Breathe Easy

This worksheet introduces fun and easy breathing techniques for young people.

It features methods like “Cake Breathing,” where users imagine smelling a cake and blowing out candles, and “Finger Breathing,” which involves tracing the hand while coordinating breaths. Another technique, “Triangle Breathing,” uses an imaginary triangle to guide rhythmic breathing.

References and Further Reading

  • Fredrickson, B. L. (2003). The value of positive emotions: The emerging science of positive psychology is coming to understand why it’s good to feel good. American Scientist, 91(4), 330–335.
  • Fincham, G. W., Strauss, C., Montero-Marin, J., et al. (2023). Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials. Scientific Reports, 13, 432. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27247-y.
  • Zhou, X., et al. (2020). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on anxiety symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 289, 113002.
  • Dunning, D. L., Griffiths, K., Kuyken, W., Crane, C., Foulkes, L., Parker, J., & Dalgleish, T. (2019). Research review: The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents—A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(3), 244–258.
  • Lin, J., Chadi, N., & Shrier, L. (2019). Mindfulness-based interventions for adolescent health. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 31(4), 469-475.