Guide
Why make breathing timing visible?
Because counting gets in the way of the breathing. You count to four, lose track of where you were, start again. By then you are concentrating on arithmetic rather than on breathing.
This tool takes over the counting. Breathe in as the circle grows, out as it shrinks. How many seconds, which part you are in, how much of it is left: it is all on screen, so there is nothing to count.
What does the screen tell me?
One breath is divided into four parts: in, hold, out, hold. The size and direction of the circle tell you which part you are in; the ring around it tells you how much of that part is left.
| Part | On screen | Default |
|---|---|---|
| In | The circle grows | 4s |
| Hold | It stays large | 1s |
| Out | The circle shrinks | 4s |
| Hold | It stays small | 1s |
A hold can be set to 0. At 0 the part is skipped and the next one begins straight away, so you get breathing that runs straight from in to out. The in and out breaths cannot go below 1 second.
Don't force yourself through a very short cycle, though. With hold at 0 and the in and out breaths at 1 second, you get one breath every 2 seconds — very fast. Leave the lengths somewhere comfortable. If you feel dizzy or your hands or feet start to tingle, stop right away and go back to your normal breathing. The rest of the cautions are under using it safely.
Turn the wording off and only the circle is left. Useful when you want the screen quieter.
Common questions
Is this a meditation app?
It is a tool that counts the breathing rhythm for you while you meditate. There are no guided voices, no courses, no progress tracking. You decide what to do; this screen only handles the timing.
How long should I do this for?
There is no set length. Try 1 to 5 minutes and go up or down from there. The time and cycle count on screen are there for reference, not as targets.
Can I use it with my eyes closed?
Not easily, for now. It works by watching the screen, and there are no sound or vibration cues. If you want to do it with your eyes closed, one approach is to watch a few cycles first and then follow that rhythm from memory.
Are my settings saved?
Yes. The seconds and the wording are saved in this browser only. They are not sent to a server and they do not sync to your other devices. Clearing your browser data removes them and returns everything to the defaults.
Do I need an account or an install?
No. No account, no install. Open the link and use it. It is free.
Will the screen turn off while I am using it?
While a session is running, the page asks the device to keep the screen on. Some browsers do not offer this, and in that case you can raise your device's screen timeout instead.
Can I change the wording, or remove it?
Yes. You can write your own wording for each part, or turn the wording off and leave only the circle. The defaults are "BREATHE IN", "HOLD" and "BREATHE OUT".
Does stopping erase my session?
Stopping ends the session. The time and cycle count return to zero, but the result you just finished stays on screen until you start again. It is not saved anywhere.