Breathing Room

Breathing

Candle breathing

Blow so softly that the flame dances but never goes out.

In 4, out 8 · 2 minutes

How to do it

  1. Sit comfortably and look at the flame.
  2. Breathe in slowly through your nose.
  3. Breathe out through softly rounded lips, as slowly as you can, so the flame bends and flickers without going out.
  4. Let the in-breath come back naturally, then repeat.

Why it can help

A long, controlled exhale is one of the quickest ways to downshift when you are wound up or angry. Imagining a flame you must not blow out makes you slow the breath on your own, without counting. For kids, pair it with “smell the flower” on the in-breath.

  • Hold up a finger as your “candle” to practice anywhere.
  • If eight seconds is too long, choose a shorter exhale under Customize.