Equal breathing (Sama Vritti in yoga) is one of the oldest and most fundamental breathing practices. The concept is simple: inhale and exhale for the same duration with no holds. This creates a balanced, rhythmic breathing pattern that naturally brings the autonomic nervous system into equilibrium — neither overly activated nor overly sedated.
This timer uses the optimal equal breathing pace: 5.5 seconds inhale, 5.5 seconds exhale (approximately 5.5 breaths per minute). At this rate, you're doing coherence breathing — the pace that research shows maximizes heart rate variability. But unlike clinical coherence breathing, equal breathing is traditionally paired with a meditative focus on the balance itself, making it both a breathing exercise and a mindfulness practice.