“Within a very short time, breathing at five breaths a minute will synchronize the electrical rhythms of the heart, lungs and brain, which is very beneficial and leads to a state in which we are both relaxed and alert. It's unusual to be both relaxed and alert at the same time, but Coherent Breathing creates this sweet spot.”
- Dr. Patricia Gerbarg, from Wake Up to Sleep
Here’s an excellent description of why slow breathing (sometimes called Coherent or resonant breathing) works. It synchronizes the electrical rhythms of the heart, lungs, and brain, leaving us “relaxed and alert.” <— Sounds perfect to me 👏
Give it a try: Breathe 6 seconds in and 6 seconds out (that’s the rate Dr. Gerbarg is referring to here). Or 5 seconds in, 7 out (that’s the one I like better). But really any rate and ratio that is comfortable to you between about 4 and 7 breaths a minute will do.
You can use this app to make it easier.
Here’s to synchronizing our body’s signals to feel more relaxed and alert today 🙏