Candle breathing, also known as straw breathing or pinwheel breathing, is a somatic breathwork technique that helps reset your nervous system while strengthening your connection to your body. To candle breathe, inhale deeply through your nose. Gently hold your breath for a moment, then exhale through pursed lips as if you were blowing out a candle, blowing through a straw, or blowing on a pinwheel. There is no counting or timing involved in this method.
Rather than timing your breathing, candle breathing encourages you to trust your intuition to guide you, so it's very easy to do at any time. Breathe in to the point that feels right in your body. Hold your breath until you feel it has been long enough, and then exhale until the exercise is complete. Repeat as many times as necessary to ground yourself and switch your nervous system from "fight or flight" mode to "rest and digest" mode.
