4-7-8 Breathing: A How-To Guide To This Relaxing Technique

Breathwork is an active form of meditation that allows us to disconnect from the mind and be guided by our body and heart.

When we engage in conscious breathing, we activate our parasympathetic nervous system and flood the body with oxygen, presence, and peace while releasing worry, stress, limiting beliefs, and energy that does not serve us. There are many types of breathwork techniques, each with a unique purpose—and a different effect.

Today, I'm sharing my favorite breathwork technique to use when I'm feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or triggered, or just want to get a great night's sleep. It's called Relaxing Breath from Andrew Weil, M.D., also known as 4-7-8 breathing.

The 4-7-8 method, also called "relaxing breath," is a type of pranayama (breathing techniques) that has been around since ancient India, though was more recently popularized by integrative medicine specialist Andrew Weil M.D. in 2015.

The technique involves inhaling, holding the inhale, and exhaling for specific counts in order to cultivate feelings of calm and tension release.

Here's how to do it.

I also like to add an element of visualization and intention setting to this 4-7-8 breath.

As I inhale over the count of 4 seconds, I imagine the grounded and nourishing energy of the earth, mountains, trees, plants, coming up into my body. As I hold my breath for 7 seconds, I visualize that energy spiraling up the center of my body (through the seven energetic chakras) and extracting any energy or thought that does not serve me.

Then, as I exhale over 8 seconds, I imagine that excess energy releasing out of the mouth and visualize light pouring through the top of my head back down to my feet and the earth below me. 

Any time you get started with a new breathing technique, it might cause you to feel slightly lightheaded. If this happens, feel free to take a break and breathe as normal until you're comfortable starting up again.

I've found that this breath slows down the heart rate, brings our consciousness to the present moment, and balances the nervous system, promoting feelings of calm and peace. Research has confirmed that deep, controlled breathing may help improve mood and reduce stress11.

In a culture where we saturate the mind and body with external stimulation, this is a powerful lesson! In pushing us to create space between our inhales and exhales, it can also train us to take a moment to pause after being triggered instead of impulsively reacting. Finally, it shows us how to release excess energy and negative thought.

While it can sometimes difficult to drop into meditation, a breathwork technique like this can be done on demand. Try it out the next time you are stressed, feel emotional or unsettled, or have trouble falling asleep.

Breathwork, particularly the 4-7-8 breath, can be wonderful to do before bed to help the body and mind unwind from the day. As I discuss in my mbg class, The Ultimate Guide To Breathwork, this is a great technique to use if you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep or have a tendency to get overwhelmed at night.

Try it sitting up in bed as you're winding down for sleep, imagining that you are releasing the stress of the day with each 8-second exhale. It should get you in a great headspace for sleep, but you can also follow it up with another relaxing nightly ritual like journaling, reading a physical book, or smelling calming essential oils.

Think of the breath as the inherent healer and guide inside of you. It is your connection to universal energy force, life force, prana, or chi. Your breath is your primary relationship with being alive, and it has the power to support you as much as you are willing to have a relationship with it.