Alongside inducing feelings of calmness and relaxation – ideal when you’re in the middle of a stressful or anxious period – coherent breathing can lead to several mental benefits. This is especially true if you practise coherent breathing regularly over an extended period.

“Your body can feel the benefits from a single coherent breathing practise within a few minutes, but if practised consistently over time, the feeling of being emotionally balanced can filter out of the practise and into your everyday life,” Bishton suggests. “Anxiety can make us feel overwhelmed and mentally exhausted, so coherent breathing is a useful way to find inner calm.”

The sense of mindfulness that a coherent breathing practice can offer is also something to consider, Hartley adds. “Our breath is always in the here and now – you can never breathe later or take a breath a few years ago – so if your mind is focused on the breath it can only ever be ‘here’,” she says. “This helps the mind feel quieter and allows us to forget our worries and anxieties.”

How to use coherent breathing to calm your body and mind