Dry workout methods/tips

[Mayhem]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of what dry apnea workouts I can start with to increase my breath hold times. Water training isn't an option at the moment.

Any workout schedules you use or methods would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Peace and happy "holding"

 

[Lazuli]

Check out Pilates. Its quite breathing, stretching, alignment focused.

 

[Mayhem]

Thanks Lazuli. I currently have a regular yoga practice and do pranayama, so I'm hallucinating Pilates is somewhat similar in nature?

I was thinking more along the lines of specific breath hold exercises to build up my times and CO2 tolerance.

But thanks anyway.

Peace

 

[Broseidon]

I've started trying apnea walking... I usually do it for about 15 minutes during the day... my best time is only 1.20 so far but I'm working on it!

More fun than doing CO2 / O2 tables!

 

[Mayhem]

Hi Broseidon (Ha! Cool name),

Thanks and how do you do your apnea walks? Do you do sets of them and if so how many? How much rest between each set? What other details for he apnea walks could you provide me please?

Thanks again!

Peace.

 

[Broseidon]

Hi Buddy - glad you like the name

OK, I'm not very experienced at all with breath hold training but I'm trying to improve slowly. I'll give you an overview of what I did today:

Set 1: - These were done at a continuous, moderate walking pace - holding untill I had to breath

Breath: 1 min

Hold: 1 min

Breath: 1 min

Hold: 1 min 05

Breath: 1 min

Hold: 1 min 07

Breath: 1 min

Hold: 1 min 11

Breath: 1 min

Hold: 1 min 14

Breath: 1 min

Hold: 1 min 15

When I get past a minute, it almost feels as though my diaphragm starts to have little convultions... feels wierd

Set 2: Done at a continuous fast walking pace

Breath: 45 seconds

Hold: 45 seconds

I did 8 45 second holds.


I'm very sure that there are more technical and scientific ways to plan out your apnea walking but this seems to be working ok for me, my aim is just to keep increasing the time of the holds untill I get to something impressive!

I'm a spearfisherman as opposed to a freediver so I'm thinking that the 'short burst' approach will help me the most. My aim at the moment is to work up to a 2 minute hold while walking - I'm a long way off that now but hopelfully I'll get there!

 

[Mayhem]

Thanks Bud,

That helps. It's a good alternatively to the CO2 tables as you said and it incorporates the legs so should be good.

Have great walks!

Peace

 

[Broseidon]

Very true, sometimes I jog for the first 10 seconds of the hold to simulate myself diving down - I personally think it will benefit my bottom time more than sitting still doing tables.

Happy walking

 

[Broseidon]

Did 2 session of walks today - trying to be really strict about my breathing times, as well as making sure that I kept my walking speed constant.

Session 1 - Breath time 1.05 -11 holds in 25 minutes

H 1.03H 1.05H 1.05H 1.05H 1.05H 1.05H 1.05H 1.10H 1.10H 1.10H 1.10

Started off doing 1.05 holds which I found too easy so switched it up to 1.10 holds


Session 2 - Breath time 0.20 - 20 holds in 21 minutes

H 0.40H 0.40H 0.40H 0.40H 0.40H 0.40H 0.40H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45H 0.45

Started off doing 40 second holds which I found too easy so switched it up to 45 second ones.

Head felt a little fuzzy after each session but they weren't that hard.

A few weeks ago, I couldn't manage even a 40 seconds breathing / 40 seconds hold so I'm definately improving!

 

[Mayhem]

Hey there Broseidon,

Been off the air lately but thanks for the update on your workout schedule.

You do any yogic breathing exercises to complement your training?

 

[Broseidon]

You do any yogic breathing exercises to complement your training?

No buddy, I'm not that cultured!

