A customizable visual prompt with gradual shape and/or color transitions to facilitate breathwork practice, acting as an overlay that stays in front of other applications
A minimal breathing overlay: a friendly indicator and reminder to take full, deep breaths while looking at screens.
Demanding work at a keyboard measurably changes how you breathe. In small studies, people breathed faster and mildly over-breathed during data entry, and forward head posture is associated with reduced lung volumes. Slow paced breathing is the breathing practice with the most published evidence behind it. Whether it counters that over-breathing is untested, and one study found it can add to it. exhale paces slow breathing for you with no sensor, no account and no telemetry.
The overlay is a translucent window that gently expands on inhale and contracts on exhale. It stays on top, even over full-screen apps, and lets clicks pass through, so it never interrupts whatever you're doing.
Inhale, post-inhale hold, exhale, and post-exhale hold durations are all configurable. The default is 5 seconds in and 5 out with no holds, which is 6 breaths a minute, where most of the direct evidence was gathered. The range tested directly runs from 5 to 7 a minute. Box breathing (4 / 4 / 4 / 4) is supported too, though at 3.75 breaths a minute it falls below that range. Making the exhale longer than the inhale is a matter of preference, since the studies comparing ratios are split.
Every research claim above is sourced, alongside a list of what the research doesn't support, at https://github.com/peterklingelhofer/exhale/blob/main/docs/CITATIONS.md
Features:
- Translucent overlay that expands on inhale and contracts on exhale
- Fully tunable inhale / hold / exhale / hold cadence
- Five breathing patterns as one-click presets, with the current rate shown against the tested range
- Customizable colors, shapes (fullscreen, circle, or rectangle), and opacity
- Runs from the menu bar: preferences, the research page, start/stop animation, reset to defaults, quit
- Global keyboard shortcuts for preferences, start, stop, reset and quit
- Optional reminder notifications
Few side effects are expected from slow breathing. The timing controls also reach fast, hold-heavy patterns, where brief light-headedness and muscle cramps have been reported, so slow down or stop if you feel either.
Disclaimer: The information and guidance provided by this app are for general informational purposes only and aren't medical advice. The creator isn't a medical professional. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, and don't disregard or delay professional medical advice because of this app. Use is at your own risk.
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Simple and great!
Somethingofauser
I have been using it for a few days now and I really like the app/visual! It is simple and straightforward.One suggestion - is it possible to have the application notify the user every X hours to meditate? This would really help me as I try to incorporate meditation in my work day but often forget to.Keep it up and thank you!
Important!
lhinton139
I just downloaded the App. I am having a little challenge interacting with the App’s settings. I chalk that up to my newness. But, can a “timer” be added? I did notice a recommended warning of not to use longer than 30 minutes. A timer would provide a little more customizing, and a great safety tool.
Nice and simply, but needs work
Poppamando
I like this simple concept. Unfortunately, the preferences are not saving afer quitting. I'd also like to be able to turn it on or off from the menu bar instead of needing to quit when wanting it to stop. Please keep this up.
Developer Response
I appreciate the feedback and the review - very good feature ideas. So good, in fact, that I’ve implemented all of them. If you try the latest version, you’ll note that settings now save in between app uses, and there is a start/stop button in both the settings pane as well as the status bar menu dropdown.
Global keyboard shortcuts now work in the App Store version. Control-Shift-Comma opens Preferences, and you can bind Start, Stop, Reset and Quit from the Keyboard Shortcuts menu in the menu bar or by right-clicking their buttons.
Version 2.0.28
The developer, Peter Klingelhofer, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
