After asking my daughter to wash up before going to bed, and then getting up the next day to find the sink full of dirty crockery (tableware) i.e., dishes, plates, cups, knives, forks, spoons, pans, and kitchen utensils it got my blood boiling.
Instead of waking her up by screaming at her which wouldn’t help, I made coffee, and then sat down in front of my computer to meditate, write this blog, and carry out some deep breathing for which I’ve written several articles about the benefits of my experiences in the past. Certainly, it lowers my blood pressure and helps control stress! Today, the topic is holding your breath for five minutes and what you can hope to achieve if you are able to do it.
According to my online research, holding your breath for over five minutes, which is possible for some individuals, is generally not recommended and can pose significant risks. However, for trained free divers or individuals who have developed specific techniques, there may be perceived benefits associated with prolonged breath-holding.
Here are some potential benefits:
Improved Breath-Holding Abilities: Regular breath-holding practice can help improve lung capacity, breath control, and overall respiratory efficiency. This can be beneficial for activities such as swimming, diving, or certain types of meditation.
Enhanced Relaxation: Some people find breath-holding exercises to be calming and stress-relieving. By focusing on breath control and maintaining a relaxed state, individuals may experience reduced anxiety and increased mental clarity.
Increased Oxygen Efficiency: Through breath-holding training, individuals may learn to use oxygen more efficiently, allowing them to sustain longer periods without breathing. This can be advantageous in situations where oxygen availability is limited, such as during certain sports or high-altitude activities.
Mental Discipline: Prolonged breath-holding requires mental discipline, focus, and concentration. Practicing breath-holding exercises can help improve mental resilience, willpower, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
Athletic Performance: In certain sports, such as freediving or underwater swimming, the ability to hold one's breath for extended periods can be advantageous. It allows athletes to stay submerged longer and perform better in breath-holding challenges or competitions.
Despite these potential benefits, it's essential to approach breath-holding exercises with caution and under appropriate supervision, especially if attempting prolonged breath-holding. Holding your breath for extended periods can lead to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), hypercapnia (excessive carbon dioxide buildup), loss of consciousness, and in severe cases, brain damage or death.
Individuals with underlying health conditions, such as cardiovascular problems or respiratory disorders, should consult with a healthcare professional before attempting breath-holding exercises. Additionally, it's crucial to receive proper training from qualified instructors and adhere to safety guidelines to minimize the risks associated with prolonged breath-holding.
The above explanation which comes from Chat GPT just touches the surface, as right now I’m literally holding my breath while writing this blog, and can say holding your breath creates Growth Hormone (GH) release which is big because it improves muscular stimulation and therefore compliments regular weight training in muscle recovery. I just realized I’ve held my breath for over six minutes and fifty seconds first time around, this morning.
Additionally, holding your breath will help release Nitric Oxide (NO) which improves your immune system while providing many other benefits like better blood flow, increasing oxygenation. Of course, it also helps keep muscle retention. Muscles are the biggest organ in the body, and we all know as we get older muscle tissue breaks up. So, taking care of your muscles is essential as you age. Feel good fast by stretching and appreciating the feel-good drug.
Deep breathing is much more than this because it improves memory function, IQ levels, concentration ability and objective focus and in my opinion, it causes total rejuvenation. Believe me if you want, but I’m convinced it’s the overall package.
As well it creates wellbeing in general and the release of endorphins which enables a deeper understanding coupled to stress levels which left untreated are certain of causing a whole host of other ailments that come as we age.
I’ve just finished my second round of holding my breath for seven and a half minutes and have reached a wonderful state of consciousness. I’m feeling great!
I’ve got to wake up my granddaughter now, so hope you like this brief introduction. However, the general rule of thumb, like anything is to practice. Start with basics and then keep enhancing your approach.
Check out one or two of my blogs on the topic below:
Deep breathing allows you to tap into your alpha brainwave state which connects inner vibrations causing positive vibes and the feeling that is linked to spiritual connectivity.
This really is too big to ignore!
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
IQ = abbreviation for intelligence quotient: a measure of someone's intelligence found from special tests: Children with very low/high IQs often have problems at school. IQ is just one measure of intelligence.
Consciousness (n) = awareness, realization, notice, perception, mindfulness, cognizance, (ant) unconsciousness
Whole host (idiom) = a large number of something: There's a whole host of reasons why he didn't get the job. (syn) whole range, whole set, endless number, enormous quantity
Spiritual connectivity = is our ability to intuitively understand something that impacts our soul and gives meaning to our lives. Some people experience spiritual connection by having a relationship to the Creator, their ancestors, Mother Earth, and all living things.