Breathwork Workout
4-7-8 Breathing for Sleep and Calm
The 4-7-8 breathing technique popularized by Dr. Andrew Weil, designed specifically to promote relaxation and sleep. Eight complete cycles: inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds. The extended exhale is the key mechanism — it activates your vagus nerve and shifts your nervous system into rest mode. The held breath allows oxygen to saturate your bloodstream more fully. Many people report falling asleep before completing all 8 cycles when using this at bedtime. Also effective for acute anxiety, anger management, or any situation where you need to quickly calm down. Practice twice daily for best results.
Workout Breakdown
More Breathwork Workouts
Wim Hof Breathing Method 3 Rounds
The Wim Hof breathing method guided timer. Three complete rounds of the signature breathing protocol: 30 power breaths (deep inhales followed by passive exhales at your own rhythm — tap to count each breath), followed by an extended breath hold after the final exhale (open timer — tap when you need to breathe), followed by a 15-second recovery breath hold after your inhale. The open timer format for the breath hold is key — everyone's hold time is different and improves with practice. Most beginners start at 1-2 minutes and experienced practitioners can exceed 3 minutes. This method has been shown to influence the autonomic nervous system and immune response. Practice on an empty stomach, never in water.
Morning Breathwork Energizer
A 10-minute morning breathwork routine that combines multiple breathing techniques to energize your day. Start with 2 minutes of slow, grounding breaths to transition from sleep. Move into 3 minutes of Kapalabhati-style breath of fire to activate your nervous system and clear mental fog. Follow with 2 minutes of alternate nostril breathing to balance your energy. Finish with 3 minutes of power breathing — rapid, deep breaths that flood your system with oxygen. The progression from calm to energizing mirrors how your body naturally wants to wake up, just accelerated. Better than caffeine for mental clarity and sustained energy. Practice on an empty stomach.
Breathing Exercise for Stress Relief
An 8-minute guided breathing session specifically designed to reduce stress and anxiety. Progresses through five phases: grounding belly breaths to anchor your attention, extended exhale breathing where your exhale is longer than your inhale to activate your vagus nerve, four cycles of 4-7-8 breathing for deep nervous system calming, body scan breathing where you direct slow breaths to areas of tension, and a final minute of long calming breaths to seal in the relaxation response. Each phase builds on the last, progressively deepening your state of calm. Use this when stress hits, before difficult conversations, during work breaks, or anytime you need to reset your mental state.