How to Hold Your Breath Longer Than Ever

It happens often - people see me freediving at the Florida Springs and they want to know how i do it. "How do you hold your breath so long? Are you carrying a little scuba tank somewhere?"

When kids ask me how to hold their breath longer, I see the risk inherent in explaining myself. I try to find their parents and warn them that there's a chance their kid might go running to their home pool and do something very dangerous because they met me today. Where can we train breath hold safely?

If you're reading this, it's likely that you are no more than a few steps away from the most perfect, safest place to train breath hold - your couch or your bed. The reality of the risk is blackout, losing consciousness. It could happen at any time, in any place. Wet or dry. Better to wake up safely on your bed. Safety is huge but easy to achieve. So with that knowledge let's bravely go forth into the unknown.

Find a place to lay down and bring a stopwatch. Set the mood with comfy lighting and a playlist of music that relaxes you. Take two minutes to rest, lying down and breathing like you are about to fall asleep. Long, loud and lovely exhales help all your muscles relax. Smile. When the timer hits the two minute mark, take a deep breath using the spaces in your stomach and your chest. "I'm going to enjoy this breath hold."

Immediately, you will feel stillness and silence. Check every part of your body for tension. Muscle tension will naturally rise throughout the hold, so you must mentally run like a firefighter to put it out. It can be subtle, so you must also be the detective ready todiscover it wherever it is hiding. This is the enjoyable phase of the breath hold. During this time you should lean into imagery, thoughts, and visualizations as they come and go. Your favorite song, your hobbies, your passions.

As tension rises in your chest you may eventually feel the reflex which tells us we are entering the struggle phase. This involuntary hiccup-like movement is called a contraction. They can be scary at first, like your body is forcing an inhalation. Learn to accept them and relax in between them. Eventually, the contractions come faster and stronger until you are very ready to breathe. Make a conscious decision to let go of your breath hold, and recover with deep breaths into the belly. You've just finished your warm up hold - take another two minute rest and try again. For a complete attempt, try this method with four or five holds. Time your holds to see your progress.

If you are excited about your results, repeat this exercise a couple times this week. As your body becomes accustomed to the buildup of CO2 during each breath hold, the warning signals will come later and less powerful. You'll spend more time enjoying how you feel at the beginning of each hold. Positivity, tranquility, and peace are the key to performance. Follow this advice, and you will be surprised with what you are capable of.

Remember - never dive alone. While dry training might be safe, thou shalt not hold your breath under water without a person directly observing you. It is freediving's first law.