Breath Holds for Surfers: Breath Experience

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Any breath hold work must first start with simple experience.
Have you ever held your breath, and simply felt the physical responses within the body?
If you have any intent at prolonging your breath holds, the first step in the process is simply feeling the natural responses from your body with increasing co2.
Generally, non-experienced surfers immediately go to a stress response (mental), because they're feeling the first inkling of physiologic processes that are common with increasing levels of co2.
Just with the simple practice of holding your breath and tuning into these experiences, one can become far more familiar with the process of a breath hold, and learn to expect and relax into the natural process of physical stress responses.

[@alphalearner2943]

Great vid! Thanks from the islands of Phil🤙🌊🏄‍♂️🏝

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

thank you, and you're welcome! -cris

[@jameshallfishing3377]

3 minutes here pb dry land. Underwater .. 2 1/2 shallow to deep and back 25 SCY flip turn underwater, in a swimming pool. Probably could have been alot longer due to the shallow end of the pool. I am someone who will be very serious about surfing. (This year) contributing to make it a habit to go out every chance I get for fitness, swimming is my priority now. My goal is open water, lake and ocean

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

solid numbers. breath holds in the surf are rarely longer than 10seconds, unless it's PROPER charging, which is way out of my league. with your numbers you'd likely not have any issues at all, and have the confidence in some solid surf

[@jameshallfishing3377]

After the first 35 seconds I feel a tug to breathe then after the first tug I feel really relaxed as if I can hold my breathe for another minute, usually after 1:30 I feel another tug as if I need air, then after I feel I can hold my breathe for 2 minutes

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

@@jameshallfishing3377 that's it brother! people generally freak out at the first physical response, and it's only that, a simple reaction of the body.

[@romichjordan]

please make a whole program for breath training

[@romichjordan]

I think your lungs capacity is the n1 stopper for surf progression

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

@@romichjordan there's a breath training program within the Surf Athlete 12 Week Program. There's also a full apnea program by my buddy Augusto that's available in the app. and yes, I agree, it's a big catalyst for pushing boundaries in the surf

[@romichjordan]

oh thx i ll check it;)

[@mattyjungblut9842]

Great Vid Cris , simple explanation without getting too technical , loving the surf app , i tried the push up hold sequence the other day,very good.!! Looks nice where you are is that near Ulus..??

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

stoked to hear you're digging the app! and yeah, those pushup holds are a GREAT drill, and very easily applied. yep, I'm down on the bukit, not too far from ulus. hit me up if you're ever this way

[@Wheeler81]

1:14 first breath hold, 1:24 second breath hold... If only i could do that in large surf! With a run a decent swell this week at home, I was reluctant to take off on any bigger sets due to my breath hold and anxiety in larger waves.. Definitely need to work on thus aspect! Rad video Cris! Thanks!

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

these holds initially aren't to necessarily improve the actual hold, but more so to build familiarity with the innate physical stress response. due to heightened respiration rate and heart rate, you'll never have a hold that long in the water, as your'e eating up o2 too quickly....but you can build familiarity and understanding of the breath hold process so you can extend your hold in the water, and not panic unnecessarily. there are numerous exercises to actually improve your breath hold (many found within my app the Surf Athlete (within the 12 week program). it's these type of exercises that challenge the breath hold and build duration of hold that you should look towards to help build confidence in bigger surf.

[@tr786]

Great vid. yew

[@jameshallfishing3377]

Sometimes I feel like over a long breath, holding the suck as if I need to gasp for air. I can't really get through that period, I know it will pass but getting past it