How the Breathing Exercise can support users
The breathing exercise helps users focus on their breathing to promote a sense of calm. Based on the principles of heart rate coherence, it guides breathing at a specific rhythm, helping to calm the nervous system and bring attention back to the present moment.
This exercise can be particularly helpful during periods of stress, anxiety, emotional distress or whenever a person feels overwhelmed by what they are experiencing.
By promoting a state of calm and balance, mindful breathing can help reduce stress, anxiety and the intensity of difficult emotions. It also helps people become more aware of their physical and emotional state. In addition, this strategy can improve concentration and, in some cases, increase energy levels.
Easily accessible on a mobile device, the exercise can be used independently, both during difficult moments and as a preventive strategy to help avoid emotional escalation. It is a self-regulation strategy that supports the development of self-management skills and fosters a greater sense of control when facing difficulties.
When and how to use the Breathing Exercise
The Breathing Exercise can be used at any time of day, as often as needed. It can be used both as a preventive strategy and whenever a person is experiencing stress, anxiety, agitation or other difficult emotions.
Thanks to its visual animation, users do not need to count or remember a specific breathing rhythm. They simply inhale and exhale by following the movement on the screen. This simple approach encourages independent use and makes it easy to turn to the exercise whenever needed.
Key considerations when using the Breathing Exercise to support someone
Here are a few important points to keep in mind when incorporating the Breathing Exercise into your practice.
- Before introducing the Breathing Exercise during an intervention, it can be helpful to try the tool yourself. Becoming familiar with how it works will make it easier to use with the person you are supporting.
- You may also encourage the person to notice the effects of the exercise on their body (e.g., muscle tension, breathing rate or level of agitation) as well as on their emotional state.
- You can remind the person that practising the exercise regularly often helps them become more familiar with it.
Breathing Exercise: What you need to know
- The Breathing Exercise does not require users to create an account.
- The animation guides users from beginning to end.
- The exercise can be stopped and restarted at any time, as often as needed.
- The Breathing Exercise can be accessed anytime, anywhere from a computer, smartphone or tablet with an internet connection.
Examples of using the Breathing Exercise in intervention settings
Explore practical examples of how the Breathing Exercise can be used in different intervention settings. The clinical vignettes below illustrate different ways to incorporate this tool into practice with diverse client populations and across a variety settings.