All breathing exercises

The complete list of breathing exercises on SoftlyStill — 1,474 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.

Breathing2 min

5-2-7 breathing: 6 rounds for the end of the working day, if you are fitting this around other people

The pattern is 5 · 2 · 7, which is five, a brief hold, then seven out.

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Breathing2 min

Beginner box breath (2 · 2 · 2 · 2) for a hard week, on a day that started badly

The pattern is 2 · 2 · 2 · 2, which is the easiest version of the square.

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Breathing2 min

Coherent 4-4 breathing: 6 rounds for the hours after people leave, when you have more time than usual

The pattern is 4 · 4, which is four and four, if five feels like a stretch.

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Breathing2 min

Soft 4-7-8 breath (4 · 4 · 8) for days when everything is too much, when you are at home and cannot settle

The pattern is 4 · 4 · 8, which is the hold cut short, the long exhale kept.

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Breathing2 min

Box breathing: 6 rounds for Monday morning, when you have been putting it off

The pattern is 4 · 4 · 4 · 4, which is four equal sides, like tracing a square.

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Breathing2 min

7-11 breathing — 7 · 11 — for a long wait, after eating too much

The pattern is 7 · 11, which is a long, slow ratio for when you have time.

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Breathing2 min

Tight box breathing exercise for heavy days — if you are sceptical about all of this

The pattern is 4 · 1 · 4 · 1, which is barely any hold, for people who dislike holding.

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Breathing2 min

Coherent 5-5 breathing — 5 · 5 — for creative work, if you are tired of apps

The pattern is 5 · 5, which is five seconds in, five seconds out — about six breaths a minute.

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Breathing2 min

3-6 breathing exercise for a noisy room — when you are cold and want to be warm

The pattern is 3 · 6, which is a gentle two-to-one ratio.

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Breathing2 min

6-2-6-2 breathing — 6 · 2 · 6 · 2 — for Monday morning, if you have done this a hundred times

The pattern is 6 · 2 · 6 · 2, which is even and rhythmic, with brief holds on both sides.

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Breathing2 min

3-5-7 breathing exercise for being unwell — when you only have a few minutes

3 · 5 · 7 breathing: a staircase down: three, five, seven.

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Breathing2 min

How to use Physiological sigh for a ten-minute window, when you want something simple

2 · 6 breathing: a second short sip of air on top of the first, then a long release.

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Breathing2 min

How to use Gentle box breathing for a night shift, when you want to finish something

3 · 3 · 3 · 3 breathing: a smaller square, for when four counts feels long.

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Breathing2 min

4-7-8 breath (4 · 7 · 8) for a break at work, when you are doing this for the first time

4 · 7 · 8 breathing: in for four, hold for seven, out for eight.

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Breathing2 min

5-7 breath (5 · 7) for Sunday evening, if you are doing this in the middle of the day

5 · 7 breathing: five in, seven out.

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Breathing2 min

2-1-4 breath (2 · 1 · 4) for a stolen moment of caregiving, when you need to stop thinking about work

A 2 · 1 · 4 rhythm — short in, short hold, long out — the smallest useful dose.

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Breathing2 min

Double-inhale sigh — 3 · 8 — for the middle of the night, if you are doing this instead of scrolling

A 3 · 8 rhythm — two inhales stacked together, then everything out through the mouth.

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Breathing2 min

Beginner box breathing — 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 — for a grey day, when you need something unremarkable

A 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 rhythm — the easiest version of the square.

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Breathing2 min

Soft 4-7-8 breathing — 4 · 4 · 8 — for a hot day, after a difficult conversation

A 4 · 4 · 8 rhythm — the hold cut short, the long exhale kept.

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Breathing2 min

7-11 breathing for deep focus, when you have been meaning to start

A 7 · 11 rhythm — a long, slow ratio for when you have time.

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Breathing2 min

How to use Tight box breathing for a cold morning, when you are too tired to try hard

Rounds of 4 · 1 · 4 · 1, with the counting done for you.

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Breathing2 min

3-6 breath (3 · 6) for the end of the working day, when you are not sure this will work

Rounds of 3 · 6, with the counting done for you.

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Breathing2 min

3-5-7 breath (3 · 5 · 7) for the hours after people leave, when you are not in the mood

Rounds of 3 · 5 · 7, with the counting done for you.

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Breathing2 min

Physiological sigh (2 · 6) for a lonely evening, when you are somewhere unfamiliar

Rounds of 2 · 6, with the counting done for you.

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Breathing2 min

Gentle box breathing — 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 — for heavy days, when you feel restless rather than tired

Rounds of 3 · 3 · 3 · 3, with the counting done for you.

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Breathing2 min

4-7-8 breathing — 4 · 7 · 8 — for a noisy room, when nothing else has worked today

Simple counts — 4 · 7 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.

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Breathing2 min

5-7 breathing — 5 · 7 — for being unwell, when you are on your own

Simple counts — 5 · 7 — and a circle that keeps time.

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Breathing3 min

2-1-4 breathing for a ten-minute window, when you have already had a long week

Simple counts — 2 · 1 · 4 — and a circle that keeps time.

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Breathing2 min

Double-inhale sigh for the early months, on a low-energy afternoon

Simple counts — 3 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.

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Breathing2 min

Beginner box breathing: 4 rounds for a break at work, when you cannot concentrate on anything else

Simple counts — 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.

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