A little space
for your breath.
A gentle visual guide to comfortable, unforced breathing. Let the sphere set the rhythm; keep your breath small and easy.
Ready when you are.
Sit supported, relax your shoulders and breathe through your nose if comfortable. The sphere’s size is a timing cue, not an instruction to fill or empty your lungs. Do not force the pace or chase air hunger.
Stop and return to natural breathing if you feel dizzy, tingly, distressed or more breathless. New or severe chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness requires urgent medical help (112/999 in Ireland). Practise seated, never while driving or in water.
Build comfort gradually
Begin with the easiest rhythm and 5 minutes, or stop sooner. Repeat at a comfortable level before considering 10 and then 15 minutes. There is no automatic progression: longer or slower is not necessarily better. If following the rhythm feels effortful, return to normal breathing and discuss an individual plan with a respiratory clinician.
This app supports gentle familiarisation with breathing sensations. It does not provide CO₂ exposure therapy, breath-hold challenges or a blood CO₂ target. If you have a heart or lung condition, recurrent fainting or unexplained breathing symptoms, seek individual guidance first. Keep taking prescribed medication.
Breathing, CO₂ and what this app can measure
Blood CO₂ depends on ventilation relative to metabolism. Slowing your breathing while taking larger breaths can still lower CO₂. This app measures time only; it cannot establish low CO₂, track blood gases or prove improved CO₂ tolerance. Clinician-led assessment may include capnography (end-tidal CO₂), alongside breathing mechanics and symptoms.
Reduced-motion preference is respected: the sphere is replaced by the written phase and countdown.
Nijmegen Questionnaire
For each symptom, choose how often you have experienced it recently. Complete all 16 items. This adult symptom screen can support a clinical conversation about breathing-pattern difficulties; it cannot diagnose a disorder or measure CO₂.
Answers remain in this page’s memory only. They are not saved or sent to a server. Closing or reloading clears them.Clinical notes & sources
The Nijmegen Questionnaire was developed by van Dixhoorn and colleagues. Its authors state it is free to use. A score of 23 or above is a commonly used screening threshold, but thresholds vary with population and setting. Elevated scores overlap with anxiety and asthma symptoms. A lower score does not rule out breathing-pattern disorder. Assessment should combine symptoms, breathing mechanics and relevant medical investigations.