[CretinDesAlpes]

Anybody has done breathwork naturally without even knowing about its existence? I didn't know any of this (had 0 interest in the body/yoga/meditation before) and I used to do this pattern of deeply inhaling slowly and holding until I can't really anymore, then slowly exhaling. Then repeating for a few times. Very relaxing. Although I know about breathwork a bit more now and the different patterns, I am not sure if this practice has a name (but I wouldn't be surprised to find out if so).

[meristohm]

I've been aware of breathwork since I was a teenager, but I always look for easy actions, with low barriers:

Watching my resting dog breathe I noticed he inhaled slowly and exhaled without much apparent control, just relaxing and letting it all huff out, then pausing awhile before the next inhalation; I tried this, it feels good, so I keep doing it when I want to feel more calm.

From reading Breath, by James Nestor, I learned that a good target for calm-inducing breathing is about eleven seconds for an inhale/exhale pair, common with many religious activities like chants, etc. Breathing like my dog, I aim for five seconds in, ~three out (not counting, just letting it out), and as long a pause as feels right, sometimes pushing myself a little to extend.