Abstract: A breathing exercise apparatus includes (a) a graphical display, (b) input elements for receiving from a user durations for inhalation, exhalation and pause phases of a breathing exercise pattern; and (c) a controller for causing the graphical display to display a sequence of graphical images according to the received durations for the inhalation, the exhalation and the pause phases of the breathing exercise pattern. The breathing exercise apparatus may be implemented on a personal computer by providing on a computer-readable medium instructions executable by the computer that carry out the method which includes (a) receiving from a user durations for inhalation, exhalation and pause phases of a breathing exercise pattern; and (b) displaying on a graphical display a sequence of graphical images according to the received durations for the inhalation, the exhalation and the pause phases of the breathing exercise pattern.