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ST, I want to emphasize the breathing suggestion I am advocating is to breathe through the nose but forcefully exhale through the mouth. Repeat until you feel settled. Often it might just be 3 or 4 loud exhalations before I feel settled (still proceeding with the activity BTW).  repeat as needed.

I don't argue with that at all. You mentioned feeling " settled". I think what your doing is as much a " relaxation/centering" technique as anything else. Same when climbing a steep stretch. Your focusing on filling your lungs completely, exhaling and emptying them.

That's a far cry from breathing/exhaling just thru the mouth all the time.
MuleLars found out what I was talking about when he made the conscious effort to breath in thru his nose, exhale thru mouth. He found it most useful as he cranked up the workload, not surprising as from the links you and I posted, that's how you receive the maximum oxygen intake with the least stress on you body. The goal is to be able to do it without thinking, just returning the body to the state we all started in, as NOSE breathers. IF he can learn do re-set his breathing all the time, he'll feel the difference and the benefits no matter what activity he's pursuing. Even one's that his significant other might enjoy :-?
Women like men with ENDURANCE ;)