And, of coourse it brings to mind the Tibetan monks and their chanting. I had the honour of helping to host them, here, twice. The first time, after serving them breakfast and drinking hot SALTY butter tea with them, we went into the sanctuary built of stone in the Episcopal church which hosted them. There they stood singing their morning prayers. Sent chills up and down my spine. The breath is very important.

Also, as in tai chi, chi gung and other exercise practises. There is one I do now, from a Vietnamese monk, which concentrates solely on the breath, at first. For me, because of my many years of practising meditation fosuccing on teh rbeath first, it brings an instant calm and attunement, when I remember in the midst of stress to concentrate on that!