A method of operating a magnetic resonance system comprising multiple independent radio-frequency coils configured to apply a magnetic resonance pulse sequence including at least an preparation segment and an acquisition segment to a subject, wherein a spin preparation is performed during the preparation segment, and wherein a magnetic resonance signal is acquired during the acquisition segment, wherein the preparation segment and the acquisition segment each comprise one or more radio frequency excitation pulses, the method comprising: applying the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the preparation segment by activating the multiple independent radio-frequency coils in a first spatial excitation pattern, wherein the first spatial excitation pattern includes a first set of pulse parameters for the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the preparation segment; and applying the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the acquisition segment by activating the multiple independent radio-frequency coils in a second spatial excitation pattern different from the first spatial excitation pattern, wherein the second spatial excitation pattern includes a second set of pulse parameters for the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the acquisition segment; the first and second sets of pulse parameters being selected from a group including at least a pulse amplitude, pulse phase, and pulse duration; and wherein said one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the preparation segment include a fat suppression pre-pulse, characterized in that said fat suppression pre-pulse is applied using a first excitation pattern in the form of a uniform excitation mode, wherein said first spatial excitation pattern is more uniform in a volume of interest of the subject than the second spatial excitation pattern of the subsequent acquisition segment, wherein the spatial uniformity of said first spatial excitation pattern is adjusted according to a physiological phase of said subject, and wherein the physiological phase is a respiratory phase. applying the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the preparation segment by activating the multiple independent radio-frequency coils in a first spatial excitation pattern, wherein the first spatial excitation pattern includes a first set of pulse parameters for the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the preparation segment; and applying the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the acquisition segment by activating the multiple independent radio-frequency coils in a second spatial excitation pattern different from the first spatial excitation pattern, wherein the second spatial excitation pattern includes a second set of pulse parameters for the one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the acquisition segment; the first and second sets of pulse parameters being selected from a group including at least a pulse amplitude, pulse phase, and pulse duration; and wherein said one or more radio frequency excitation pulses of the preparation segment include a fat suppression pre-pulse, characterized in that said fat suppression pre-pulse is applied using a first excitation pattern in the form of a uniform excitation mode, wherein said first spatial excitation pattern is more uniform in a volume of interest of the subject than the second spatial excitation pattern of the subsequent acquisition segment, wherein the spatial uniformity of said first spatial excitation pattern is adjusted according to a physiological phase of said subject, and wherein the physiological phase is a respiratory phase.