Breathing to Lose Weight
Proper breathing helps to increase your metabolism, burn fat and helps to lower cortisol. What is cortisol? Cortisol is a chemical in the body that is released when the body experiences stress, anxiety, fight or flight or panic. This chemical tells our bodies to store sugars as fat.
Most people are shallow breathers, they are also known as "chest breathers". This limits oxygen and creates poor ventilation in the body.
Metabolized fat leaves the body through carbon dioxide by exhaling, unless of course you are breathing incorrectly. Our breathing helps to release fat and toxins from the body, but being chronically stressed makes weight loss very difficult and can even lead to obesity.
Alternate Nostril Breathing to Lose Weight
This type of breathing came from Yogic Breathing called Pranayama. It has been used for thousands and thousands of years and is still used today.
Using this breathing technique 2-3 times per day will begin to send the right signal to the body so the body will stop storing sugar as fat and begin to use it for energy.
- With thumb and index finger, place your thumb against one side of your nose to close it, leaving the other side open. Exhale gently out of your nostril then take a deep breath in, filling your belly. Then switch nostrils and then gently let the air out of the other nostril and then, again gently breath in. Repeat this inhale-exhale routine method about 10 times, about 2-3 times per day.
Abdominal Breathing to Lose Weight
This type of breathing also came from the Yogic Breathing Science called Pranayama and is helpful for losing weight as well as reducing stress and eliminating toxins in the body.
- To start this exercise, sit in a relaxed position, begin by taking a deep breath in and then out of the nose. Place your hands on your abdominal muscles and then quickly express air out of your nostrils while pulling your belly button in towards your back. These are quick, short breaths. Repeat this method for 1-3 minutes a couple times per day. It is important to keep your mouth closed during this exercise.
Remember, consult your family doctor before doing any of these free breathing exercises to lose weight.
Return from Breathing to Lose Weight to Free Breathing Exercises
