What’s the Best Breath for Me?

What’s the Best Breath for Me? Why Personalized Breathwork Matters

We often look for the “right” way to do things.

The perfect routine. The step-by-step formula that guarantees results.

Yet when it comes to breathwork, it’s rarely that simple.

I’m often asked:

“What kind of breath should I do when I’m anxious?”

“What helps with sleep?”

“Which breath gives me energy?”

And the truth is… it depends.

Everyone’s foundation is different.

We each carry different rhythms, life experiences, patterns, and preferences. What works beautifully for one person might not resonate, or even feel good, for another. This is why connection and conversation matter so deeply in this work.

Let’s say you’re someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment. Your schedule is full, you’re constantly on the move, and in many ways, you like it that way. It feels familiar. Even comforting.

In that case, being told to do long, slow exhales for stress relief might actually feel agitating or uncomfortable and maybe even unsafe at first.

Instead, you might need something a bit more active. Something that meets you where you are but gently invites you toward ease.

Maybe a breath pattern with equal parts inhale and exhale, but with fullness and rhythm. Not too slow, not too fast. Just enough to feel engaged, yet spacious.

This is where awareness becomes essential.

Not just following a technique, but learning how to feel what your body is asking for.

To listen. To notice.

That’s why the first step in all of my work is always awareness. Building a relationship with your breath, your body, and your inner landscape.

Because breathwork is not about doing something to fix a state.

It’s about getting to know yourself on a deeper level.

It’s not about copying someone else’s formula.

It’s about cultivating the capacity to listen to your own.

Another question I’m often asked is:

“How long should I do this breath?”

“How many rounds?”

And again, the answer lives in nuance.

One person might feel energized after just a few rounds. Another might feel lightheaded after ten.

We can start with the foundations. We explore basic techniques that are known to be supportive and see how they land. Then, we let that guide what comes next. It’s not a rigid formula, but an unfolding process.

This is where I love blending generalization with connection. Offering foundational practices and suggestions while empowering you to listen inward and discover what truly supports you.

And here’s something important to remember: this doesn’t have to be so serious.

You can play with your breath. Try things out. Let it be a space of gentle curiosity.

Maybe you’ll be surprised.

Maybe you’ll start to feel what truly nourishes you, and it might be something you would have never guessed.

That’s part of the magic.

So where do we begin?

With curiosity. With gentleness.

With learning the foundations, and then letting yourself experiment.

Try a technique, then notice:

How does it land?

What sensations arise?

Do you feel more connected, more grounded, more alive?

This is the path I love to walk with others.

Not pushing or perfecting, but gently returning. Listening. Adjusting. Trusting.

A Gentle Starting Point: Equal Breath Practice

This simple practice helps build awareness while offering just enough structure to bring calm without feeling too passive.

1. Find a comfortable position, sitting or lying down

2. Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze

3. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4

4. Exhale gently through your nose for a count of 4

5. Repeat for 1 to 2 minutes

6. Then pause and notice:

How do you feel? What shifted?

You can increase or decrease the count based on comfort.

It’s not about the number. It’s about the feeling.

Make sure you’re in a safe space (not driving, walking, or in water). Always listen to your body. If something feels off or too much, it’s okay to pause.

There’s no one “right” breath.

There’s only the one that supports you right now in this moment.

And learning how to recognize that? That’s where the transformation begins.

If you’re curious to explore what that might look like for you, I’d love to support you.

You’re invited to join me for Foundations, offered inside Flourish Within on the 1st Thursday of each month. These sessions are a beautiful space to explore breath basics in real time, with guidance, community, and space to listen.