Table 2.

MRI breathing protocol.

MRI breathing protocol
	Breathing pattern	Also known as	Performed
1	Spontaneous breathing (SponB)	Natural breathing, resting state breathing	With or without awareness on inhalation and exhalation without forcing to change the duration and/or the depth of the breath
2	Slow breathing (SlowB)	Slow rhythmic breathing	By consciously slowing down the breath with or without deepening the breath
			Choice of e.g., 3 to 5 counts* for each inhale/exhale
3	Deep abdominal breathing (DAB)	Belly breathing, lower breathing, part one of three-part breath	By consciously creating deep breaths in lower torso by expanding the lower abdomen with inhalation, and relaxing back to resting position with exhalation
			Choice of e.g., 3 to 5 counts* for each inhale/exhale
4	Deep diaphragmatic breathing (DDB)	Middle breathing, part two of three-part breath	By consciously creating deep breaths in middle torso by expanding lower ribs and diaphragm to the sides with inhalation and relaxing with exhalation
			Choice of e.g., 3 to 5 counts* for each inhale/exhale
5	Deep chest breathing (DCB)	Thoracic breathing, upper breathing, part three of three-part breath	By consciously creating deep breaths in upper torso performed by expanding the chest and the lungs to the sides, front and back with inhalation, and relaxing back to resting position with exhalation
			Choice of e.g., 3 to 5 counts* for each inhale/exhale

Of the five breathing techniques in the MRI breathing protocol, the last three deep breathing techniques (#3–5) together forms a specific yogic breathing called “three-part breath; Dirgha Pranayama”⁷⁰. Typically, these three deep breathing practices are first performed in isolation for a few minutes for practitioners to gain ability to isolate the breathing and associated movement in lower, middle, and upper torso separately, with a long-term goal to improve the breathing apparatus and utilize the full capacity of the lungs. After several rounds of stand-alone performance in each part, practitioners then perform the three-part breath by combining all three parts during one breath: “During inhalation, beginning with expanding lower abdomen, smoothly moving the breath and expansion up to diaphragm, then to chest (all in one inhale); and during exhalation, beginning with contracting chest, smoothly moving the breath and contraction down to diaphragm, then to lower abdomen (all in one exhale)”, forming one repetition of a three-part breath.