I cant hold my breath underwater... Why??

[nelz]

Im new to freediving, obviously. I was looking for a new hobby on account of an injury and thought I found my new love in Freediving... until I got to the pool to practice. I'd been practicing at home while healing up from my injury and was doing well (3:45 personal best). Ive been trying it at the pool the last few days and can hardly make it 30 seconds... I hope one of you OGs can tell my why!!

Thanks,

nelz

 

[J Campbell]

You probably need to relax underwater, the only way to relax is to become familiar with it - practice. Don't move around, just float on surface - motionless - with a spotter. Do some some 30 second holds, then 35, then 40....

 

[nelz]

You probably need to relax underwater, the only way to relax is to become familiar with it - practice. Don't move around, just float on surface - motionless - with a spotter. Do some some 30 second holds, then 35, then 40....

Yeah, im with ya. I didnt really feel uneasy or anything, but it was kinda cold. Early northern mornings at the outdoor pool...

Ill definitely try the incremental route tho, good idea. thank you!

 

[Frenzyfinder]

Yeah, im with ya. I didnt really feel uneasy or anything, but it was kinda cold. Early northern mornings at the outdoor pool...

Ill definitely try the incremental route tho, good idea. thank you!

How cold was the water? The body will use energy to heat insides to a proper level if the ambient temperature differs. I find it harder to practice my apnea holds on the elliptical and stationary bike when the Gym AC is running cold. Are you dynamic in the pool ? And have you ever done any sort of apnea hold while moving?


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[jaritter]

If you've gone from 3:45 to 0:30 something is definitely going on (nice static hold time by the way). Cold water will eventually take a toll but should increase your dive reflex at least for the first couple. Could be getting used to relaxing in the water. What was your injury?

I've personally found that really deep inhales especially for the first few holds can kill my time and really make the first holds monumentally uncomfortable. I now start all of my sessions with some light statics at half volume only until the first contraction or just before and then slowly increase the amount I inhale up to max at hold/dive 5-6. Might be worth trying.

Also, bring a buddy lie Mark said. Super important.

 

[nelz]

How cold was the water? The body will use energy to heat insides to a proper level if the ambient temperature differs. I find it harder to practice my apnea holds on the elliptical and stationary bike when the Gym AC is running cold. Are you dynamic in the pool ? And have you ever done any sort of apnea hold while moving?


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Hey thanks for replying! She said it was 82 but what gets me is the air temp outside at 6am... also i have been swimming around before I tried it, but i thought taking a couple minute breathe up would be plenty of relax time. maybe my heart is still pounding from swimming? Nope, never done any moving apnea...

 

[nelz]

If you've gone from 3:45 to 0:30 something is definitely going on (nice static hold time by the way). Cold water will eventually take a toll but should increase your dive reflex at least for the first couple. Could be getting used to relaxing in the water. What was your injury?

I've personally found that really deep inhales especially for the first few holds can kill my time and really make the first holds monumentally uncomfortable. I now start all of my sessions with some light statics at half volume only until the first contraction or just before and then slowly increase the amount I inhale up to max at hold/dive 5-6. Might be worth trying.

Also, bring a buddy lie Mark said. Super important.

Hey thankya! Going down to 00:30 at the pool was a disappointment ha... had a back injury take me out this time. Yeah i have been trying to get as big of a breath as i can without making it uncomfortable. I notice too, that during my breathe up my lungs feel funny as though my breathing is different. I know thats not very descriptive, but thats all I got ha. But like i told Frenzyfinder, too, i was swimming around before I tried it. I did do a lil relax time and a breathe up, but maybe my heart was still going pretty good. Also it made sense to me from a practical standpoint to make it interactive instead of just being totally still..

 

[Frenzyfinder]

Hey thanks for replying! She said it was 82 but what gets me is the air temp outside at 6am... also i have been swimming around before I tried it, but i thought taking a couple minute breathe up would be plenty of relax time. maybe my heart is still pounding from swimming? Nope, never done any moving apnea...

If you're exercising before a static hold then you ARE building up Co2 in the body. How long can you hold while walking around in the grass/carpet? And just to be clear you are only able to 30 second "static water" hold compared to your "static dry" of 3:45?


