Static PB's

[Levi Athan]

Yeehaw. 5 minutes ago broke 5:00. Without much effort, either. And that's after a week of being out of shape due to minor bronchytis. The factors which I 'blame' for my success are:

- Less heat in the evening - it's a major problem in Israel, and air conditioning makes me catch cold fairly constantly.
- No outside interruptions at all, which is fairly hard to achieve.
- Concentrating on preventing tension-induced heart rate leap during the first few seconds.

As for the diet, I doubt it influences as much, especially if we are talking about a period of a few days. Carbohydrate increase may affect muscular performance, but I seriously doubt it would provide a major asset during statics, where the goal is to minimize energy consumption anyway. In essence, it might be the psychological effect that matters more - one does what one considers to be boosting his performance, so why shouldn't there be an increase?

- Levi.

 

[loopy]

Levi - how did you stop your heart rate from jumping?

 

[groats]

Yeah, how did you do it? My heart goes apeshit in the first 30secs and I reckon this reduces my statics by quite some seconds... I found out that when I do not inhale to the maximum but only till comfortably full I don`t have the jumping-heart problem, but then I don`t use as much of air as I could take in so benefits are equalized again... I want to achieve 4+ statics till summer holidays and I think this might be the missing link.

Greets to all, joe

 

[Adrian]

Well folks,
I just managed to make 5:05 dry. One thing i find useful is closing the eyes, lying down and simply letting my awareness go inwards, as if one were drifting off to sleep. Sometimes for some moments I actually forget I'm holding my breath.

This was after a series of 4 previous trys, first was 3:10, then a few hovering around 4:30.

Gotta get used to the contractions. After about 30 or so I let go.

Adrian

 

[zipy]

hi all

Fpernet what are those results you have posted? was that from contest or something (i don't read spanish)
Iam pleased to see that i could be in 6 place in static with my PB (5:38)

It is also interesting that Martin Stephanek did better dry static than wet... I haven't tryed wet yet...

Seal i will try your recipe for static maybe it will do wonders for me too

Jure

 

[Levi Athan]

Allow me to elaborate on the subject of Loopy's and Groats' questions.

First of all, the heart rate does jump. Initially, that is. When I'm using the O2 table, even with all the proper breath-up, it is rather difficult for me to reach the initial 2:45-55. At this stage, my heart rate, as you have stated it, does go bananas, and, which is more problematic, I get severe boredom attacks.

However, on the third hold, the situation alters itself drastically: my body starts caring very little about whether I am breathing or not. Heart rate remains constant and low. Minor posture inconveniences, or itches, or any other similar problems which seem to bother nearly every individual that maintains the same position for a long time, are all gone, yet at the same time, acquisition of calmness does not take away awareness. It is just that thinking about nothing at all suddenly stops being a problem for my mind. Without 'activating' this 'mode', I can barely make about 3:30, and that's with considerable effort. With it, just today, I happened to achieve 5:15.

In addition, you might say that such a session doubles as a certain meditation. Problem is, the harder I concentrate on switching my 'system' to this mode, the harder it becomes.

As for now, I have no idea whether it is a subconscious effort, an evolutionary reflex, or merely a result of hypoxia or CO2 intoxication. Neither do I know if training will help develop control over this ability or extrapolate it to dynamics. It seems to come whenever it wishes to, as if it had been a separate aspect of my nature. I can't seem to grasp the activation sequence, for any conscious effort of will and concentration only seems to disrupt the natural order of events. In a way, it is very similar to the Zen paradox which says that the harder one tries to put truth into words, the more of the original meaning is lost.

- Levi.

 

[Adrian]

Originally posted by Levi Athan


In addition, you might say that such a session doubles as a certain meditation. Problem is, the harder I concentrate on switching my 'system' to this mode, the harder it becomes.

As for now, I have no idea whether it is a subconscious effort, an evolutionary reflex, or merely a result of hypoxia or CO2 intoxication. Neither do I know if training will help develop control over this ability or extrapolate it to dynamics. It seems to come whenever it wishes to, as if it had been a separate aspect of my nature. I can't seem to grasp the activation sequence, for any conscious effort of will and concentration only seems to disrupt the natural order of events. In a way, it is very similar to the Zen paradox which says that the harder one tries to put truth into words, the more of the original meaning is lost.

- Levi.

Hi Levi,

I find that the trick to calming the body is to calm the mind. The mind is the "headquaters" of the body so to speak, and if it gives orders, the body follows. If in a meditative state the mind is settling down, it's using a lot less energy and the body responds with relaxation as both are intimately linked.

Converesly, if you "try" or make an effort, or concentrate actively and heavily, what you are actually doing is creating a lot of activity in the mind, meaning that your metabolism has very little chance of settling down. Actually physical relaxation is a side effect of the expansion of consciousness: more silence in the mind, more silence for the body.

