Freediving: listening to the body and mind
Freediving is an ancient traditional practice that took on a sport-oriented direction in the 20th century. Instead of using breathing apparatus like scuba gear, freediving relies on breath-holding until resurfacing from the water. Immersing oneself in apnea involves deliberately ceasing ventilation to explore the depths, cover distance, or remain submerged for an extended period. This activity is attractive for its relaxation benefits, the opportunity to learn about breathing, self-discovery, and the exploration of the aquatic environment. When freedivers are interviewed, it becomes evident that it serves as a means of self-exploration. Freediving: listening to the body and mind.
Modified states of consciousness
Novice freedivers initially confront the sensation of "air thirst" when holding their breath. They quickly learn to develop a heightened body awareness, allowing them to accept and adapt to this situation of intentional hypoxia. However, freediving is also a practice of mindfulness. Freedivers can intentionally utilize altered states of consciousness to prolong their breath-holding periods.
To the uninitiated, this practice may resemble sensory deprivation. With experience and through exchanging insights with fellow practitioners, beginners learn to navigate this novel sensory experience.
The journey consists of two distinct phases. Initially, there is a phase of comfort and pleasure, which practitioners strive to extend. This is achieved, in part, by modifying their states of consciousness. Subsequently, they enter a phase of effort and struggle when their bodies send signals of discomfort. During this phase, the unpleasant sensations become increasingly prominent. Excessive carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, inadequate oxygen supply to the tissues, and the increasing ambient pressure are acutely felt by the body. Practitioners begin to experience reflex movements of the glottis and diaphragm due to the restricted air circulation in the trachea and the rising levels of CO2 in the body. They also feel the compression of the rib cage caused by hydrostatic pressure, and their legs may heat up. The apnea situation intensifies the body's sensory perceptions.
Internal sensations
Internal sensations quickly become intense. Practitioners learn to interpret these sensations, embracing and transcending them. Sharing their experiences with peers becomes crucial for personal growth. It helps them articulate and make sense of their sensations, building a collective understanding of the body's response during freediving. Unpleasant and distressing sensations, such as "air thirst" and diaphragm spasms, are discussed and interpreted. This enables practitioners to accept and let go of these sensations.
Freediving expands and reshapes the sensory map for practitioners, who simultaneously learn to listen to their bodies. They implement strategies to overcome unpleasant sensations, spasms, "air thirst," leg pain, and pressure, as well as to manage intense emotions. The aim is to maximize the pleasurable sensations experienced during dives. Practitioners describe moments of "disconnection" and "reconnection." The mind must remain flexible, letting go of the struggle and relinquishing the pursuit of control. Instead, it must be guided by the elements and accept all the constraints imposed by the immense pressures.
Syncope
Practitioners learn to modify their states of consciousness by focusing on their breath, visualizing their performance, projecting positive mental images, refraining from excessive thinking, cultivating a sense of "letting go," and practicing self-hypnosis.
Particular caution must be exercised to avoid entering a state of syncope. Syncope refers to the moment when the brain temporarily shuts down and can prove fatal for freedivers. The onset of syncope is often unforeseen, with only rare warning signs. Expressions such as short circuit, near-death experience, or cerebral eclipse are commonly associated with syncope. Syncope is characterized by a sudden and transient loss of consciousness, followed by a rapid return to a normal state of consciousness, accompanied by a loss of postural tone.
Practitioners share their feelings when syncope arises:
"My body urges me to exit the water, but I choose not to listen. I keep swimming, but my performance deteriorates. My neck and spine become rigid. I continue pushing myself. Gradually, I feel disoriented and tell myself to stop fooling around, to get out of the water. And suddenly, everything comes to a halt."
"I pushed myself; I was doing well and kept telling myself to go further. Suddenly, I lost all sense of direction, lost my clarity, not knowing where I was. Syncope is not painful. I didn't anticipate it."
Practice
Ultimately, syncope represents the final decision made by the freediver's living body, the last adaptation before death. However, freedivers who have experienced syncope and continue to compete in freediving construct strategies to avoid reliving such an experience.
They learn to engage in self-talk, focus on their intended direction, stay present, and avoid projecting themselves toward the surface. Syncope becomes embedded in a cultural norm established among peers. It becomes necessary: "You should experience it at least once to know how to avoid it." Some practitioners create an aesthesiological scale or a scale of sensations to finely situate themselves within their performance, free from external time markers. They co-develop a strategy that combines listening to the body with mental cultivation.
Next read: https://mentalaccelerator.com/resource/keeping-your-cool/how-to-keep-a-smooth-pace-in-competition