AJG wrote: trying to match the breath to the movement.
It's the other way around.
In fighting, you use natural breathing. In solo training, you try to "match the movement to the breath". This is why when you do both Taiji and XingYi solo form, you will do in much slower pace than long fist or preying mantis does. For each and every Chang/Yang Taiji move, it should be either 1 inhale or 1 exhale. I don't agree with people who does 1 Taiji move for faster (or slower) than 1 inhale or exhale,
Crow weep in the dark. Tide bellow in the north wind. How lonesome the world.