Resonance breathing (coherent breathing): how to do it
Resonance breathing is a simple rhythm that keeps the in-breath and out-breath the same length: count 5 in, 5 out. At this pace you take about six breaths a minute. Shore offers it as a simple rhythm you can do every day.
Its scientific name is resonance (slow-paced) breathing. Some sources call it coherent breathing, and one of them is in Shore's source list. This guide explains how the rhythm is done, how it looks in Shore and where it comes from.
The difference from box breathing is simple: How to do box breathing has four phases and includes a breath hold, while resonance breathing has only two phases and no hold. It also differs from a long-exhale rhythm: there the out-breath is longer than the in-breath; here the two are equal.
Step by step
Sit or lie somewhere comfortable and let your shoulders drop. Let Shore's counter keep the count. Go through the two phases in order, counting 5 in each, then start again.
- Breathe in: count 5
- Breathe out: count 5
Rhythm: 5 in · 5 out
In Shore you choose 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes, and you can stop whenever you like.
What you'll see in Shore
A faint lotus waits on screen and takes colour breath by breath. As you breathe in, a dot climbs from the outer edge of a petal to its tip; as you breathe out, it goes down the inner edge to the base. The lotus opens slightly as you breathe in and gathers as you breathe out; at the end all the petals take colour and glow together.
The moving picture above shows how the exercise looks in Shore.
How does it help?
At about 6 breaths a minute, your heart rhythm and breathing fall into sync: the heart speeds up a little as you breathe in and slows as you breathe out. As this wave grows, your heart rhythm and breath move together more clearly. The steady pace also gives your mind a rhythm to follow.
Small tips
The rhythm is slow enough to keep up without forcing. Don't try to fill your breath deeply; breathe in as much as is comfortable and out with the same ease.
You can let go of the counting and simply watch the lotus open and gather. Eye and breath move in the same rhythm; nothing moves just for decoration.
Resonance breathing is simple enough to do every day. Keeping it short is fine too: start with the 1-minute option and lengthen it if it feels comfortable.
The screen stays awake during the exercise. Sound is off by default; the lotus shows the rhythm quietly too.
Questions people ask
Are resonance breathing and coherent breathing the same?
In Shore we use them as two names for the same rhythm: count 5 in, 5 out. The app's info box gives its scientific name as resonance (slow-paced) breathing.
Why 6 breaths a minute?
Count 5 in and 5 out and a round takes ten seconds; six rounds fit into a minute. That is how Shore sets the rhythm.
How is it different from box breathing?
Box breathing has four equal phases and a breath hold. Resonance breathing has only in and out; there is no hold.
Do I need an account for Shore?
No. It opens in your browser, with no account and no ads, and once you have opened it, it works offline too.
Safety
Don't force your breath; if you feel dizzy or short of breath, stop and breathe normally.
Research and sources
Where does it come from?
Scientific name: resonance (slow-paced) breathing. Comes from heart rate variability (HRV) research.
Sources
- Goessl VC, Curtiss JE, Hofmann SG. The effect of heart rate variability biofeedback training on stress and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 2017.
doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717001003 - Fincham GW, Strauss C, Cavanagh K. Effect of coherent breathing on mental health and wellbeing: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 2023.
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49279-8 - Comparing the effects of square, 4-7-8, and 6 breaths-per-minute breathing conditions on heart rate variability, CO2 levels, and mood. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 2025.
doi.org/10.1007/s10484-025-09688-z - NHS — Breathing exercises for stress.
www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress/
Updated: 13 November 2026