The Breathing Jar Method

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 When I couldn’t stick to the image or breath count of traditional box breathing, I visualized something simpler — more grounded. I needed an image that I could engage with that connected more to my sense of visualization as well as natural cadence of breath.  That’s where The Breathing Jar Method came from.

This technique is a visual twist on classic breathwork:

Instead of following rigid counts, you picture air moving through a clear glass jar.

• Inhale: Visualize air gently filling a jar from top to bottom.

• Hold: Picture the air swirling calmly inside — alive, but steady.

• Exhale: Release the air at the same smooth pace it entered.

Now repeat as many times as needed. 

The difference? You decide the length of each phase.

What matters most is consistency of pace — not matching numbers.

And the exhale? Let it stretch. Let it release. We’re often able to breathe out longer than we breathe in — this method honors that.

Why it’s different:

• It’s grounded in rhythm, not rigidity.

• It anchors your awareness in imagery, not counting.

• And it allows for a longer, more regulated exhale — without tension or overthinking.

This practice has helped me and many of my clients reconnect with their breath in a way that feels accessible, calming, and sustainable.

You’re welcome to use it, share it, and integrate it — just please credit the source.

© Brent Veney, LCSW – Ironwood Psychotherapy. All rights reserved.