The Ha Breath: The Ho'oponopono Breathing Technique Linked to Dr. Hew Len

What the Ha breath is, how it is usually described, where accounts differ, and how to try it safely alongside the four phrases.

If you have looked into Dr. Hew Len's teaching, you may have come across the "Ha breath," sometimes called "Ha breathing." It is a simple counted breath that is associated with Self-Identity Through Ho'oponopono (SITH), the modern form of Ho'oponopono that Morrnah Simeona developed and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len taught for decades.

This guide explains what the Ha breath is, the pattern most sources describe, where those sources disagree, and how to try it gently.

The short answer

• What it is: a counted breathing exercise associated with Self-Identity Through Ho'oponopono, used as a way to settle and prepare for cleaning.
• The usual pattern: breathe in for 7 counts, hold for 7, breathe out for 7, hold for 7. That is one round.
• How many rounds: accounts differ. Some describe 7 rounds, others 9.
• The name: hā is the Hawaiian word for breath.
• Where it comes from: it is usually linked to Morrnah Simeona's process, which Dr. Hew Len taught. Most descriptions online are secondhand, and the full process is taught in the official organization's classes.

Where the Ha breath comes from

The Ha breath is described as part of the process Morrnah Simeona developed when she adapted traditional Ho'oponopono into a practice an individual can do alone. Her student, Dr. Hew Len, taught that process around the world after her death in 1992.

What circulates online today comes mostly from retellings: blog posts, compiled PDFs, workshop notes and videos. They agree on the core pattern but not on every detail. The full Self-Identity Through Ho'oponopono process is taught in classes by the organization that carries Morrnah's work, and its materials are copyrighted. We don't reproduce that process here. What follows is the commonly described breathing pattern, presented as such.

For background on the teaching itself, see our explainer on Self-Identity Ho'oponopono (SITH), and our biography of Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len.

How the Ha breath is usually described

Most accounts describe the same basic sequence:

1. Sit comfortably upright, with your feet on the floor and your back straight but not stiff.
2. Breathe in slowly, counting to 7.
3. Hold the breath for a count of 7.
4. Breathe out slowly, counting to 7.
5. Hold with the lungs empty for a count of 7.
6. Repeat. That is one round. Accounts describe either 7 or 9 rounds.

The counts don't need to be exact seconds. What matters is that the four parts are even and unhurried.

Where the accounts differ

Because most descriptions are secondhand, a few details vary from source to source:

• Number of rounds. Some say 7, some say 9.
• What comes before and after. Some describe the Ha breath as a way to begin a session of cleaning, others as a way to close one.
• Additional instructions. Some versions add particular postures or visualizations. These are not consistent across sources, so we leave them out.

If you want the version taught in the official classes, learn it there. If you simply want a calming breath to pair with your daily practice, the core pattern above is what nearly every source shares.

Using the Ha breath with the four phrases

Many people use the Ha breath as a short doorway into their Ho'oponopono practice:

1. Do a few rounds of the Ha breath to settle.
2. Bring to mind whatever is bothering you: a worry, a conflict, a reaction you keep having.
3. Say the four phrases, slowly, directed inward: I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.
4. Finish with another round or two of the breath, then let it go and carry on with your day.

If you're new to the four phrases themselves, start with the four phrases of Ho'oponopono. For other ways to combine breathing and Ho'oponopono, see our guide to Ho'oponopono and breathwork.

A note on safety

The Ha breath includes breath holds, both with full lungs and with empty lungs. For most people, short holds are fine. But:

• If you feel dizzy, lightheaded or anxious, stop and breathe normally.
• If 7 counts feels like a strain, use 4 or 5 instead. Keep the four parts even. That is the point of the pattern, not the number.
• If you are pregnant, or have a heart, lung or blood-pressure condition, a history of fainting, or panic attacks, skip the holds or talk to your doctor before practicing breath-holding exercises.

Breathing exercises can feel calming, but they are not a treatment for any medical or mental health condition.

Common questions

Did Dr. Hew Len invent the Ha breath?

It is usually attributed to the process Morrnah Simeona developed, which Dr. Hew Len learned from her and taught. It is best described as part of the Self-Identity Through Ho'oponopono tradition rather than his personal invention.

Do I need the Ha breath to practice Ho'oponopono?

No. The four phrases can be practiced on their own, anywhere, without any breathing exercise. The Ha breath is an optional way to settle before or after.

Is it 7 rounds or 9?

Sources disagree. Either is a reasonable starting point. If you want the version taught officially, the organization that carries Self-Identity Through Ho'oponopono teaches it in its classes.

Start simply

You don't need the perfect count or the perfect posture. A few calm rounds of breath, the four phrases, and a little patience is enough to begin.

Our free guide walks you through a simple daily Ho'oponopono routine you can start today.