I put on my iPod and listen to SlipKnot, Machine Head and Drum & Bass - I find it calming

 

[LunkerBuster]

i am a fan of apnea walks, they are great, but please do them on grass or wear a helmet...no fun to pass out on the sidewalk...be safe guys

 

[Broseidon]

I was stolling along today with my headphones on, wearing only some old flip-flops, grey shorts and some wayfarers while clutching my timer and notepad - people were staring at me as if I was on crack!

You mean to say I need to throw a helmet into the mix too!?!? I'm not sure man...

 

[LunkerBuster]

I was stolling along today with my headphones on, wearing only some old flip-flops, grey shorts and some wayfarers while clutching my timer and notepad - people were staring at me as if I was on crack!

You mean to say I need to throw a helmet into the mix too!?!? I'm not sure man...

hahaha, only if you insist on doing this on pavement...good old grass should soften the fall...that is a really funny image, but no more ridiculous than me on the treadmill with my snorkel...the things we do for apnea

 

[Broseidon]

....but no more ridiculous than me on the treadmill with my snorkel...

No way!!! roflroflroflroflrofl

That is pure awesome!

 

[Erik]

Relax on your back, use your mind or headphones with hemi-sync or binaural beats and/or hypnosis to get your brain into theta or delta waves and your body supremely relaxed...
1st hold: ie: 2 minutes, ergo breathe up 4 minutes.
2nd hold ie: 2:30 minutes ergo breathe up 5 minutes.
3rd hold: ie: 3:00 minutes ergo breathe up 6 minutes.
4th hold: ie 4:00 minutes. Usually 4th hold is the longest- you are done for the day. These are all maximum attempts and are extremely taxing- doing more can do more harm than good (free radicals). You can see that the rule is to breathe up double the time of your last breathold. Also I have found that breathe ups longer than 5 minutes have diminishing returns, so that may be your max interval (approx- only you can answer that). If you really want max times, then try fasting for 12 hours or more.

Make sure your diet is up to snuff and take days off or you may overtrain.

Cheers,
Erik

 

[apneaboy]

I was stolling along today with my headphones on, wearing only some old flip-flops, grey shorts and some wayfarers while clutching my timer and notepad - people were staring at me as if I was on crack!

You mean to say I need to throw a helmet into the mix too!?!? I'm not sure man...

You might as well get onto a bus and start licking the windows now mate rofl

 

[Mayhem]

No buddy, I'm not that cultured!

I put on my iPod and listen to SlipKnot, Machine Head and Drum & Bass - I find it calming

To each his own bud. Whatever works is great!

 

[Mayhem]

No buddy, I'm not that cultured!

I put on my iPod and listen to SlipKnot, Machine Head and Drum & Bass - I find it calming

Relax on your back, use your mind or headphones with hemi-sync or binaural beats and/or hypnosis to get your brain into theta or delta waves and your body supremely relaxed...
1st hold: ie: 2 minutes, ergo breathe up 4 minutes.
2nd hold ie: 2:30 minutes ergo breathe up 5 minutes.
3rd hold: ie: 3:00 minutes ergo breathe up 6 minutes.
4th hold: ie 4:00 minutes. Usually 4th hold is the longest- you are done for the day. These are all maximum attempts and are extremely taxing- doing more can do more harm than good (free radicals). You can see that the rule is to breathe up double the time of your last breathold. Also I have found that breathe ups longer than 5 minutes have diminishing returns, so that may be your max interval (approx- only you can answer that). If you really want max times, then try fasting for 12 hours or more.

Make sure your diet is up to snuff and take days off or you may overtrain.

Cheers,
Erik

Thanks for that Erik! Will give that a go too. Interesting tip with the fasting bit.

Peace..

 

[LunkerBuster]

the snorkel is a great /hellish device for two big reasons.
1- you get really good at long draws out and in which clears the snorkel of c02 better and gets you air better, and you are more used to it in your mouth for comfort
2- it adds resistance to your breath simulating when you are actually diving. i find diving is the best practice for diving, but frustratingly enough, that is not always possible. so whatever closest replicates diving is what i go for.

hard to chat with the hotties next to me though hahaha