Why guided breathing helps
Box breathing
A 4-4-4-4 rhythm used by athletes and first responders to steady the nervous system quickly before a stressful moment.
4-7-8 for sleep
A longer exhale than inhale is thought to activate the body's relaxation response — popular as a wind-down routine before bed.
Custom pacing
Set your own inhale, hold and exhale lengths to match a pattern your therapist or teacher recommended.