For me, it was playing a musical instrument (transverse flute, then shakuhachi) that showed me that I really don't know how to breathe deeply with my diaphragm. Or, that I wasn't aware of it at all, now my breathing is more conscious, and I tend to focus on it many times, for example, when I'm just walking on the street. Concentrating on your breath is a great way to stay rooted in the present and become aware of your thought processes. Breathing is magical :)

:)

not stupid at all! the idea is that practicing conscious breathing techniques can have effects on your stress levels and cognition and such. it's not that you're learning how to breathe, but rather how to breathe for a desired effect.

Stress relief, thanks, that makes sense.

People run, walk, and do all sort of things wrong even though they "practice" them daily

To be fair, we also practice breathing at night.

You don't do breathing exercises to get better at breathing. It's for your brain.

I use my mind all the time. I’m not a meditator.