6 Yoga Breathing Techniques For Weight Loss

Because breathing right, apart from lifestyle changes, can help you achieve your ideal weight.

Medically reviewed by Vandana Gujadhur, RD & Yoga Expert
Written by Shirin Mehdi

Fact-checked by Moksha Gandhi, BPharm, Certified Health & Wellness Coach • Nov 29, 2023

6 Yoga Breathing Techniques For Weight Loss

Image: ShutterStock

You can shed your unwanted fat by merely doing some breathing exercises. Yes! You have probably never heard of yoga breathing techniques for weight loss, but they are quite effective. It is high time you put on your research hat and explore this age-old practice. To make your quest easier, we have come up with a list of some of the best yoga breathing techniques that will help to improve your flexibility and fitness. Let us get started!

In This Article

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 the asanas.

Trivia

Some studies have shown that pranayama, or yogic breathing techniques, reduces stress and may also curb the appetite, aiding weight loss.

Weight Reducing Breathing Techniques

1. Kapalbhati

Benefits: Kapalbhati is an excellent way to lose weight naturally and control obesity.

Sudha Nambiar, a blogger, suffered from post-meal stomach pain but practicing Kapalbhati daily helped strengthen her digestive and respiratory system. On her blog, she reveals, “Gone are the days of griping pain in the stomach post meals; now I eat healthy, [and] to my heart’s content (i).”

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, increases energy and promotes overall wellness.

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 helps in stress reduction.

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 that are great for weight loss, regulates the body’s rhythm, and strengthens the mind-body connection. To maximize the benefit, lie down in the savasana for 5 minutes after the cycle.

Procedure: There are twelve steps in Surya Namaskar and it involves stretching. Each of these poses is accompanied with sequenced breathing which if done with concentration and accuracy promotes weight loss and toning up your entire body.

6. Seated Spinal Twist

Seated spinal twist in yoga for weight loss

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.

Quick Tip

For a well-rounded yogic breathing session for weight loss, you could do 30-45 minutes of sun salutations. Or combine the remaining 5 breathing techniques into a 45-minute session.

Infographic: 6 Breathing Exercises For Weight Loss

Practicing breathing exercises daily can help in your weight loss journey. In the following infographic, we have compiled 6 yoga breathing techniques that can help you become fit. Check it out!

6 breathing exercises for weight loss (infographic)

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic

Yoga breathing techniques for weight loss are highly effective; all you need to do is perform yogic techniques like kapalbhati, bhastrika, anulom vilom, bhramari, Surya Namaskar, and seated spinal twist with immense focus and consistency. These are a form of body awareness exercises that help increase metabolism, leading to faster fat burning. In addition, some of these breathing techniques also aid in balancing hormones, easing constipation, improving digestion, and mindfulness, and promoting relaxation – and may boost your overall health. Start practicing these techniques today along with meditation to yield better results.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Key Takeaways

Yoga breathing uses deep breathing exercises to increase oxidation in the body to aid weight loss.
Kapalbhati helps you lose weight naturally. Bhastrika boosts your metabolism to burn fat.
Anulom Vilom improves digestive functioning and boosts energy levels to reduce weight.
Bhramari increases your oxygen intake and metabolism rate. Surya Namaskar regulates the body’s rhythm and aids weight loss.
The seated spinal twist improves bowel movement and tones the abdomen and back.

Embark on a transformative journey for your body and mind with an incredibly effective pranayama session designed for weight loss. Check out the video below for these simple techniques to invigorate and lighten your being.

Personal Experience: Source

i. Yoga — My Daily Dose of Revitalizer
https://medium.com/@sudhanambiar/yoga-my-daily-dose-of-revitalizer-6b9c6375778e

Source

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