A couple of months ago I started seriously practicing my breath holding for a skindiving class I'm taking (part of an advanced scuba class). When I started out, my static breathold (relaxed, sitting in a chair) was maybe 45 seconds at best. Since then my static has improved to a best of around 1:45.
My underwater breath hold was at best maybe 15 or 20 seconds, and after a lot of practice I can now do a best of around 45 seconds while exerting myself (swimming underwater).
What I've learned is this:
My brain had a very tough time letting me hold my breath for a long time when my head was submerged. I could lie in the pool face down, very still, and get 1:15 breath holds, but as soon as I went completely underwater and did the same thing, my times dropped back to maybe 15 or 20 seconds. So a lot of it was mental. And pretty illogical. So what I did was started out the exercises with floating on the water, relaxed, face down to get my brain accustomed to the idea. That helped a LOT with my swimming underwater breatholds. Funny how you can "show" your mind it's being ridiculous and it starts to come around
Also, originally I think I was overdoing the "3 deep breaths" procedure in that I think it ruined my relaxation. Just yesterday I realized that I could get much better underwater times if leading up to the exercise I totally relaxed my breathing to where it would be if I was zoned out watching TV. Shallow breaths, very calm. Then I do one deep exhale, then a deep inhale (stomach first then chest), and that's when my UW times really improved.
Also, originally, after I held my breath as long as I could and surfaced, my heart would be palpitating quite a bit, and beating hard. And my contractions were pretty intense, also. But in the last week or so of practicing both have subsided a lot, and I feel much more relaxed with the exercises.
Anyway, I think I'm at the stage where improvements are mainly a function of mental conditioning (getting my brain used to the idea), relaxation and continued practice.
Any comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
My underwater breath hold was at best maybe 15 or 20 seconds, and after a lot of practice I can now do a best of around 45 seconds while exerting myself (swimming underwater).
What I've learned is this:
My brain had a very tough time letting me hold my breath for a long time when my head was submerged. I could lie in the pool face down, very still, and get 1:15 breath holds, but as soon as I went completely underwater and did the same thing, my times dropped back to maybe 15 or 20 seconds. So a lot of it was mental. And pretty illogical. So what I did was started out the exercises with floating on the water, relaxed, face down to get my brain accustomed to the idea. That helped a LOT with my swimming underwater breatholds. Funny how you can "show" your mind it's being ridiculous and it starts to come around
Also, originally I think I was overdoing the "3 deep breaths" procedure in that I think it ruined my relaxation. Just yesterday I realized that I could get much better underwater times if leading up to the exercise I totally relaxed my breathing to where it would be if I was zoned out watching TV. Shallow breaths, very calm. Then I do one deep exhale, then a deep inhale (stomach first then chest), and that's when my UW times really improved.
Also, originally, after I held my breath as long as I could and surfaced, my heart would be palpitating quite a bit, and beating hard. And my contractions were pretty intense, also. But in the last week or so of practicing both have subsided a lot, and I feel much more relaxed with the exercises.
Anyway, I think I'm at the stage where improvements are mainly a function of mental conditioning (getting my brain used to the idea), relaxation and continued practice.
Any comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