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[nelz]

If you're exercising before a static hold then you ARE building up Co2 in the body. How long can you hold while walking around in the grass/carpet? And just to be clear you are only able to 30 second "static water" hold compared to your "static dry" of 3:45?


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Just did an impromptu minute walking around my house... yep exactly, 30 sec static in the water. But it was after swimming around for 10 min or so.
Man, I figured by doing a couple minute relax and breathe up beforehand would be enough. Maybe thats why, I was still a bit winded and didn't realize it... A beginner indeed. The Co2 thing wouldn't have occurred to me.
So does it just take a ton of practice to be able to kick around at 10 meters for a couple minutes? I mean, thats alot of exercise while holding your breath right?

 

[Frenzyfinder]

Just did an impromptu minute walking around my house... yep exactly, 30 sec static in the water. But it was after swimming around for 10 min or so.
Man, I figured by doing a couple minute relax and breathe up beforehand would be enough. Maybe thats why, I was still a bit winded and didn't realize it... A beginner indeed. The Co2 thing wouldn't have occurred to me.
So does it just take a ton of practice to be able to kick around at 10 meters for a couple minutes? I mean, thats alot of exercise while holding your breath right?

Free diving is best done relaxed. You want to be able to relax after expending energy and ultimately while as well. Typically while spear fishing, you do not want to "kick around for a couple of minutes" .. I would imagine pro free divers kick a total amount of two minutes, (maybe not even) the remainder of time being spent "drifting" in full relaxed state. So to answer your question Yes, constantly kicking around under 10m for 2 minutes while on one breath is difficult at best.

I was recommend the elliptical machine to mimic most the wave you kick while diving. You can check out one of my first threads about my thoughts as a beginner.

I would recommend you keep trying the walking thing (please be careful of objects around you incase of blackout. You will see in my thread that I also do a "dynamic squat apnea" hold, which I was also recommend and like.

I will also recommend that you "never swim alone".





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[J Campbell]

I always swim laps before my freedive practice - and take a 5 minute rest before beginning the dives. It does take a few underwater laps or breath holds to get in the groove. Note that when practicing statics, most folks get better with each hold - the 4th or 5th is usually much easier and longer than the first.

 

[nelz]

Free diving is best done relaxed. You want to be able to relax after expending energy and ultimately while as well. Typically while spear fishing, you do not want to "kick around for a couple of minutes" .. I would imagine pro free divers kick a total amount of two minutes, (maybe not even) the remainder of time being spent "drifting" in full relaxed state. So to answer your question Yes, constantly kicking around under 10m for 2 minutes while on one breath is difficult at best.

I was recommend the elliptical machine to mimic most the wave you kick while diving. You can check out one of my first threads about my thoughts as a beginner.

I would recommend you keep trying the walking thing (please be careful of objects around you incase of blackout. You will see in my thread that I also do a "dynamic squat apnea" hold, which I was also recommend and like.

I will also recommend that you "never swim alone".





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Right on, thanks buddy... yeah I keep seeing the buddy system thing being stressed. Youve been super helpful and i appreciate that!

 

[nelz]

I always swim laps before my freedive practice - and take a 5 minute rest before beginning the dives. It does take a few underwater laps or breath holds to get in the groove. Note that when practicing statics, most folks get better with each hold - the 4th or 5th is usually much easier and longer than

dang, you must be in good shape... i guess ive been doing nothing but sit around the house for 6 months too, so thats not helping.

 

[calebupton27]

On the relaxation topic: I started originally doing only dry static (I didn't have a buddy so no water). I got up to a 5min static with contractions starting around 2mins. Then I took a free diving course and tried wet static and was getting contractions around 1min. I thought I was relaxed and I couldn't figure it out. Basically, my body was used to dry and was uncomfortable in the water.

Basically the solution was time in the water and focused relaxation. I would just lay in the water with a snorkel breathing and scan my body head to toes and back concentrating on relaxing each part of my body (a trick my instructor taught me). So first I feel my face (without moving of course) and release any tension in my face, then I focus on feeling my neck and relaxing any tension there, and so on. This made a huge difference. Then I would take the snorkel out and hold my breath while scanning and relaxing. My contractions went from starting at 1min to starting at 3mins.

