How long should I practise Lion's Breath for?

A session as timed here is 4 rounds and runs 28s, at roughly 9 breaths a minute. 3-5 rounds whenever tension builds up.

What is the Lion's Breath pattern?

inhale for 4 seconds, roar exhale for 3 seconds — written as 4-3 — repeated 4 times.

What is the most common mistake with Lion's Breath?

Doing it half-heartedly in company. A tentative lion's breath is just an odd-looking sigh; the release comes from committing to it.

Is Lion's Breath safe for everyone?

There is no specific restriction recorded for this technique. Stop if you feel dizzy or short of breath. This is general information, not medical advice — check with a clinician if you are pregnant, managing a health condition, or unsure.

dubchi · all techniques

Lion's Breath

Energy · Beginner · 4 rounds

Forceful exhale releasing tension from face and chest.

Simhasana - a strong exhale through an open mouth with tongue out. Releases jaw, throat and chest tension. Used between asanas or before public speaking.

How to practice

Inhale for 4 seconds (through the nose)
Roar Exhale for 3 seconds (through the mouth)

Benefits

Releases facial tension
Opens throat
Reduces stress
Boosts confidence

When to practice

3-5 rounds whenever tension builds up.

About Lion's Breath

Simhasana — a forceful exhale through an open mouth with the tongue out. The only technique here whose mechanism is partly social: it is difficult to do and stay self-conscious, which is the point.

Best for: Shaking off tension in the jaw and face, and breaking a mood you have been stuck in. Best done alone the first few times.

Why it works

Heart rate is not steady within a breath — it rises on the inhale and falls on the exhale, an effect called respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Weighting the breath towards the out-breath (3s out against 4s in) spends more of each cycle in the falling half, which is why a long exhale is the most reliable lever anyone has for bringing heart rate down on purpose. At roughly 9 breaths a minute this is slow enough for that effect to be worth having without being so slow that holding the pace becomes the effort.

What to expect

The first two or three rounds usually feel like the exhale runs out early. That settles as the breath finds the pace — resist the urge to force the last second of air out, and let the out-breath finish rather than pushing it. A full session as timed here runs 28s.

Common mistakes

Letting the short exhale become a collapse. This pattern is inhale-weighted — 4s in against 3s out — so the out-breath is quick by design. Quick is not the same as slack: keep it active and controlled, or the next inhale starts from a lung that never properly emptied.
Breathing bigger rather than slower. The target is 9 breaths a minute, not maximum volume. Pulling in as much air as possible on a 4s inhale over-ventilates and produces the light-headedness people mistake for the technique working.
Switching to mouth breathing when it gets hard. The nasal route is part of the dose — it warms, humidifies and adds resistance, which slows the breath on its own. If the nose cannot keep up, reduce the pace rather than opening the mouth.

How it compares

Morning Primer is symmetrical — 4s in, 4s out, holding 3s of the 11s cycle, against inhale-weighted — 4s in against 3s out here. Both are rated beginner, so the choice is about which shape suits you. Read about Morning Primer.

Questions

How long should I practise Lion's Breath for?: A session as timed here is 4 rounds and runs 28s, at roughly 9 breaths a minute. 3-5 rounds whenever tension builds up.
What is the Lion's Breath pattern?: inhale for 4 seconds, roar exhale for 3 seconds — written as 4-3 — repeated 4 times.
What is the most common mistake with Lion's Breath?: Doing it half-heartedly in company. A tentative lion's breath is just an odd-looking sigh; the release comes from committing to it.
Is Lion's Breath safe for everyone?: There is no specific restriction recorded for this technique. Stop if you feel dizzy or short of breath. This is general information, not medical advice — check with a clinician if you are pregnant, managing a health condition, or unsure.