What’s the best place to start for a therapist who wants to bring yoga into the therapy room?” I hear this question the most.
I began my journey with yoga in the therapy room with introducing breath work practices. It is the most accessible, easiest to teach, and aligns so well with what we do as therapists.It’s become the key foundation to what I share with all my clients.
It can really help clients who are dysregulated and need a way to center themselves. Techniques like resonance breath or an extended exhale — where the out-breath is longer than the in-breath — are simple to introduce and can be taught in just a few minutes. These help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and allow the nervous system to settle.
One thing to keep in mind for some clients, particularly those with trauma histories, focusing on the breath can feel activating rather than calming. So as with everything we do, it’s about knowing your client and reading their body language. Start slow, offer choice, and follow their lead.
But for most clients, breath work is a gentle, non-intimidating entry point — and once they feel the shift it creates, it often opens the door to exploring more.
These three breath work practices are simple enough to explain in five minutes, effective enough to matter, and simple enough for clients to use on their own outside of sessions. No yoga mat required.
Resonance Breathing
One of my favorite techniques to introduce is resonance breathing — also known as coherence breathing. It simply involves breathing in for five counts and out for five counts, creating a slow, steady rhythm of about five to six breaths per minute.
This pace has been shown to synchronize the heart, lungs, and nervous system in a way that maximizes heart rate variability (HRV), which is a key marker of nervous system resilience. It’s simple to teach, requires no props or prior experience, and I’ve found clients often feel a noticeable shift within just a few minutes.
For therapists new to bringing breath work into the room, it’s a great place to start.
One tool I love recommending is a resonance breathing GIF — a simple animated visual that guides the client through the inhale and exhale at the correct pace. Rather than the therapist counting out loud or the client trying to track time on their own, the GIF does the work.
I just used it today with a client on the Autism spectrum, he was able to settle himself down and he does better with the animated guidance.
The client simply watches the visual expand and contract and follows along with their breath.. It also makes it easy for clients to practice at home independently — you can simply share the GIF and it helps them to buildi their self-regulation toolkit between sessions.
Extended Exhale Breathing
The exhale directly stimulates the vagus nerve. When clients are flooded — after sharing difficult triggers, a difficult memory, or high-stress moments — a longer exhale than inhale is one of the fastest ways to down regulate the nervous system.
How to teach it:
“If you are open to it, I can teach you a breath work pattern that could help bring the anxiety down. Inhale for 4 counts → exhale for 6 . No holding needed. Let the exhale feel like a slow, quiet sigh of relief.”
Bee Breath (Bhramari)
Another wonderful technique to bring into the therapy room is Bee Breath, or Bhramari in Sanskrit. The gentle humming sound it creates actually stimulates the vagus nerve directly, making it a powerful tool for nervous system regulation.
It can be particularly helpful for clients who are highly anxious, emotionally flooded, or stuck in a trauma response, as the vibration and sound create an almost immediate sense of internal calm. It is also grounding in a very physical, felt-sense way — which makes it especially valuable for clients who struggle to connect with their body. Many clients find it surprisingly soothing, and even a little playful, which can ease any self-consciousness around trying something new in session.
How to teach it:
Invite your client to sit comfortably and close their eyes if that feels okay for them. Ask them to take a gentle breath in through the nose. On the exhale, invite them to close their lips softly and make a slow, steady humming sound — like the hum of a bee — for the full length of the out-breath. Encourage them to feel the vibration in their face, chest, and throat
Bringing yoga into the therapy room doesn’t have to be complex with an extended yoga flow. It can start with something as simple as a breath. These three practices — resonance breathing, extended exhale, and bee breath — are quietly powerful tools that meet clients exactly where they are. They require nothing but a willingness to try, and they give clients something invaluable: a way to regulate themselves in session and beyond. That is what yoga and therapy have always had in common — helping people come back to themselves. If you want to learn more how to teach this breath practice and add another component to it , check out this article for more details on Bee Breath pranayama.
Are you a Therapist and bring Breath work practices into session? If so, I’d love to hear from you, post in the comments your favorite breath work practice.
