Maxzene Engelbrecht Wellness Counsellor · 12 October 2026 · 1 min read
In a one-month Stanford study (Balban et al., 2023, Cell Reports Medicine), 108 healthy adults did five minutes a day of breathwork or mindfulness meditation. Everyone improved, but cyclic sighing lifted positive mood and lowered breathing rate significantly more than meditation. It’s a small study and a simple tool.
How to do it
Breathe in slowly through your nose.
Take a second, shorter sip of air on top to fill your lungs.
Breathe out long and slow through your mouth until empty.
Repeat for five minutes, with the exhale always longer than the inhale.
Stop if you feel light-headed, and breathe normally. Try it tonight, and send it to a friend who needs a breather.
This post is for education only. It is not therapy, a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. In crisis: SADAG 0800 567 567.
