Correct Breathing

[Quarrior]

I know we are supposed to use long slow breathes. Question I have is, how do I learn the technique. I mean is there a training video that I can get that would help? I know Yoga teaches this, but, is there a particular Yoga video anyone recommends?

Brian

 

[Gary D.]

I know we are supposed to use long slow breathes. Question I have is, how do I learn the technique. I mean is there a training video that I can get that would help? I know Yoga teaches this, but, is there a particular Yoga video anyone recommends?

Brian

Just relax and breathe where you feel comfortable.

If you try and breath like someone else it could cause problems. My wife uses so little air I think she finds a refill station on the bottom. She can do two 100’ dives, max the tables, do the safety stops and still have air in an 80.

As you relax your breathing will improve.

Gary D.

 

[SueMermaid]

What Gary said. It's easy enough for us to say "relax, dude!" but that's pretty much all there is to it. It does take a while to slip into that groove. But when you do, you ill know what we are talking about. You will feel the force, Luke.
Breathe deeply and evenly, you should. Relax, you must. :yoda:

Shoot. We need a yoda smilie.

 

[jepuskar]

Brian,

I second what Gary says...just dive more and you'll get your own breathing pattern down. I dont think there is anything better than diving more, for various reasons.

 

[sharkmasterbc]

my open water instructor told me to concentrate more on a slow exhale and when inhaing to "sip" the air with my toung on the roof of my mouth.
You have to be carful with yoga breathing cause most yoga techniques call for a hold on the top of the inhale and also on the bottom of the exhale...in the beginning I just crossed my yoga training into the scuba world and boy did I ever get some nasty skip breathing headaches.
And also the most important thing is to relax...
"do or do not, there is no try" (since were on the yoda thing)

 

[sachar]

The moment I started breathing underwater as I do on the surface (maybe a little bit slower) my air consumption really improved. Before that I did the slow and really deep breathing thing, but this only made me go up about meter when breathing in and drop about a meter when breathing out.

 

[MB]

Don't make this more difficult than needed. Try out a few things, and use the money you'd spend on the video for an additional dive trip.

A few things that affect breathing:

1. Cold - If you're cold, you'll likely breather faster and your breaths will be more shallow. Warm up, wear a hood that covers your neck. That will help you breathe more slowly and more deeply.

2. Weight - Using more weights than you need will increase your workload and affect your breathing. Do weight checks more frequently, and get rid of any lead that you don't actually need. This will also help you breathe more slowly and more deeply.

3. Trim - stay horizontal in the water. Streamline yourself and your gear. If you're "slippery" in the water you'll use less air. If you plow thru the water, you'll use more.

4. Muscle tone - Don't just relax your mind, relax your muscles. Focus on your shoulders, relax them. Focus on your trunk muscles. Relax them. Focus on your thighs, relax them. The energy it takes to maintain tight muscles increases your weight requirements and alters your breathing. Just by relaxing your neck and shoulders, your breathing will improve.

5. Slow in, slower out. Practice while you sit at the computer: breath in with a slow 3 count, then exhale on a slower 6 count. Try out breathing on this 2-sec exhale for every 1-sec inhale pattern. Make sure at the end of the exhale, you've actually gotten rid of as much of the air as you can (without forcing things). When you dive, every few minutes stop yourself and remind yourself to use the 2/1 breathing ratio for a few breaths. You'll see a major improvement in your breathing.

Write a few "Breathing Reminders" on a slate and stick it in your pocket. On your next dive, sneak a peek at your slate, and spend a few seconds, repeatedly, focused on improving your breathing. You'll see a marked improvement.

 

[JustAddWater]

Good points MB.
I remember when I started scuba that I was so overly concerned with breathing techniques; trying to get the most out of every psi, that even my natural breathing seemed unnatural. Combined with good weighting and trim, dive experience will lend to correct breathing while on scuba.