Relax and manage stress. Stress contributes to a number of problems in the body. If you are always stressed, you need to counteract this with breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation to reduce the levels of stress hormones in your body.Eat healthy. For a healthy heart, you want a diet that is low in sugar, processed food, simple carbs, and saturated fats. It should be mainly composed of whole grains, fruit, lean meat, and vegetables. Limit your sodium intake as well.Breathing is also really important when doing Pilates. It increases the safety of the exercises as well as facilitates correct muscle activation. There is actually a breathing technique pattern designed to specifically aid the movements and muscle activations. This includes inhaling through the nose, expanding the ribs laterally and exhaling through the mouth, closing the cage down and in.