Approach to RelaxationLearning to b

Approach to Relaxation

Learning to be aware of your breath and being in a state of relaxation is the best way for

a freediver to prepare oneself for a deep dive or just a long and enjoyable breath hold. In

the past freedivers used a more forceful approach to apnea (the art of holding your

breath). This technique was based on a form of hyperventilation in which the diver

forced the body beyond its limit with rapid inhalation and exhalation. The thought was

that this type of breathing was purging the body of harmful CO2 and therefore

increasing the level of O2 (oxygen). Unfortunately it is impossible to increase the level

of oxygen in your body by increasing your breathing. The only effect from

hyperventilation is a decrease in the level of CO2 going into the dive. The downfall of

this technique is within this lowered level of CO2 which postpones the mammalian dive

reflex. This has many negative results including a delay in reducing the heart rate,

continued steady consumption of oxygen, and a lag time in alerting the body and mind

of the need to breath. This dangerous combination leads to a false sense of well being at

depth until upon ascent where the water pressure

declines, CO2 levels spike and oxygen is sucked out

of the blood stream to refill the re-expanding lungs.

For this reason hyperventilation is the most

common cause of freediver deaths with

“Shallow Water Blackouts”.

Today technique's used by top freedivers are

centered around an idea of “relaxed apnea”. This

approach encompasses many components dealing

with relaxation, such as stress and anxiety, both

physical and psychological. To get the most out of

this technique we must eliminate all sources of stress

and anxiety and in the process use certain breathing

techniques to help reach a state of relaxation

necessary for a positive and enjoyable experience.



In order to completely relax and get the most out of

each dive we must understand and confront all forms