 

[Danny.c]

On the relaxation topic: I started originally doing only dry static (I didn't have a buddy so no water). I got up to a 5min static with contractions starting around 2mins. Then I took a free diving course and tried wet static and was getting contractions around 1min. I thought I was relaxed and I couldn't figure it out. Basically, my body was used to dry and was uncomfortable in the water.

Basically the solution was time in the water and focused relaxation. I would just lay in the water with a snorkel breathing and scan my body head to toes and back concentrating on relaxing each part of my body (a trick my instructor taught me). So first I feel my face (without moving of course) and release any tension in my face, then I focus on feeling my neck and relaxing any tension there, and so on. This made a huge difference. Then I would take the snorkel out and hold my breath while scanning and relaxing. My contractions went from starting at 1min to starting at 3mins.

How strange,I found that out by meditating on my own one night (20+ years ago)and starting using it in my statics,except I start from the souls of my feet and up wards from there,It makes your muscles become like static electricity is forming around them and loosen's the muscle.It is very interesting stuff but I get weird looks when I try to explain it to people.

 

[Frenzyfinder]

How strange,I found that out by meditating on my own one night (20+ years ago)and starting using it in my statics,except I start from the souls of my feet and up wards from there,It makes your muscles become like static electricity is forming around them and loosen's the muscle.It is very interesting stuff but I get weird looks when I try to explain it to people.

Some even refer this to a "dream like" state. I've heard recommendation of also taking negative thoughts and imagine them as a bubble. As it starts to swell you pop it however you wish.

Also I find drawing from the back of my body instead of the front helps me get fuller breaths in static and dynamic apnea workouts.


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[Danny.c]

I can actually control the waves of static running up and down my body when I have enough energy to do so.It is not easy to get there but starting with feet always helps me.if you focus all that energy on to your head,it will be the same sensation as an orgasm but doing that will not help your diving as your brain will use to much of the energy.

 

[nelz]

On the relaxation topic: I started originally doing only dry static (I didn't have a buddy so no water). I got up to a 5min static with contractions starting around 2mins. Then I took a free diving course and tried wet static and was getting contractions around 1min. I thought I was relaxed and I couldn't figure it out. Basically, my body was used to dry and was uncomfortable in the water.

Basically the solution was time in the water and focused relaxation. I would just lay in the water with a snorkel breathing and scan my body head to toes and back concentrating on relaxing each part of my body (a trick my instructor taught me). So first I feel my face (without moving of course) and release any tension in my face, then I focus on feeling my neck and relaxing any tension there, and so on. This made a huge difference. Then I would take the snorkel out and hold my breath while scanning and relaxing. My contractions went from starting at 1min to starting at 3mins.

Hey thanks for the reply! Woah, yeah, sounds alot like what im doin... I did notice yesterday that for me it has something to do with the pressure of the water. The farther down I was, the less time i could stay under. I made it to 50 seconds by slowly ascending and I could feel it getting easier and easier to stay under.

 

[nelz]

Free diving is best done relaxed. You want to be able to relax after expending energy and ultimately while as well. Typically while spear fishing, you do not want to "kick around for a couple of minutes" .. I would imagine pro free divers kick a total amount of two minutes, (maybe not even) the remainder of time being spent "drifting" in full relaxed state. So to answer your question Yes, constantly kicking around under 10m for 2 minutes while on one breath is difficult at best.

I was recommend the elliptical machine to mimic most the wave you kick while diving. You can check out one of my first threads about my thoughts as a beginner.

I would recommend you keep trying the walking thing (please be careful of objects around you incase of blackout. You will see in my thread that I also do a "dynamic squat apnea" hold, which I was also recommend and like.

I will also recommend that you "never swim alone".





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Hey Frenzy, I gotta get your take on this... I made it to 50 sec yesterday. I noticed that if I slowly ascend, i could feel it get easier and easier to stay under. Im sure i still have relaxation issues, but some sort of pressure intolerance is definitely playing a part.

 

[Frenzyfinder]

Nelz, 50 seconds is a good time for dynamic. How deep did you descend to? Most spearos hunt time is around 1.5-2 min and they are going 25+ meters.

I've yet to start any sort of dynamic training in the water. However it's no surprise that the pressure of water will make you feel a little uncomfortable. Water does weigh 8lb/gallon!!


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