Breathing exercise · 6 · 6
Coherent 6-6 breath (6 · 6) for jet lag, if you are tired of apps
Simple counts — 6 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.
Follow the circle. It counts for you.
How it works
Count 6 on the way in and 6 on the way out. Keep them the same length. No account, no streak, no notification asking how you feel. We'll stay close to sensations rather than ideas.
Why it can help
Coherent breathing is often described as the most boring useful thing you can do with ten minutes.
The pattern, in seconds
| Phase | Length | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| Inhale | 6s | 0s |
| Exhale | 6s | 6s |
One round is 12 seconds. At the default 10 rounds this practice runs 120 seconds — about 2 minutes — plus a breath or two of ordinary breathing between rounds.
Good for
- when someone has annoyed you and you need to not react
- in the minutes before an appointment you are dreading
- when your hands are cold and your chest is tight
Tips
- It is fine to breathe through your mouth if your nose is blocked. Nose is usually easier.
- Try it once with a hand on your ribs so you can feel whether they are moving.
- There are no holds in this one, which makes it a good choice if breath-holding makes you anxious.
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.