uncoupling the epiglotis and soft palate

[toni_d]

I was hoping someone with experience in Frenzel to clarify the most effective way to uncouple the soft palate and epiglottis, would it be by having the epiglottis closed and concentrate on opening the soft palate or the other way around, opening the soft palate and concentrating on closing the epiglottis.

 

[efattah]

You shouldn't be concentrating on either. Rather, focus on the various exercises. Such as fill your mouth and cheeks with air, close your epiglottis and squeeze your cheeks together, and the air should come out of your nose. Similarly the act of exhaling and making the air come out of your mouth, then nose, then mouth, on the same exhalation. These are exercises, by concentrating on the exercise you'll have more luck than by concentrating on the actual muscles.

Remember also that when the epiglottis is closed, if you pull a vacuum in your lungs, it will hold the epiglottis closed, so when you mess with your soft palate air will not escape back into your lungs.

 

[growingupninja]

I was hoping someone with experience in Frenzel to clarify the most effective way to uncouple the soft palate and epiglottis, would it be by having the epiglottis closed and concentrate on opening the soft palate or the other way around, opening the soft palate and concentrating on closing the epiglottis.

I spent some time trying to learn to do all that--doing various exercises, trying to isolate muscles and train them, etc, all with limited success. And then I forgot about it for about a week until I sort of found myself unconsciously doing one of the exercises correctly. From then on it has been very easy to uncouple the muscles. I don't use it when I dive that I am aware of though.

 

[toni_d]

much appreciated Eric, I will most definitely work on the exercises you mentioned.

edit: I just realized that I actually have your document on Frenzel saved, but I have been following another online thinking that they are similar, having just read yours I must say that it is immensely more detailed and helpful, it would have saved me a lot of effort and time had i read it first.
So anyone wishing to learn it I advice doing a search for "Fattah frenzel".

 

[azapa]

I have read far too much on equalizing and done far too many stupid faces in front of the mirror. Why do you need to learn this? To spear deeper? Where does your EQ fail now, and what are your short term goals?

Just diving a lot, with buddies, be it spearing or line diving, will get your EQ deeper. Don't read too much, get out there and try it. For me the huge break was FRC, head down line dives. Twice a day, for a month. It just all started working. To this day I have no idea if I uncouple anything.

Hope it goes well for you.