Deep breathing exercises can be used to help with weight loss.  Many of us are not breathing properly and it is so important for our overall health and well being.

Woman sitting on a large ball, doing breathing exercises on a beach

If you’re breathing through your chest, you’re doing it wrong.  First, lay down on flat on your back.  Breathe deeply in through your nose.  While you take the air inside, push your belly up.  Stick your chin on your chest, watching your belly rise.  Once you have taken in as much air as you can hold, stop to hold your breath.  Hold for ten to twenty seconds.

Most people feel like they have to let it out right away and it may be difficult to hold.  Try to hold it for the whole twenty seconds and then let it out.  You should have felt your lungs stretching out.  Do this a few more times.  It should get easier each time you do it.

The additional oxygen is now moving through your blood stream.  This will slightly increase your air flow.  It will also help to get rid of excess weight and fat.  Continue lying down and practice this exercise often.  Eventually you will become used to how deep breathing feels.  Close your eyes and feel the rhythm of the deep breath you are taking.

Practice for up to five minutes at a time.  Sit up and repeat the breathing exercises, but while sitting up.  Breath in through your nose and breath out through your mouth.  Slowly stick your chin on your chest and watch your belly as it inflates with air.  Continue to concentrate on inflating your belly.  Hold for 20 seconds and release through your mouth.  Practice this technique a few times and eventually you will get used to the way it feels.  Continue practicing for a day or two.

Oxygen is fuel for your body.  The air in the oxygen will cause chemical reactions throughout your body to take place much faster.  This will speed up your metabolism, helping your body to burn more fat.

There’s a reason that many different athletes use breathing techniques in their sport.  It’s important to stay healthy and active.  Oxygen fuels your body and mind and is necessary for everything to function properly.  Breathing deeply for 20 minutes at a time is what we should eventually work towards.  Try deep breathing exercises before and after exercise.  Some people use these exercises to start off their day as kind of a meditation.  Others use it to end their day too and to melt the day’s stress away.

Anytime you are starting a new workout regimen, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor to ensure that what you are about to do is healthy.