Breathing exercise · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
Beginner box breathing: 5 rounds for the commute, when you are cold and want to be warm
The pattern is 2 · 2 · 2 · 2, which is the easiest version of the square.
Follow the circle. It counts for you.
How it works
Count to 2 on the way in, 2 at the top, 2 on the way out, 2 at the bottom. Repeat. Get a blanket first. Being cold defeats the point. Stay with what you can actually feel.
Why it can help
Equal counts give your attention one simple job: keep the four sides the same length. That predictability is most of the effect.
The pattern, in seconds
| Phase | Length | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Inhale | 2s | 0s |
| Hold | 2s | 2s |
| Exhale | 2s | 4s |
| Hold again | 2s | 6s |
One round is 8 seconds. At the default 5 rounds this practice runs 40 seconds — about a minute — plus a breath or two of ordinary breathing between rounds.
Good for
- in the car, parked, before you go inside
- when you have been given bad news and need to keep functioning
- when you cannot sleep and do not want to get up
Tips
- Aim for something you could keep up in a waiting room without anyone noticing.
- If your mind wanders to counting the rounds left, that is normal. Come back to the numbers.
- Holding your breath is optional in every exercise here. You can always breathe through instead.
Please note
If holding your breath makes you dizzy or uncomfortable, skip the holds entirely and breathe slowly and evenly instead. Never push through lightheadedness. If you are pregnant, or manage a heart, blood pressure or lung condition, check with a doctor before doing breath holds.