Most of us breathe wrong. We take between 15 and 20 breaths a minute, high in our chest. People under stress and those with a variety of ailments take faster, more shallow breaths. Slow breathing is 10 or fewer breaths a minute, with an emphasis on breathing from down in the belly.

“You can teach yourself to do this. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Once you are relaxed, inhale deeply for a count of two or three. Then breathe out slowly, taking at least five or six seconds to expel your air. Blowing out through pursed lips can help extend your exhalation. Let your belly muscles do the work — a hand placed on your abdomen should move more than a hand on your chest. Once you’ve established a rhythm, keep at it for 10 to 15 minutes.”

|0x95|From Harvard Medical School paper on Resp[AT]rate