Yoga Breathing for Weight Loss
Yoga breathing can fix what expensive exercise equipment and weight-loss workouts can’t. Deep breathing increases oxidation in your body leading to weight loss. The oxygen intake of the blood increases giving more energy for you to exercise. Breathing boosts metabolism which indirectly leads to weight loss. Some breathing techniques help massage your abdomen resulting in faster burning of your body fat. Now, let’s have a look at some of them.
Weight Reducing Breathing Techniques
1. Kapalbhati
Benefits: Kapalbhati is an excellent way to lose weight naturally and control obesity. Procedure: To do Kapalbhati, sit on the floor with folded legs, keeping your neck and back straight. Keep both your palms on your knees. Close your eyes. Now, inhale slowly and exhale forcefully. While exhaling, you will feel your abdomen go inwards. Vandana Gujadhur, Yoga Expert, says, “Start by practicing for 15 seconds, rest for around 15 seconds, and then repeat alternately for a few times. After a day or two, try for 30 seconds in one stretch, rest a bit and repeat. After 4-5 days, stretch for one minute.” Note: People with epilepsy, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat should not practice yoga that involves fast breathing.
2. Bhastrika
Benefits: Bhastrika Pranayama gives energy and power. It raises your metabolic function and burns fat faster. Procedure: To do Bhastrika Pranayama, sit comfortably with your back and neck straight. Relax your stomach muscles and close your eyes. Place your palms on your knees. Start breathing forcefully with equal emphasis on inhaling and exhaling. The breathing should be in-depth and powerful following a rhythm with a pace of one second for inhalation and exhalation. Your diaphragm should expand and contract in tandem with your breathing. Repeat the procedure for 5-10 minutes. Note: People with epilepsy, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat should not practice yoga that involves fast breathing.
3. Anulom Vilom
Benefits: Anulom Vilom improves the working of your digestive system and cures constipation. It balances your hormones and increases energy. Procedure: To do Anulom Vilom, sit in the lotus position. Close your right nostril with your right thumb and inhale gently through your left nostril. Now, close your left nostril with your index or middle finger and breathe out through your right nostril. Repeat the same, vice versa. Do this for a good 5 minutes.
4. Bhramari
Benefits: Bhramari improves your metabolism, increases your oxygen intake and balances hormone secretion. It improves memory and reduces mental stress. Procedure: To do Bhramari, sit down in Vajrasana or Padmasana at a peaceful place. Your shoulders must be stretched out and your spine straight. Now, open up your palms and close your ears with your thumbs. Place your index fingers on the forehead, right above your eyebrows. Let your middle and ring fingers rest on your closed eyes. Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly, keeping your mouth closed. While breathing out, make a little humming sound.Your fingers should feel the vibrations of the sound. Remove the fingers gently from your face and rest them on your knees. One round is complete. Repeat the procedure 5-10 times.
5. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
Benefits: Provides a wholesome set of exercises with breathing patterns which are great for weight loss and regulate the body’s rhythm. To maximize the benefit, lie down in savasana for 5 minutes after the cycle. Procedure: There are twelve steps in Surya Namaskar. Each of these poses is accompanied with sequenced breathing which if done with concentration and accuracy promotes weight loss toning up your entire body.
6. Seated Spinal Twist
Benefits: Good for your abdomen and back. It also helps individuals with diabetes and improves bowel issues. Procedure: Sit on the yoga mat with your legs extended before you. Breathe and relax. Bend your right knee and bring the heels as much close to your buttocks as possible. Now fold your left knee and cross it over your right knee. Your left foot ankle should be just by the side of your right knee. Take your left arm and place it behind you with the palm on the floor. Your right arm should be touching the toes of your left foot. Now that you have positioned yourself, take in a deep breath and elongate your spine. Twist your torso to your left and look over your left shoulder. As you twist exhale. Inhale and straighten your spine; exhale and twist. Hold the position for 1.5 minutes and breath normally. Now twist to the other side too. Does holding your stomach burn calories? Anecdotal evidence indicates that stomach vacuuming while deep breathing can help burn belly fat. However, there is no scientific data to support this. How many breaths does it take to lose a pound? No scientific research has been conducted to test how many breaths it takes to lose a pound of fat. How does breathing speed up your metabolism? Research suggests that diaphragm breathing exercises can influence the resting metabolic rate of your body (1). Deep breathing boosts the amount of oxygen your body receives, which helps break down the fat molecules more effectively and enhances metabolism. Does breathing through the nose burn more calories? Possibly not. However, some believe that breathing through the nose may aid in weight loss since it has an impact on one’s digestive system. But there is no scientific data to support this theory.
