(In mice, though I suspect the way humans breathe also has at least a similar link) From Breath, by James Nestor (thanks to my tax-funded public library), I le

(In mice, though I suspect the way humans breathe also has at least a similar link) From Breath, by James Nestor (thanks to my tax-funded public library), I learned that the cadences of many religious practices/mantras/hymns/etc are such that the in-breath and out-breath each take 5-6 seconds. A paper I read later (linked on HN) suggested that optimal oxygenation occurred after at least a four-second inhale (if I remember correctly), with diminishing returns after a few more seconds. It takes effort for me to breathe like this, and it feels right; sometimes I just breathe after waking up, until my fingers get warm and tingly (in a good way, not pins-and-needles). If I’m feeling anxious, remembering to stop doing anything else and slow my breathing has been a helpful reset, after which I’m better-able to decide what to do next.