Maximum Breath Hold - Free online workshop

Tom Luddington (AIDA free diving coach) will be running a free workshop on the breathing cycle on Friday 23rd September at 8pm via Zoom. To join all you need to do is register below.

This is a no-nonsense practical FREE workshop suitable for complete beginners and experienced water people alike on how to safely prepare for and maximise your breath hold. These are expert techniques honed by freedivers - but also perfect for adventurous swimmers, snorkelers, surfers, sailors, paddle boarders, kayakers - and really anyone who loves to be in the water.

Learning to hold your breath for longer is a journey I believe everyone should go on - not just for safety in the water but also as a lesson in the art of relaxation and resilience.

This FREE workshop will be run for 1hr LIVE on Zoom by fully qualified AIDA Freediving coach and big wave surfer Tom Luddington who currently has a breath hold of 6 minutes and 24 seconds ranking him in the top 10 in the UK.

What the workshop will cover:

The Art of Apnea:

1. Knowledge is Power
2. The Diaphragm Mastered
3. The Real Secrets of Relaxation
4. Mindfulness vs Memory
5. Resilience, Recovery and Rest

Knowledge is Power - its essential before we attempt a max breath hold to understand what happens to our bodies during a breath hold. A little biology theory goes a long way. We learn how to avoid the classic (and dangerous) mistakes to ensure our breath hold max attempts are done effectively and safely. You will discover the natural signals our bodies give us, and learn which ones we can push through, and which ones we must listen to. Put simply, we put ‘sensations’ above ‘expectations’. Knowing ourselves and the natural signals our bodies give us will ultimately give us the power to stay relaxed in our breath hold for far longer.

The Diaphragm Mastered - we begin the practical workshop. (You will ideally need to lie down on the floor on a rug or similar) and together we will learn how to control the diaphragm - the most important muscle for breath holds. We will explore the correct techniques to take the most effective ‘one full breath’ & learn how to perform recovery breaths.

The Real Secrets of Relaxation - Truly relaxing is an art that goes well beyond just lying down with eyes closed and belly breathing for 2 minutes. Tom chased after a solution to his chronic back pain for 15 years before finally finding the complete answer. Active Somatic Relaxation. This is what Tom feels is the secret that he can now share with you on how to truly reach new levels of lowering your heart rate, eliminating tension and increasing your ability to more easily achieve a longer breath hold. It can also help you to overcome tension related pain.

Mindfulness vs Memory - By the end of the session you will understand how to employ the ‘mindfulness method’ and the ‘memory method’ to effectively press fast forward on the stop watch during you breath hold. These magical techniques allow your breath hold practice to be a period of also practicing gratitude and / or being present fully in the now. Practicing gratitude and mindfulness as part of our breath work can lead to us not only to a better breath hold - but also being happier in our day to day lives…

Resilience, Recovery and Rest - As the body and mind start to ramp up the fight to breathe in the latter part of our breath hold - we may feel physical contractions in our diaphragm and powerful thoughts telling us to breathe - and we may feel we have to ‘fight’ these urges..But these signals can become a sign for us to revisit just how much we can continue to relax, and for us to ‘walk away from the fight’ to ultimately win. This is true resilience training - and one of the easiest and safest ways to build resilience. Yes you can also build resilience by pitting yourself against big waves or rowing across oceans - but before you do you can learn this simple method to achieve a resilient mindset… I also often get asked ‘how often should I practice? And how often do I need to take rest days? What time of day is best? And Are there any foods I should avoid? I will give my advice on these topics and help you develop a practice that works for you.

FAQ
Is it just theory? - No This will be a practical workshop where you will at times be asked to lie down flat on your back on a comfy surface that you can’t fall off (such as a rug on the floor).
What will we actually be doing? We will go through a series of gentle movements and exercises together to learn about how to prepare for a max breath hold. We will then do two gentle warm up breath holds and then go for a max breath hold.
Do I need to have someone with me? It is best if there is someone with you to help keep time during your max attempt and monitor you - but not essential as this workshop can be done safely on your own as long as you follow the guidance given during the course.
What if I can’t make the live session? If you sign up to the course, but you have to miss the live session for any reason then don’t worry - everyone that signs up will be sent the zoom recording and you can watch along and do the exercises in your own time at a later date.
I have epilepsy / a heart condition / any health issue that might make this unsafe for me - can I still do it? If you have an existing medical condition, we strongly recommend you speak to your doctor / seek professional medical advice on whether you should do a maximum breath hold workshop before doing the workshop.