It’s something we rarely think about, because the body does it on its own. If we had to remember to do it, we would probably be in big trouble.
It’s like beating our heart. It’s an amazing muscle, the heart; it pumps faster or slower as needed by the body without us having to figure out how to do it.
The breath is the same. If we exert ourselves in any way, the lungs respond by deepening the inhales and exhales as necessary to supply enough oxygen to the muscles.
There’s more that we can do with the breath though than to just take it for granted. When used correctly, the breath can anchor us to the present moment, can steady an anxious mind, and can even help us lose weight.
Wait – something as simple as breathing can help us to lose weight?
Absolutely! By using enhanced breathing, we can encourage the flow of oxygen through the system, enabling the body to better use fat for fuel. It is an amazingly easy process that can be done anytime, anywhere.
Remember, fat is basically stored energy. To shrink fat cells, your body will convert fat to energy for the muscles and other tissues using metabolic processes. The waste products from the metabolic processes are water and carbon dioxide, which are excreted in sweat and urine and exhaled from the lungs.
When you lose fat, you literally exhale it.
How to Breathe the Fat Off of Your Body
- Do Yoga – Yoga, which translates to “union”, is all about connecting breath to movement. You are encouraged to anchor to the breath as you move through various poses. The very nature of yoga encourages deep breathing, and can encourage fat loss.
- Meditate – As you ride the breath into quieter states of mind, you are allowing the muscles of the belly and diaphragm to relax, encouraging a deeper, more calming type of breath.
- Reduce Stress – Stress causes us to tense the body, causing more rapid, shallow breathing, tight muscles and a quicker heartbeat. This can lead to anxiety and an inability to resist food cravings that often leads to poor choices and weight gain.
To practice a fat-burning type of breath, breathe through the nose fully and allow the belly to relax. Relax the shoulders and close your eyes if it is practical to do so. Count a slow five as you inhale, and then allow the exhale to be as long or longer. Repeat this at least five times, working up to ten slow breaths each session.
The biggest challenge is keeping the mind from wandering during the breath, as invariably the breath will shorten as the mind disengages. Start slowly and build up the ability to stay focused and centred.
Not only will this help you lose weight, it will soothe your frayed nerves and allow you to relax. Remember, your health should always be your number one priority because without that, life becomes much more difficult to navigate.