The 21,600 breaths per day is the typical experience. It is the average of one’s life. At times of exertion or stress, the breathing will be very fast. At times of peace and quite, it will be slow. Some people may have an average of more than 21,600 breaths per day. A practised yogi may average not 15 breaths per minute, but as low as 6 or 7 per minute. The short-life monkey will breathe some 40 times per minute. The long life snake will breath 3 or 4 times per minute. (CWBSSB, pp. 176-177)