All of us have sighed in admiration when we saw someone on television going down deep into the sea and staying down for what seems like ages and then coming up triumphantly. Why then do we huff, puff, splutter and blabber in a matter of a few seconds when we go free diving?
The answer lies in conditioning our breathing and strengthening our diaphragms. The key to safe and effective free diving is to breathe properly. You can follow the breathing tips mentioned below, to not only improve your free diving, but also improve your energy levels in general.
Posture For Practicing
You can begin by seating yourself comfortably, either cross legged on the floor or in a chair.Your spine should be erect and your back should ideally not be resting on the back rest of the chair or on the wall. With your mouth closed, you should be breathing slowly and regularly through your nose. Your hands should be relaxed, by your side.
Techniques Of Free Diving Breathing Tips
Inhaling Tips
The first step is to inhale deeply, starting not from your chest but from your tummy. Let your tummy and lungs fill up like a huge balloon, and keep on inhaling till you start to feel a rush of blood.
At this point you must lock in the air you have inhaled, and hold it in for as long as possible.To begin with, this whole inhaling and locking in can stretch only for a few seconds before you feel uncomfortable and you have to exhale, but with regular practice, it will increase to a few minutes, and gradually you will be able to hold your breath for a few minutes on a regular basis.
Exhaling Tips
Exhaling should be done in a manner such that every bit of air inside you can be expelled. Start from your anus and your PC muscle and then your diaphragm muscle.
This process also will last for a short duration initially but with consistent practice you can condition your body to ensure that your exhaling process becomes more and more efficient, thereby strengthening and conditioning your muscles.
Photo Credit: fishing.net.nz
This technique should be repeated at least 3 times a day initially, or till you begin to feel comfortable.You can do this for up to 10 times a day.If done consistently everyday, you will see results in a short while during your free diving sessions.
Precautions For Free Diving Breathing Tips
The above breathing tips are meant only to condition your own body and your breathing techniques to enable you to do free diving better. They are not meant for breaking any records so please do not stretch yourself or hurt yourself. If you feel giddy or uncomfortable at any time, it is advisable stop immediately.
Consistency is the key here. You will see your timings improve over a period of time if you do these exercises regularly, but if you give yourself a break of a week you might see yourself having to start from scratch. Although the above exercises are meant to improve your free diving breathing, they are not to be attempted under water in any situation.
Photo Credit: bighow.info
