co2/02 tables

How often should I do co2/o2 breath hold tables? I've seen people recommend 8 breath holds for each. Do I do the co2s and the o2s in the same session? How often? I bought the bluewater hunting book by Terry Maas from Amazon. I didn't get to look through it before buying. It has some good info but nothing on breathing training. I guess I'm going to have to buy another book. 

Wrote up a long response, but figured that this would be a lot more informational:
http://forums.deeperblue.com/beginner-freediving/82158-o2-co2-tables.html




Bluekayak's suggestion is good - while freediving is 90% mental, aerobic fitness will help a LOT with recovery times between dives. 

Never tried yoga myself, but Pranayama is popular with competitive freedivers.

I took a look at the info on deeper blue. I believe you said you were just getting into freediving, If I'm wrong about that then disregard my comments. 

Nothing can help your freediving more at this point than becoming mentally and physically relaxed in the ocean environment, surge, rocks, kelp, cold, dark, poor visibility, not being at the top of the food chain.  When of none of those things make you uncomfortable any longer then some exercises may be in order. 

Becoming comfortable with all the factors you'll encounter will also make you safer, unless you start to loose your respect for the power and hazards of the ocean. 

Spend as much time as you can in the ocean, that's what will help you most, breathing exercises might cost you your life.

Just my opinion,

Dale L

I took a look at the info on deeper blue. I believe you said you were just getting into freediving, If I'm wrong about that then disregard my comments. 

Nothing can help your freediving more at this point than becoming mentally and physically relaxed in the ocean environment, surge, rocks, kelp, cold, dark, poor visibility, not being at the top of the food chain.  When of none of those things make you uncomfortable any longer then some exercises may be in order. 

Becoming comfortable with all the factors you'll encounter will also make you safer, unless you start to loose your respect for the power and hazards of the ocean. 

Spend as much time as you can in the ocean, that's what will help you most, breathing exercises might cost you your life.

Just my opinion,

Dale L

I agree that spending time in the ocean (especially with the unique conditions we have up here) is probably the most beneficial at this point.  Becoming at ease with one's environment is crucial to relaxing and enjoyable diving.

However, saying that "breathing exercises might cost you your life" is ludicrous.  Just my opinion.

That table that fuzz posted is what I based mine on. I agree that some of the breath holding drills in water can be dangerous (that's what they say on deeper blue) but I'm doing mine in my home. I have a pool and am going to practice a lot of swimming with all diving gear. I plan to dive in the lakes frequently and I will be in the ocean as much as time allows (I live in Roseville). Last week I started out with a 1:15 hold max and two days ago I did 2:15. I've been reading up on relaxation and breathing and it has made a big difference.

Perhaps my statement was a little dramatic, what I should have said was:

Teaching your body to resist the urge to breath from excess CO2 and tolerate low O2 is a dangerous thing, it will allow you to get closer to the point of passing out.  Maybe too close, just once is all it takes. Then again maybe I'm just overly cautious.

COČ is the common trigger for the urge to breathe. COČ Tables are meant to increase your tolerance to high COČ Levels, you do this by decreasing resting periods before a breath hold. The breath holds in a COČ table are usually 50% of your personal record.


OČ Tables are meant to increase your tolerance to low OČ Levels, you do this by increasing breath holds while keeping the resting periods the same. The last breath hold in an OČ table is usually up to 80% of your personal record.

You guys should look at ashtanga

In the studio in India the big guy whacks you with a cane if you get it wrong

 

Thanks for getting me to lighten up,

Dale L