Breath Holding and Free Diving

[Aaron Mcgrath]

Has anyone done any free diving? I've been playing with swimming underwater for increasing periods of times during the last two weeks. I read in "The Einstein Factor" that the mammalian diving reflex increases blood flow to the brain. The author Win Wenger suggests the increase flow of oxygen to the brain helps you do better in school. It's fun and I can use all the help I can get. I should mention that I've been able to increase my dive time from 30s to 50s in 8 sessions over two weeks. The world record is around 9 min at ridiculous depths.

Does breath holding trigger endogenous cell respiration?

http://www.apneamania.com/code/index.asp

[Vbrown]

I've done some freediving in the past (low level stuff) as well as been a lifeguard for many years.

There is alot of interesting information on breath work out there. I cannot stress highly enough to NEVER TRAIN ALONE in the water like this. As you tinker with your body's set point for the breathing signal, you run the risk of shallow water blackout and drowning as a result.

The body often keeps "swimming" even while unconcious (they usually just keep swimming into the side of the pool for example) and thus give the appearance of being ok. But basically, they are hypoxic and about to die. And usually do.

Water have very little margin for error. Please be careful.

[KD Jones]

Something HERE (http://scuba-doc.com/latenthypoxia.html), which also touches on a "being brethed" note, namely, that hyperventilation actually causes oxygen deprivation.

And some more general stuff, HERE (http://www.aquaticsafetygroup.com/shallowwater.html), HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallow_water_blackout), and HERE (http://www.lifesaving.com/news/news_articles/news1/N_04-20-17.html).

Also, I'm wondering about the training effect this might have on CST breathing practices, specifically in terms of retraining the tendency to hold/continue to hold breath during exertion and/or stress. Just a thought.

[Coach Flanagan]

I've experimented with the protocol as detailed in the Einstein Factor. Fun stuff. I couldnt continue with it for long, as like Vince pointed out, you really need someone else present. I remember reading somewhere that while swimming underwater, its not uncommon to pass out without warning. Buzz kill.


Also, I'm wondering about the training effect this might have on CST breathing practices, specifically in terms of retraining the tendency to hold/continue to hold breath during exertion and/or stress. Just a thought.

I personally dont think it would affect that at all, unless you were holding your breathe to the point of some serious effort, which would be extremely dangeorous in the first place - incremental progression is key. Unless your activity is swimming, I doubt there would be any carry-over as breathe development is skill specific - i.e, I may be at mastery level breathing with mills with a 5 lb Clubbell®, but that wont give me anything higher than discipline level breathing with an exercise I've never done before.

I could be wrong though, I'd love to hear others chime in on this.