RHYTHMIC and DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING

Exercise and breathing go hand in hand.

The correct way to breathe is:
• rhythmically 
• diaphragmatically
• through the nose
• slowly

To breathe rhythmically means to breathe isochronously (in equal times)
The breathing rhythm should be such that you breathe IN and OUT at the same rate.
Ideally, you should also pause between each breath and hold your breath.
Here is how to breathe rhythmically to a count of three seconds.
• Breathe IN for a count of three seconds
• Hold your breath for a count of three seconds
• Breathe OUT for a count of three seconds
• Hold your breath for a count of three seconds.
This completes one complete cycle of rhythmic breathing.
The ideal breathing rhythm is the maternal breath, the one you were born with.
Every healthy baby is born with a breathing rhythm of seven seconds. This is what we should strive to achieve.

-Kevin Hinton

It is also necessary to breathe diaphragmatically. 
This means that you use the diaphragm rather than the chest. 
When you breathe IN your ribs should expand just sufficiently to allow the lungs to drop onto the diaphragm.
The diaphragm in turn, depresses the abdominal contents and the abdomen swells outwards. 
When you breathe OUT your abdomen should sink in - thus pressing the diaphragm upwards, which in turn forces the lungs upwards expelling the air. 
The lungs are intended to slide up and down in the chest, not in and out as is commonly done by chest breathers.

If you combine diaphragmatic breathing with a correct rhythm you will have the correct breathing procedure.
Here is the maternal breath, the one you should strive for:
• Breathe IN for a count of seven seconds - Breathe in slowly.
• Hold your breath for seven seconds - Do not breathe in or out.
• Breathe OUT for a count of seven seconds - Breathe out Slowly.
• Hold your breath for seven seconds - Do not breathe in or out.

-Kevin Hinton