I often train with this aproach:
5-7min relaxing in the sofa, no hyperventilation at all. (maybe slight hypoventilatin, hard to know, I don't focus on the breathing I just relax)
With this method I get my first contractions between 1'40''-1'55''. Yesterday I did, inspired of the theory of laminar, my new pb this way, 4'00'' at the first breathhold, 1 contraction @ 1'50'' and also a new "contraction pb", 50 contractions in 2'10''. It was a VERY VERY tough breathhold.
The thing that made me push it was the thought of that this training may result in adaptations to hypoxia / breathholding
Having tried many different aproaches to breathing I belive that most people hyperventilates. As a freediver focus on breathing it will probably result in some hyperventilation (hypocapnia) even if the clear symtoms is not present.
My belief has always been that a slight (no symtoms) hyperventilation is the best for a maximum performance.
Examples for me:
-No hyperventilation at all, not thinking of my breathing---contractions @ 1'40''-1'55''---> I can not get to my max.
-Slight hyperventilation, focus on breathing, but quiet breathing, no symtoms of hypocapnia--->contractions @ 3'30''-4'00''---> Her I have done my best statics.
-Hyperventilation with symtoms of hypocapnia--->contractions @ 4'10''-4'30''--> Almost always resulting in feeling really bad @5'30'' and a decreased performance.
Peter/Eric--Don't you hyperventilate slightly when you get contractions @ 3'00'' for example???
Maybe my 1'50'' contractions is due to hypoventilation???
For some days ago I did an exception to my "rule" doing hyperventilation and my contractions started @ 4'36'' and I got a new pb of 6'16'' and no horrible hypoxia seemed to be present. This is strange. I was totally clear
The funny thing is that this occured after 2 months of only training 1 static with no hyperventilation.
I am going to train with the method of no hyperventilation and no warmups because I have not progressed in some years like Peter mentioned is the case for many divers...
Maybe it is the strong hypercapnia that get the body to adapt to hypoxia??
