Breathing Exercises That Cause Weight Loss

Breathing exercises relieve stress and promote muscle function by circulating oxygen. Breathing exercises also can increase the rate of metabolism and help you lose weight, according to Health Care Magic. Practice these breathing exercises every day either seated or lying down. Choose a quiet area and start with performing exercises for at least five minutes. Then slowly increase your performance time to 10 minutes for maximum weight loss benefits.

Breathing Awareness

This exercise will teach you how to become aware of your breath and breathing techniques. The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook recommends that you begin by lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair. Concentrate on maintaining good posture and relaxing the body as much as possible. Then place one hand on the part of your chest or abdomen that seems to rise and fall the most with each breath and start to pay attention to the pattern of breath. Afterward, put both hands on your abdomen and concentrate on making your abdomen rise and fall. Continue to breathe through your nose as you place one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest focusing on moving both at the same time. You will now begin to relax as you focus on the sound and feeling of long, slow, deep breaths coming from both the belly and the chest.

Humming Breath

This exercise is done from a seated position. Start by breathing in and then slowly breath out. At the same time as you inhale, relax your belly muscles. You will want to feel as though the belly is expanding and filling with air. Once the belly is full, allow air to fill up the middle of your chest and expand your rib cage. The University of Missouri recommends that you slowly exhale and make a humming sound as long as possible. When all of the air has been released, pull in your stomach muscles. Repeat as recommended.

Chinese Breath

This breathing exercise is a short but deep breath from Chinese Tai Chi Chuan, according to the University of Missouri. Begin by sitting and take three short breathes in through the nose. On the first breath in, lift the arms from the sides straight out in front at shoulder height. On the second breath in, the arms will move to open out straight to the sides while still at shoulder height. On the third breath in, lift the arms straight over the head. Finally, breath out through the mouth and move the arms in an arc back down to the sides. Aim for 10 or 12 breaths and, if for some reason you feel light-headed, simply stop the exercise.