In my mindfulness class, the instructor was getting us to focus on our breathing (which normally just makes me more anxious), but she said to pay attention to the "gap" in your breath. The transition point inbetween inhaling and exhaling. She said that it is at the gap where you are most at peace with yourself, and i found that SO much more calming. It didn't make my breathing seem so forced, and breathing was just an auxillary to the gap.

So now, if i'm anxious, i just look for that!