The mind has it's own natural tendency to settle down and go inwards if you give it a chance. So while you're there, holding your breath, - preferably with the eyes closed, and in the most comfortable position possible so you're not distracted by physical discomfort - just let yourself quietly drift as if you were comfortably floating on the surface of the sea. A warm sea with a warm sun. You'll find that the mind settles down and once you get the hang of it and recognize the feeling, it will become second nature.

Adrian

 

[Seal]

I don't get it

On my first static I get just over 4 min and 1 contration (Pb is 5:56 with 5-6 contractions). But at the second contraction I give up. You say you have 30 contractions!! That seems really hard, I don't think I can push that much.

The most contractions I have ever endured must be about 10 or so, how do you do it?

 

[alastair]

I think that everyone's contractions are different.

Mine are absolutely bearable. I find it hard to 'lose' myself during contractions (and that's why I prefer to breathe up more in order to delay them), but they don't bother me.

I've never counted, but they come every 2 or 3 seconds and can last for (what seems like) ages.

Al

 

[Adrian]

strange feeling just before contractions

From what I've read on the forums Alastair is right. People seem to have a great variety of contractions. Even mine change, sometimes they start as a ripple then build up, then when drumming away they suddenly ease off a bit, and when I think "great" they pick up again. I'm trying to acclimatize - each time adding a couple more if I can. Something I notice is that a couple of seconds before the onset of contractions, there is a switch in my body, similar to a sinking or draining feeling. I wonder if it's the shifting of blood from the surface of the body to more vital organs, or if it's just the changes in O2 and CO2 that trigger the contractions.

Adrian

 

[zipy]

Hi all!

I find that the trick to calming the body is to calm the mind.

Couldn't agree with you more Adrian

Seal
About contractions: i held up 63 contractions on my PB attempt.
But that is nothing. Some people are doing series of contractions, but their contractions are diferent
look up for some threads , there are alot of interesting info in this forum about contractions
Take care .

Jure

 

[Seal]

63!

Wow my contractions are pretty bad, not just small ones. I don't really know what would happen if I really pushed. Because if I get up and walk I can usually hold for about 20 seconds more, so it's a mind thing I guess.

At my pb of 5:56 I got 1 contraction at 4:30 and then another one close after. Then a pause and then it started again at 5:15 and then I got 4-5 up untill 5:56. (dry times)

 

[groats]

I just posted my new pb in the wrong thread, so here i go again! I`m at 4:00 dry, but i don`t think that my performance really got better, i can just handle some contractions now, not letting go at the first that is... I can handle about 10, then they get so hard that i really have to struggle keeping the air in my lungs... Bending forward helps a bit but i loose concentration then. Well, i think i just have a lot left to learn!

Greets to you all, joe

 

[JetFlyBoy]

New to the sport

Hey all.

I am extremely new to this sport. That is, I've always been able to hold my breath for what I thought was a long time, but I went out to the pool the other day and started timing myself, just out of sheer curiosity (I was hoping to get certified to scuba dive with my wife, but she isn't interested... so I figured I'd look into a feasable alternative.)

My PB was 3:24. I felt very inspired and started immediately looking for a forum to learn more. Any guidance from you veterans for a newbie? How can I practice this effectively?

JFB

 

[ramstam]

PB

My PB is 5:05 last week. I was muscle sore the next day, my
whole body, but mostly the large muscles. Has anyone had this
happen? I want to push myself further but the soreness seems
strange?

 

[ramstam]

Jetflyboy, for years my PB was stuck @ about 3:30.
A couple months ago I read an article about the amount
of O2 used by our brains. I decided that if I didn't think
while I held my breath I might get a better time.
It worked, but I think the real reason was more relaxation
than some decreased O2 usage. Clear your mind.

 

[DSV]

Hey Jetflyboy,

My first suggestion is to be safe, don't be doing statics in the pool by yourself or with someone who doesn't know what to look for when someone blacks out. Second is keep training, the more you do it the better you'll get at it. The body has to learn to deal with the high levels of co2.

Hey Ramstam,

I grew up in Dana Point, where do you live and dive?


DSV

 

[ramstam]

I dive most often @ fishermans cove in Laguna.
Shaws is fun when there are not many people.
I live on the inland side of PCH near the Ritz.

 

[Jay Styron]

MIA's PB

I'm posting this for my friend DB member Mia from Sweden. Guess she's too modest to post it for herself(after meeting Sven I didn't think anyone from Sweden was modest) She has done some training w/ Bill Stroumburg(sp?) and Lotta. After only a week of training she hit 5:43. Not too shabby. Congrats Mia.
Jay

 

[mia]

Thanks Jay

So this was the revenge for the computer/games thing I posted , outing my pb .Im no freediver and Iv only reached it once. I find static very cold, I got two drysuits but no weetsuit, and havent found the motivation to train static after that. BTW you need those letters w/ those funny dots to spell his name right .

Mia