Grannie Annie, I can't speak for what beginners over 60 can expect. However, based on my own and what I've read on this forum most people have some difficulty with the breathing in the Harmony of the Universe exercise.
I personally have found that if I focus on relaxing my breath naturally slows down. Usually slower than the CD of DVD, so I prefer to do the exercises in silence, or just the music Master Lin has provided.
If I try consciously try and slow my breath, I find that I actually breath faster. So if I want to work on my breathing, I do a little concentration on lower abdominal breathing. As well as thinking about making the inhale and exhale of equal size, and making the whole cycle fluid. Not stopping the inhale then doing an exhale. Just making the transition smooth. Okay, I visualize the inhale and exhale and travelling around a circle and keeping the pace around the circle constant. Then the important part is I stop thinking about the breathing, do my meditation and relax.
Oh, and one day the breathing for the Harmony of the Universe is smooth and natural.
You are perfection.
Iam2 
