The art of the breath hold...

 

Full experience of the daily practice of the hypoxic breathwork through the Wim Hof Method

In chronological order, the physiological effects are different per individual but these represent mine.

1. Through a 30 count of deep and rapid inhalations and exhalations, by breath number seven, my brain is swirling with dizziness and light headedness because of an increase of O2 in my blood.
2. The remaining breaths up to 30 (sometimes 15,or 20 depending how I'm feeling this day) really work the diaphragm and and stretch out my chest cavity and rib cage with deep bottom out breathing.
3. At the end of the last exhalation the beginning of the breath hold is when the fun begins.  
4. I feel nothing within the first 5 seconds, then it begins
5. Seconds 5 through 10 my teeth begin throb and then feel as if they are floating, from there the throb  works its way up my brain stem and into my brain so intensely that it seems I can count the heartbeats in my hypothalamus
6. At this point my brain seems to disconnected from the rest of my body, the throb goes away and the real work begins as I lean into the end of the first minute.
7. Time for focus, focusing on a singularity.  What works for me is a single point of light or as simple as one stand alone tree on a hill.  Empty the mind of all distractions, a forced elimination of all the noise.
8. Thirty seconds into the second minute the gaze on my face is relaxed, lips easy, and my tongue is lightly touching the roof of my mouth as I wait for the first of many light convulsions from my diaphragm signaling to my lungs its time for a breath.
9. Approaching the end of the second minute, my throat begins to tighten and the urge to swallow begins.  I fight through the swallow reflex and start to refocus on my efforts on the stronger diaphragm convulsions.
10. My eyes open to check the time, about to round up to three minutes, and my natural instinct to breath is about to take over, four, three, two, one.... its over
11. Inhaling, I take the biggest breath to top off my lungs and hold... 15 seconds... 
12. At first there is a slight hearing loss as oxygenated blood is rejuvenating my auditory senses and  slowly my surroundings regain their sounds and smells.  Round one complete
13. Rinse and repeat