“A scuba diver goes down to look around, a Freediver goes down to look within”. These were the words etched into the wall of a café on a random beach in the Philippines. This was my first introduction to the world of freediving. At first, these words struck me as merely a clever aphorism. Only later after doing my first extended yoga training at Hridaya Yoga Mexico, did the idea to pursue this obscure sport come to fruition. Shortly after I bussed across the country to Playa Del Carmen and began my AIDA Freediving Certification.
As my training progressed and I became more familiar with the world of freediving, I began to notice how interwoven the worlds of freediving and yoga were. Before each dive, we would practice yoga breathing techniques and stretches, and bring our minds into a meditative state. I noticed how freediving schools were often also yoga schools. And how many top freedivers credited much of their success to the incorporation of yoga teachings in their practice. It was from this that I began to pay close attention to what yoga could teach me about freediving.
Both yoga and freediving are ancient practices dating back over 5000 years ago. They both emphasise physical and mental discipline to achieve control of the body and clarity of mind. As such, we can use the teachings of yoga to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms at play in freediving.
Control of Physiology
The goal in freediving is to bring our mind and body into a state of deep relaxation. Apparently, it helps to be relaxed when you’re rapidly running out of oxygen, tens of metres below the surface of the ocean. We do this by adjusting the rate and rhythm of the breath to signal the body that it’s time to relax, which triggers the parasympathetic nervous system.
Through yoga, we learn the practice of pranayama which directly translated means the control of life force within our body. We do this through specific breathing techniques. We are able to change the bodies physiology, redirect energy flows and affect the autonomic nervous system.
As a preparatory stage to meditation, pranayama primes the body to be both relaxed and alert. This combination is exactly the physiological state that the body needs to be in when diving to depths. Relaxed so as to conserve as much oxygen and energy as possible, whilst alert and conscious to be able to navigate the underwater world.
Our body has evolved to enter this state automatically with the application of cold water to the face and nostrils, triggering our mammalian dive reflex. This further assists by slowing the heart rate, releasing red blood cells stored in the spleen and redirecting blood from the extremities to the vital organs.
Through the practice of pranayama, we learn to take full breaths, using all the space within the lungs and stretching them further. Breathing into expanded areas of the ribs and pockets in the upper back.
Meditative Calm
In yoga, the stages of meditation teach us to withdraw from our senses and find an inner calm and relaxation. Regardless of what is happening externally, if we can be calm and relaxed we are able to see the bigger picture and make better decisions.
Humans as a species have become the apex predator on the planet. Recently in large parts of the world, we have eradicated war, famine and disease. Now would seem to be the least stressful time to be born as a human. Yet many of us are overcome with stress, tension and anxiety. The modern diseases, so widespread as to be affecting children now at younger ages than ever before.
Yoga teaches us practices to slow down, see clearly, and relax our body to the deepest levels. Freediving provides us with an opportunity to test these skills off-the-cushion, and in a high-pressure environment.
Being so far below the surface of the ocean with limited oxygen is a perfect recipe for stress, panic and fear. But through the practice of softening our body, and surrendering to the present situation we learn to move with the challenge, and not be overcome by it.
We can see first hand as well the effects meditation has. When doing on land breath-holds for time I will regularly get times of 2:30-3 minutes. However, after doing an extended meditation and breath-up beforehand I have been able to get times of 4 – 4:30 minutes. This can be incredibly rewarding as well to see practical outcomes and measures. Quantifying the results of meditation has typically been difficult. Unless you’re willing to get your brain scanned.
Harmony with Nature
Yoga draws much of its inspirations and teachings from observations made of the natural world. When we draw too far away from nature, we lose so much of what makes us human. We find ourselves feeling disconnected and discontented. However, yoga shows how we can incorporate nature into our everyday life, paying respect to and taking teachings from the natural world.
Freediving gives us the practical opportunity to literally be immersed in nature. Unlike scuba divers who may appear alien or as an intruder to this underwater world, with bulky equipment and constant bubbles. A free diver takes on the closer appearance of a marine creature, moving with grace and fluidity.
By learning to soften ourselves, to centre our mind, and to yield to nature. It offers us the opportunity to dance harmoniously with nature.
Most swimmers in the ocean only take in the surface currents, knocked about by waves. Few dive down further to find the beauty and stillness hidden in its depths.
So too do many of us spend most of our time lost in thought and distraction, waves of pleasure and aversion. Rarely do we take the time to look deeper at the subtle realities of our existence, and find the stillness and beauty hidden within.
In the words of the great Bruce Lee:
Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water.
Hi, I am Matt. I am a passionate student of health and wellness. The science of yoga is the most effective system I’ve yet found for bringing about physical vitality with mental clarity. By blending a Western approach of anatomy and alignment, with Eastern philosophies and meditative techniques. My mission is to share these modern and ancient teachings to help others find harmony in their life.