6 Yoga Breathing Techniques For Weight Loss

Posted by Rishikul Yogshala on March 8th, 2018

Losing those extra pounds of weight from the body doesn’t necessarily mean depriving oneself of scrumptious food, sweating in the gym, or delving into the practice of aerobics day and night. Why be so harsh on the body when we have gentle yoga breathing techniques at our disposal? The pranayama is a natural, healthy, and highly powerful method of slimming down.

Pranayama increases oxidation in the body and lets you shed weight in a more relaxed and mindful manner. Deep yogic breathing techniques give a boost to the brain metabolism and potently reduce the body mass index and energize the body. The practice of diverse pranayama techniques massages the abdominal muscles leading to a faster burning of the unwanted body fat.

Here is a list of top 6 yoga breathing techniques for weight loss:

1. Kapal Bhati Pranayama: Practice the skull shining yogic breathing technique that greatly controls obesity and effectively promotes weight loss.

Steps: Sit on a yoga mat with erect spine and crossed legs. Keep your neck relaxed, chin up, eyes closed, and hands on the knees. Make sure your palms are facing downward. Now, take a deep breath and draw your abdominal muscles inwards and exhale through the nose. As you relax your stomach (abdominal muscles), the inhalation shall occur automatically and quickly. Begin slowly and gradually quicken the pace. Repeat the movement for 30-50 breaths or more.

2. Bhastrika Pranayama: Bhastrika yoga breathing technique is the ultimate pranayama for energy, weight loss, and improved metabolic function at the cellular level.

Steps: Sit in a comfortable position with crossed legs. Keep your spine straight and head in a forward direction. Fold your fingers in Gyan Mudra and place it on the knees. Relax your stomach muscles. Inhale deeply with all your strength filling the lungs with oxygenated blood. Exhale forcefully through the nose while making a ‘hiss’ sound. Repeat the procedure 15-20 times or more depending upon your level.

3. Anulom Vilom Pranayama: A great breathing technique of yoga that balances the tri-doshas in the body, improves lung functioning, and cures mental problems.

Steps: Begin in padmasana. Breathe in through your left nostril while keeping the right nostril closed with the right thumb. Hold the breath for 3-5 seconds, condense your left snout with your middle finger and breathe out through the right nostril. Reiterate the same with other nostril and practice this breathing technique for 5-10 minutes.

4. Bhramari Pranayama: Bee-breathing technique provides instant relief from headaches and migraines. It is also an effective exercise for weight loss.

Steps: Sit up straight in a cool, ventilated place. Keep your legs over one another and spine upright. Keep your eyes closed and relax your body muscles. Press your cartilage(the area between your ear and cheeks) with your thumb, place the rest of the fingers over the eyes and index fingers on the forehead. Take a deep inhalation through the nose and exhale through the mouth making a humming bee sound. Practice this technique for 15-20 seconds.

5. Sheetali Pranayama: Perform sheetali pranayama to treat indigestion, acidity, Pitta dosha, and to savor robust well-being.

Steps: Sit in a lotus pose with palms on your knees. Take your tongue out and roll it like a tube. Take a long, relaxed inhalation with the folded tongue. Roll the tongue inside the mouth, lower the chin towards the chest and retain the breath for 5-8 seconds. After that, exhale through the nostril and lift your chin in an upward direction. Repeat the sheetali pranayama about 10-15 times.

6. Adham Pranayama: The best yoga breathing technique for weight loss, stamina-boosting, and reducing stress.

Steps: Sit tall on a yoga mat, tuck your chin towards your chest and rest your hands on the knees. Relax your shoulder blades. Inhale and feel the air filling the abdomen and diaphragm lowering into the stomach. Exhale and experience abdomen draw back into the body. Practice this yoga breathing technique for 5-10 seconds.

Practice inhalation and exhalation that naturally burns the body fat. And, adore the slender, stunning physique.