Breathing Exercises: Breath Counting

Conscious breathing exercises take various forms. Dr. Weil believes each variety can be a useful tool for achieving a desired mental or physical state. As the late Zen Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh put it, “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

Breath counting is perhaps the most basic form of conscious breathing. As the name suggests, is based on counting slow, rhythmic inhalations and exhalations. Its purpose is to pull the mind away from distractions and toward simple, centering presence.

Learn more about breathing basics.

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