Equalizing on land

[kevtron]

Using this as a starter guide I've been walking around just trying step 1, which basically says to equalize a lot, everywhere for a few days.

One thing that I've noticed through doing this is that my right ear clears with no problems, yet the left takes a bit more to 'pop'. And if I remember correctly this was the case when I took my free diving class as well.

I'm just wondering if this means I should be careful at all. Should I just clear both until the point where the left pops? Will that be too much pressure on the right?

Once I work a bit more through that basic post I'll start working on the Frenzel Technique but figured that being able to do basic equalization before I hit that up.

In about 2 weeks I'm going on a trip to an island, but that's just informal snorkeling. Hopefully I can at least test some shallow (>5m) equalizing. After that though I wont have any depth to practice at, but want to make as much progress as possible before I head down to Thailand in Jan. Any other suggestions to make sure I'll be good in the next few months?

Cheers

 

[monkeyhatfork]

just equalize allot as suggested, the one sticky ear is fairly common but will get better with practice sometimes its a different physical makeup of that ear but mostly its because one side of the brain is always dominant over the other, in some people this is more pronounced than others-you can test it by plugging one side of your nose and breathing then switching youll notice you breath slightly clearer through one side- there are yoga breathing techniques that can allow you to switch sides or equal them out but best not to mess with your bodys natural cycles---just practice allot some people are blessed with easy equalizing at minimal practice others have to work at it quite a bit, as long as you keep the equalizations very quik---dont hold down on them, you shouldnt overpressurize the opposite ear-if the one ear wont equalize dont force it, but continue to practice even if the only the one ear pops evenually the other should catch up

 

[dimitris33]

Do this: during equalization attempt tilt your head a little from the right side (like your right ear is try to look on the floor) and you will see equalization on the left ear will succeed easier. Its a matter of neck stretching so try to have your neck relaxed for easier equalizations.
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[kevtron]

Good to know other people have the problems. I'll keep up doing it a lot while I work on Frenzel.

dimitris: good trick! Cheers

 

[kevtron]

I've been practicing basic equalization, still haven't started the full Frenzel stuff yet, and found that turning my head definitely helps with clearing my left ear. I also did that during my last SCUBA class when going deeper in the pool.

What I'm wondering how is whether or not the difficulty in one ear will get easier, or even out with the other. Sometimes I have to 'blow' much much harder to clear that left ear, more so when in positions not normal head-up/upright.

 

[dimitris33]

As I said its a matter of neck streching and relaxation which plays major role on equalization. Make some neck streching daily and before diving and have your neck muscles relaxed. Also do not look down while diving extending your head but keep it straight and lean it a little from the right side to make left ear easier to equalize.

Drink plenty of water too and equalize on land wherever you are whatever you do whenever you remember it.

 

[kevtron]

Update: I went SCUBA diving this last weekend, in part b/c I wanted to see how my ears would actually respond to depth. I was able to equalize overall pretty well, though had to do a lot of the head turns, so wasn't able to do it quickly. Also nearly each time it wasn't a simple 'pop', but more of a high pitched squeal a and the pressure release.

I have a long way to go to be able to equalize as quickly as will be needed for freediving. But I was able to do it head down or whatever, so that's a plus.

 

[dimitris33]

Good work! Keep practicing on land and also consider tubular excercices with an otovent plus the case of light alergic so that your eustachians tubes are narrow thus make it difficult to equalize. Try an antistamine pill for a day.

 

[kevtron]

Ya lost me here! But thanks for the input!

What kind of tubular exercises? Also, what's an otovent? And do you mean I should take some cold/allergy medication to purposely close my eustachian tubes to practice opening them again? Same goes for why taking an antihistamine pill.