How to 'Flow' in Freediving?

I found through experience, that the speed which I inhale greatly influences my mind going into flow. If I hit a certain inhale through the nose speed, It seems I instantly can bring my mind into flow, or near flow. Speculating as to why, I think a certain airflow speed has my nosetrils vibrate at a certain frequency to which part of my brain tunes. The general idea of breathing slow is to lower the HR, and allow the body to rest and relax, just as one would in bed. Breathing forcefully in or out generally makes my mind more alert, into a lower level of consciousness.

Maybe you can just do a test, doing frc/exhale static, same prep but make one with a very fast exhale, and one with a passive force exhale, measure the time after both exhales, and also record how these dives feel. Try to have an equal exhale too off cause.

For my deep diving in Sweden Next week I'll use the flow approach. I think the soft and relaxed start will safe me a lot of relaxation and energy on the way down, providing easier equalisation, and - above all - a much better freediving experience.

Love, courage and Water,

Kars

Preferably I use nothing on my head. In the video I use noseclip because duckdiving floods my nose and prevents me equalising. However I did dive a free immersion dive in Spain, only wearing speedo's and nothing on my head, feet first and it was a delicious near flow dive.

Now for static preparation I wear nothing. I simply lay on my back floating, breathing very slow and relaxing. Having the energy visualisation paired up with - like you do - very slow nasal breathing works wonders. When I'm rested comfortable, warm relaxed, I can feel the mystical flow feeling hitting me within a few shallow slow breaths. It used to take a while, but I guess training helps When I do this kind of preparation / meditation, I feel my limbs "light up", as if they loose weight and start to radiate light from the inside. This sensation starts with the legs and goes gradually up to the arms etc. When my whole body is lit up, I'm ready for a 'killer' static LOL It usually takes about 12-20 min to reach that level. At the end I'm ventilating amazingly small amounts of air.

Even sitting here behind a desk, if I inhale slow and shallow wile applying the lease amount of effort I can find my legs already start reacting after just a few minutes.

The pauses at top and bottom of the breath are for me very rounded ones, more like a sinus curve matching airflow. Even though it's easy to have a flat stop I prefer a fluid small movement, perhaps breathing shallower and or slower.

Play around, and I'm looking forward to your experiences and sensations.

BTW flow appears just to happen, but when I forcefully look for it, it often stays away or is less deep. Maybe similar to falling in love, therefore I like the falling in flow phrase