Those who have a hasty personality also have hasty pulse

性緩脉亦緩
Those who have a relaxed personality also have relaxed pulse

大抵脉緩而遲者多壽
For the most part, those with relaxed and slow pulse live long

脉急而數者多夭
Those with hasty and frequent pulse die early

Here the doctor is referring to the third bullet point above: slow breathing minimizes cardiac work and harmonizes the pulse with heart rhythm. Hence the connection between slow breathing and relaxed pulse. But can we really tell someone's personality by their pulse and, in correlation, their breathing?

Well, can you imagine a slow-breather who’s nervous? anxious? angry?

According to this research, the psychological/behavioral results related to slow breathing techniques are increased comfort, relaxation, pleasantness, vigor, alertness, and REDUCED symptoms of arousal, anxiety, depression, anger, and confusion.

Modern science is confirming what the doctor was observing centuries ago.

In fact, the research is telling us that transitioning to slow breathing can facilitate the development of chill, easy-going personalities that enable us to live longer.

先哲論,
Ancient sages explained that,

江海之潮,
Tides of river and sea

則天地之呼吸,
Follow the breathing of the cosmos and the Earth

晝夜只
Through day and night

二升二降而已
They only breathe in and out twice each time (low & high tides)

人之呼吸晝夜
Human beings breathe through day and night

一萬三千五百息.
13,500 breaths

故天地之壽
Therefore, the lifespan of the cosmos and the Earth

攸久而無窮
Are long and infinite

This is a timeless analogy comparing the tides to our breathing.

Modern science ALSO uses the symbol of tides to describe respiration:

Tidal breathing is a synonym for breathing at rest
Tidal volume is the lung’s capacity to process air during tidal breathing

Low tides and high tides each occur twice during the day. This is what he likened to the Earth’s respiration (inhaling and exhaling the moon’s gravitational energy).

Isn't it such a neat connection of the two sciences? Let me know in the comments if you're geekin' out as much as I am!

Also, let’s address the 13,500 breaths. This is equal to 9.375 breaths per minute, which he mentions as the average human respiratory rate. Go ahead and compare your breathing to this.

Conclusion

I hope this information makes us all inspired (no pun intended) to be more aware of how we breathe.

There's nothing wrong with taking it slow~

Breathe slower and change our lives for the better!

Thank you for reading,

~energidoctor~
eternal student of life

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