Breath practice
Breathing Timer
Use a simple visual timer to pace comfortable breathing. Start with an easy pattern. Do not strain to extend the breath or hold it. Stop if you feel dizzy, faint, breathless or unwell.
Set a comfortable pattern and press Start.
How to use the timer
Sit, stand or lie in a position where you can breathe comfortably. Let the timer guide the pace without forcing your lungs to match a number. The default uses a four-second inhale and a six-second exhale, but you should change those values if they do not feel easy.
Press Start and follow the phase shown inside the circle. Pause whenever you need to return to natural breathing. Reset starts the practice again from round one.
Why the default has no breath holds
Breath retention is optional and adds a different demand from simple paced breathing. If you are new to breath practice, keep both hold settings at zero. More specialised pranayama techniques need their own instructions and should not be reduced to a timer preset.
Should the exhale be longer than the inhale?
A slightly longer, comfortable exhale can create a slower rhythm for some people, but the ratio is not a target. If the six-second exhale creates air hunger, shorten it. Equal inhale and exhale durations are also fine when they feel more natural.
Learn before you change the settings
Read Breathing in Yoga: A Practical Introduction for guidance on breathing during movement, comfortable pacing, optional breath retention and when to stop. You can also pair a simple breathing practice with the relaxation pose collection.