosis affects my ribcage and lung expansion. I’ve had to undergo regular pulmonary function tests to monitor how much air my lungs can take in and push out. I can remember pre-surgery, the doctors kept focusing on my breathing, and I couldn’t understand why. With time, it became not just clinical but also personal. Every breath reminds me of the shape of my spine. There were years where I didn’t feel like I had a scoliosis, I didn’t have pain, I was fine, but my breath was always an issue.

But something changed during my most recent test. I never thought about doing it before, but…

A Simple Shift, A Big Difference

Halfway through my test, I was asked to redo a certain breathing test. Without thinking about it, I asked if I could use my Scolio-Pilates corrections, the very ones I’ve been practicing for years, to support my body in a better alignment. I asked them to give me a minute to adjust my pelvis, lengthen my spine, gently get into my corrections, and do some jellyfish breathing to bring awareness to my breath.

The result? An improvement in my breathing capacity.
There was a difference between my “neutral” sitting posture and my corrected posture. My lungs opened more. The air moved in and out more freely.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just anecdotal. For those of us with severe scoliosis that compresses the ribcage or lungs, this is everything. It shows that:

• • Alignment matters, even for internal functions.
  • Breath can be influenced by position and proprioception.
  • We can make a difference in our daily lives, not just during a test.

Scolio-Pilates has always been about more than exercise for me; it has given me so much more. It’s a system of tools, breath, positioning, elongation, and derotation that allows our bodies to function at their best, even when the curve of my spine says otherwise.

If your scoliosis impacts your lungs or if you’ve ever felt “stuck” in your breath, I encourage you to explore your corrections. Ask yourself:

• • What happens when you align before you breathe?
  • How does your breath feel when your ribs are de-rotated?
  • Can you apply the tools you’ve learned to create more internal space?

Even something as clinical as a pulmonary function test can become a moment of reconnection with your body, your breath, and your strength.

Because we are not powerless in our curves.
We have tools. We have breath.
We have Scolio-Pilates®.