Deep Breathing and Weight Loss
What if you could have a powerful boost of energy, improve cognizance, improve all body functions and burn fat by lying on the floor, sitting in a chair or standing up? What if you are not confined to a gym or investing money in home equipment? Would you be willing to try the art of deep breathing for a few months without any cost to you? The only thing you may lose is unwanted body fat.
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History
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Deep breathing may have its roots planted in Pranayama Yoga several thousand years ago. The importance of deep breathing has found its way into aerobic-type workouts, and recently as an exercise that stands on its own called Oxercise.
Oxygen
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Oxygen is the vital ingredient to life itself, and it is one of the key elements for burning fat. Taking a deep breath down into the lungs fires the mitochondria within the cells. Mitochondria are the furnaces in every cell responsible for energy production. A deep breath can be compared to blowing on red hot coals and seeing them turn white hot. Fat becomes the primary source for the fuel during aerobic activities. Oxygen exercising may very well be the answer for you in your quest for dropping pounds and losing body fat.
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Aerobic
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Deep breathing encourages our bodies to remain aerobic in nature. Aerobic literally means taking place in the presence of oxygen. During the process of deep breathing exercises, your heart rate remains low and the primary source of fuel is fat. It takes much more oxygen to burn fats than it does carbohydrates. Deep breathing can be 100 percent more effective for burning fat than some exercises.
Proper Technique
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Here is one technique to begin your new road to health. You can either perform this technique sitting straight up in a chair or lying down on the floor stretched out straight. Place one hand on your chest and the other hand on the lower section of your stomach. Take in a deep breath and feel the lower portion of your stomach rise. Hold your breath for a two count and slowly release through your nose. Repeat for at least 20 cycles. If you feel the chest rising and not the stomach, then you are shallow breathing and the exercise will not be effective.
Benefits
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According to Jill R. Johnson, author of The Oxicise System, "Fat is made up of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. When the oxygen we breathe reaches these fat molecules, it breaks them down into carbon dioxide and water. The blood then picks up the carbon dioxide--a waste product of our bodies--and returns it to the lungs to be exhaled." Deep breathing energizes the body. Intestinal tract performance improves significantly as nutrients are absorbed. Bringing in larger quantities of oxygen through deep breathing can actually increase your metabolism. Besides burning fat, deep breathing exercise promotes a healthier homeostasis within the body and this means the organs function with a greater degree of efficiency. Waste is quickly and effectively disposed. Nutrients are much more readily absorbed in the intestinal tract. Cortisol is a hormone manufactured within the body with some benefits, but consistent production of this hormone causes the body to store fat over prolonged periods of production. Deep breathing can bring you into a state of relaxation, decreasing cortisol production.
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