Coherent Breathing Timer (5-5)
A slow, even wave — five seconds in, five out, about six breaths a minute. At that pace your heart, breath and blood pressure fall into sync for calm, clear focus. Follow the circle below, free and with no sign-up.
Paused
Pattern: Inhale 5s · Exhale 5s. Runs in your browser — nothing to install.
How to use the coherent breathing timer
- 1Sit tall and relax
Settle into a comfortable upright posture and let your shoulders drop.
- 2Inhale for 5 seconds
Breathe in smoothly through your nose for a count of five.
- 3Exhale for 5 seconds
Breathe out just as smoothly for a count of five — no pause between phases.
- 4Keep the rhythm
Continue this even 5-5 wave for 5–10 minutes, letting the breath become effortless.
New to this pattern? Read the full Heart Coherence guide.
Go deeper
This is the timer. Inhale is the practice.
The web pacer is free forever. When you want to close your eyes and be guided — with sound, offline, and every pattern — that lives in the app.
$7.99 once · no subscription · iPhone & Mac
- Calming guided sound and voice, not just a visual
- The full library of patterns — box, 4-7-8, Wim Hof, coherent and more
- Runs with the screen off, so you can close your eyes
- A live brainwave visual tuned to each technique
- Mood matcher — tell it how you feel, it picks the breath
- Session history and gentle milestones, fully offline
Coherent Breathing Timer FAQ
Why six breaths per minute?+
About 0.1 Hz is the resonance frequency where heart rate naturally syncs with the breath and HRV peaks. A steady 5-5 wave keeps you right there.
How long should I go for?+
Aim for 5–10 minutes — roughly twelve cycles is a good start, marked under the timer. The Inhale app runs a guided 10-minute session with a live brainwave visual.
Is this the same as box breathing?+
No — coherent breathing has no holds; it's a continuous 5-5 wave for HRV and focus. Box breathing adds equal holds for a quick reset. Try both timers and keep what suits you.