[tylerz]

Pete,

Oh... so you are not controlling your breathing whatsoever? Originally when we were all talking about it in person, we talked about it with controlled frequency. So, I have been addressing it with that assumption. Still I would encourage you to lay down one night at home and listen to a 5 minute song. Only relaxing and paying attention to the music. Then when the song ends, immediately attempt the same type of static.

What I would predict is that even though you are resting at the pool and feeling like you are doing nothing different than on the couch, you may be controlling your breath somewhat habitually from the environment and expectation of performing a static or simply from focusing on relaxing as opposed to "purely" relaxing. You can often see this during meditation, if you become aware of your breathing. You feel very relaxed and it does not feel significantly different than relaxing on the couch. But as you become aware you sense that there is a consistency in the cycle of breathing. This is not a normal state for us. You mentioned in the original text explanation of "sub-neutral" breathing, that due to the nature of the technique it would be very difficult to hyperventilate. If you are leaving the control of breathing up to the natural tendencies of the body, I would agree. However, if you add any control, especially in this case frequency, then I believe it is quite easy to hyperventilate. The attention you place on "sub-neutral" breathing is on limiting the depth of inhale.

But it is the exhale that causes the ventilation of CO2. Shallow breathing can easily perform ventilation. By limiting the inhale to a neutral position, you are required to use more force on the exhale. Neutral position is at rest and only at rest. Neither inhale nor exhale. So, if you put a ceiling on the inhale, then the exhale will compensate, and likewise if you put a floor on the exhale, then the inhale will compensate.

Cheers,

Tyler