Do you know what it is? … … If you guessed breath holding, you got it right! Breath holding (intermittent hypoxia training) holds tremendous benefits! Science is slowly catching up to the untapped potential of breath holding. Freedivers, like Stig, have been invaluable guinea pigs in demonstrating that the human body is far more capable than imagined, and the results of longer & long term holds. This opened the doorway to interest in studying the benefits of hypoxia & hypercapnia tolerance (resistance to low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels). The first results have been promising, with studies in mice showing a protective potential in old age, one of the key indicators of a long and healthy life (see first comment for link to study). So… The question is… How long can you hold your breath?

With a huge influx of new faces - hi everyone! - it is time bring out one of the classics. Stig's 2nd appearance on the TEDx stage was a big one. Not just because of the title, Breath Holding is the New Black. Or, how he talks how breath holding & breathwork provides a natural solution for PTSD. No, it is because it is a miracle that we can even watch the video as it is today. The recording took months, and several emails back and forth, to get published. And when it finally did, it was flagged and stated that the talk was not supported by "legitimate" science. Ironically, all in the same year a Nobel prize was awarded for the discovery of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability. If you have already done the challenge, you likely have already experienced difference, peer approved or not. So, lean back, and enjoy!

Does breath holding activate the “rest and digest” or the “fight or flight” response? The answer is: a little bit of both. One of the key aspects of holding your breath for a long time is relaxation. Your body helps you with this, as after about a minute into the breath hold the Mammalian Dive Response kicks in, which causes, among other things, your heart rate to drop - making it easier to stay calm. As part of the Mammalian Dive Response, blood flow to the arms and legs is restricted, to allow more blood to flow to the vital organs. This mechanism is controlled through the sympathetic nervous system. When you do breath holding on the regular, you’ll experience both of these responses. Half way during the hold, you feel completely relaxed and lose track of time. In the end, if you want to push yourself, it is a challenge akin to climbing a mountain top. It is a great “workout” for the entire nervous system, cells, organs (in particular, the heart, lungs, spleen & brain) and blood circulation. Can you double your breath hold time in 7 days? There is only one way to find out. Here's how to play: Step 1: Take an inhale, start your stopwatch & hold your breath. Step 2: Post your time here, get feedback and points Step 3: Head on over to the Classroom for the rest of the challenge. Let's go & double your breath hold! 🧑‍🏫

Should you do breath holding when you are sick? Yes. And. No. Forget about going for a max breath hold. And you probably want to skip the weekly challenge. But 10, 20 or even 30 seconds of gentle breath holding? It helps. And it even was a staple when all of us were "sick" a few years ago. Check Stig's video (and the subsequent post why small breath holds do wonders)

4 minutes. I love it 😅 “My limits are moving.”