Practice

[James_]

Hi,
So im looking to start freediving and wont be able to for a few years as i am too young. Im hoping to increse my breath hold by then. At the moment my static is pretty low 2.45, what can i do (as well as co2 and o2 tables) to work on this.
Thanks

 

[J Campbell]

Just practice relaxed breathing and breath holds. As you breathe and do breath holds pay close attention to the feelings in your body.
The more you practice the more you will notice subtle changes in breath holds. You will learn to feel what is too much of an inhale
or too little. You will learn to recognize the pending urges and to identify when contractions begin. Learn to do a relaxed, slow, moderately deep breathe up cycle - don't breathe in too deep and don't force the air out on exhale, just let the elasticity of your ribcage force the air out. It's can be kind of meditative.
During breath holds feel how the urge to breath at first is not there at all, and then slowly builds. Learn to "accept" the urge to breathe and just ride through it. The urge to breathe during a breath hold is not really "painful" - it is just a very strong urge which you can learn to accept/ignore. When you think you can't go any longer say to your self "just 5 more seconds" - then do it. Then another 5, then another.
The more you practice the more you will get used to it and the more relaxed you will become. And freediving is all about calmness and relaxation. Never practice breath holds in the water unless you have a trained spotter! People have died doing this. But it is OK to practice alone on a sofa or in bed. Good luck. 2:45 is a very respectable breath hold!

 

[James_]

Just practice relaxed breathing and breath holds. As you breathe and do breath holds pay close attention to the feelings in your body.
The more you practice the more you will notice subtle changes in breath holds. You will learn to feel what is too much of an inhale
or too little. You will learn to recognize the pending urges and to identify when contractions begin. Learn to do a relaxed, slow, moderately deep breathe up cycle - don't breathe in too deep and don't force the air out on exhale, just let the elasticity of your ribcage force the air out. It's can be kind of meditative.
During breath holds feel how the urge to breath at first is not there at all, and then slowly builds. Learn to "accept" the urge to breathe and just ride through it. The urge to breathe during a breath hold is not really "painful" - it is just a very strong urge which you can learn to accept/ignore. When you think you can't go any longer say to your self "just 5 more seconds" - then do it. Then another 5, then another.
The more you practice the more you will get used to it and the more relaxed you will become. And freediving is all about calmness and relaxation. Never practice breath holds in the water unless you have a trained spotter! People have died doing this. But it is OK to practice alone on a sofa or in bed. Good luck. 2:45 is a very respectable breath hold!

Thank you.

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[James_]

Hopefully i can get 3 mins soon

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[SteSca]

Another thing I would really recommend is to bring/keep your body into a very good shape. Jogging and in particular swimming are suitable. This helps you getting a good stamina, build up muscles (you'll need those), increase your lung capacity (!), getting a good feeling of the water, learn to move in it, getting a strong psychology etc. I think many new freedivers neglect this part and focus too much on tables. In my opinion a well trained body (especially for endurance sports) is as important as all the rest. And since you're young the effect for you will be even stronger.

 

[Stephan Whelan]

So beyond the advice given there is a golden rule to follow:

DO NOT practice breath hold in water by yourself. If you push yourself too hard you will end up drowning. By all means practice "dry" on the couch or floor.

I cannot stress how dangerous it is to practice by yourself.