Want to impress your friends in the pool? Well, read these instructions and you will soon be able to hold your breath for an impressive amount of time.
Step 1
Start out by relaxing and focusing. Get into a relaxed state of mind and bring your pulse down. A lower pulse means less oxygen is needed, which means that you will be able to go longer before taking your next breath.
Step 2
Take one deep breath, exhale, take another very deep breath, and go under water.
Step 3
Concentrate on moving as little as possible.
Step 4
If you get to a point where your body starts craving exhalation, exhale a little at a time.
Step 5
If you feel you need to breathe, come up for oxygen.
Step 6
You should be floating near the surface of the water, if you are not then you are not doing it correctly. Air is less dense than water.
Tips
- Before you go under the water fully, stand in the pool and place just your face under the water whilst leaning on the side. Hold your breath for a short period of time and then exhale. Come back up for air and hold for slightly longer. Do this until you feel more comfortable, then go under for the longer time fully submerged. This method is used by free divers to get their body and their brains used to the sensation prior to going under. This way it is not so much of a shock to the body. Above all, once under the water, relax.
- Get past the initial burn. The first twenty to thirty seconds are easy, but the next are the hardest. Once you pass a certain point, it will become easier.
- Move as little as possible. Moving your muscles costs oxygen.
- If you are really interested in deep sea diving, get lessons from a trained coach, this will maximise your ability to retain oxygen and will make the whole process much more safe.
- Wear goggles to improve your vision underwater.
- Make sure exhalation is minimal, if you exhale too much you will lose your air.
- Watch the movie The Big Blue to explore extreme usage of this method.
Warnings
- Don't stay under the water longer than you can stand or if you have breathing problems. This can be a dangerous activity for individuals so compromised.
- Look into the dangers of this activity before partaking in it on a regular basis, or even take this further and try unaided deep sea diving.
- Never attempt to do this alone.
- Don't risk your life over your pride, if you require oxygen come up immediately, it is advised not to practice holding your breath for extended periods of time as it is dangerous and could cause shallow water blackout.
- Do not take several deep breaths before holding your breath underwater. This depletes the body of carbon dioxide, which can be a very bad thing. It may cause passing out or suffocation. Take one deep breath, exhale, and then take your actual breath and go under.
