Square breathing, or box breathing, is a fun way to help you relax and focus! It’s a deep breathing technique where you breathe in, hold your breath, breathe out, and hold your breath again, all for the same amount of time. Think of it like the four sides of a square!

1. Set up your SEL mini spark recording page: #3: Square Breathing

2. Boost your superpowers of calm and focus by breathing  with Finney. Practice Square Breathing by watching this video and following along. When you are done, write “I practiced square breathing!” on your recording sheet.

3. Deep breathing helps aid the body in many functions such as: ➔ Calming and regulate the nervous system ➔ Help the body cope with stress ➔ Ease panic and worry ➔ Bring more oxygen to the body. On your recording sheet, write down a few times when you think square breathing would be helpful for you to try.

4.  It is also helpful to play this game when you already feel relaxed to build the muscles of calming down in more stressful situations. Set your timer and practice square breathing for 2 minutes.  When you are done, write “I practiced square breathing!” on your recording sheet.

5. Remember what you learned about square breathing the next time you feel stressed or upset. Share this technique with a friend or family member.  Write down the name of the person you talked to about square breathing.

6.  Share your SEL mini spark recording page with your teacher or the EY coordinator in your building.