YourBreath: A Tailored Breathing Guide

Stress-reducing meditation is widely accessible, yet most current meditation apps rely on prerecorded, fixed breathing guides that do not adapt to an individual's natural breathing pattern. Many of these apps also require subscription payments, creating an additional barrier. Because the guidance is not personalized, users may receive less effective support, and a rapid, imposed reduction in breathing rhythm can even lead to adverse effects. To address this gap, we created YourBreath, an app that records and analyzes each user's breathing in real time and gradually decreases their respiratory rate until it reaches 25% below their original rate. The user receives continuous feedback to help them stay within the target pattern, promoting more effective breathing and stress reduction. The system is further validated by EEG and EKG analysis, demonstrating measurable reductions in stress. Unlike leading apps that use a fixed breathing guide of 6 breaths per minute, YourBreath gradually lowers each user's breathing based on their current respiratory rate. The system uses a shorter inhale and longer exhale ratio to support deeper relaxation and sustain engagement of the parasympathetic nervous system, helping users maintain a calming physiological state.