4-7-8 Breathing • Hacker News Board

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#71

Post by weehuy » Fri, Jun 06, 2025, 9:37 PM UTC

PretzelPirate wrote: post #19

I used it and the timer stopped when I was in the Hold command. Am I allowed to exhale? I think the timer should be a multiple of the time to complete one full cycle, ending on an exhale.

I think it's because the wss connection drops out, least that was what was spammed in my console logs.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#72

Post by cheekyturtles » Fri, Jun 06, 2025, 9:52 PM UTC

shermantanktop wrote: post #39

joleyj wrote: post #5

There should probably be an audible cue to go from exhaling to inhaling no?

Agree! I could do this with my eyes closed if not for that. A simple "bip" noise or something.

There is an option under cue sounds, if you're using a phone I think you might need to take it off silent :) Let me know if that works.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#73

Post by cheekyturtles » Fri, Jun 06, 2025, 9:54 PM UTC

PretzelPirate wrote: post #19

I used it and the timer stopped when I was in the Hold command. Am I allowed to exhale? I think the timer should be a multiple of the time to complete one full cycle, ending on an exhale.

Sorry, it should be fixed now. The timer being multiples of a full cycle is something I'm going to add very soon, it annoys me a little bit too while using.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#74

Post by cheekyturtles » Fri, Jun 06, 2025, 10:12 PM UTC

cheekyturtles wrote: post #73

PretzelPirate wrote: post #19

I used it and the timer stopped when I was in the Hold command. Am I allowed to exhale? I think the timer should be a multiple of the time to complete one full cycle, ending on an exhale.

Sorry, it should be fixed now. The timer being multiples of a full cycle is something I'm going to add very soon, it annoys me a little bit too while using.

Okay, the exercise shouldn't finish during a breath cycle anymore :)

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#75

Post by lacrosse_tannin » Fri, Jun 06, 2025, 11:59 PM UTC

ulnarkressty wrote: post #21

kdamica wrote: post #15

There are lots of different ways to do this. The important thing for anyone wanting to get started is just to get started and not get hung up on which one you're doing. Box breathing, Wim Hof method, etc, are all great and any breathwork is better than none. For an intro to the topic, James Nestor's Breath is excellent.

Every time I try breathwork (be it box or x-y-z) I feel that the intervals are too long - by the time I finish breathing out my brain goes into panic mode and the next breath is not enough to compensate. I find them the exact opposite of relaxing.

It's supposed to be ratios, not literal seconds. The app should be adjustable for you small lunged people.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#76

Post by nmstoker » Sat, Jun 07, 2025, 12:23 AM UTC

penguin_booze wrote: post #46

amelius wrote: post #33

I see one problem in the UX. When breathing out you cannot see where the circle will stop so it is difficult to mentally plan this phase of the cycle.

Also, there's no 'ding' at the point the breath-out stops and the next breath-in cycle begins.

Yes, this is the big flaw in an otherwise nice little app. If this were fixed you could use it without looking.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#77

Post by peripitea » Sat, Jun 07, 2025, 12:24 AM UTC

JohnKemeny wrote: post #8

I have used 3-7 breathing to prepare for diving. Inhale 3 seconds, exhale 7 seconds, for at least a full minute, followed by hyperventilating 5 times. Lets me hold my breath for 4–5 minutes if I don't move too much.

Can you elaborate? As others are saying this can be extremely dangerous. Normally I wouldn't just reiterate other comments but if it might save a life can't hurt to be sure.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#78

Post by nmstoker » Sat, Jun 07, 2025, 12:28 AM UTC

cheekyturtles wrote: post #72

shermantanktop wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree! I could do this with my eyes closed if not for that. A simple "bip" noise or something.

There is an option under cue sounds, if you're using a phone I think you might need to take it off silent :) Let me know if that works.

No, I think you're possibly misunderstanding the issue. That option you mention allows one to change the sound used, which I suspect we all get, but instead the problem is there's no sound between breathing in and breathing out. You need three audible cues not two.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#79

Post by peripitea » Sat, Jun 07, 2025, 12:28 AM UTC

londons_explore wrote: post #38

Unless you take really deep breaths, I feel like this is just going to end up with a slight oxygen deficiency...

Get a cheap pulse oximeter and try it yourself if you're curious. It will not cause your oxygen levels to change in any meaningful way barring some very serious health issues.

Re: 4-7-8 Breathing

#80

Post by mistrial9 » Sat, Jun 07, 2025, 12:29 AM UTC

mef51 wrote: post #41

Plum Village (a Buddhist community founded by Thich Nhat Hanh) has a free app with hours and hours of different kinds of breathing and other types of meditation. They also upload meditations regularly on their youtube. This web page also has some good resources and breathing meditations. https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/mindfulness-practice Highly recommend

ok certainly this is a high quality source BUT breathwork should be done with supervision of a practitioner that has some sense. Like swimming (?) this ordinary activity can do great damage in relatively rare situations, or someone trying to do "extreme" practices without guardrails.