If you’re looking for your next adventure, here’s an amazing idea that you can try out: freediving!
If you love dipping in the water, enjoying the beauty of nature and being in the “right now,” freediving ticks all the boxes – and you can do it with your friends, too!
But it’s even so much more than that. As fun as freediving is, a lot of people do freediving for fitness too! Let’s explore how you can breathe new life into your health routine through freediving.
Because freediving is a sport that features breath-holding while diving underwater without breathing apparatus like SCUBA, it comes with several health benefits that you can enjoy while on an adventure. So, if you’re looking for a cool twist to your health routine, exploring freediving for fitness might be a great option for you.
As an underwater sport, freediving offers several health benefits that you can take advantage of. Here are some of the fitness benefits of freediving:
Whether you’re doing competitive freediving or just in it for fun, freediving effectively improves lung function. With consistent freediving training, your respiratory muscles are trained to allow you to hold your breath for extended periods of time.
That’s why freediving helps with increasing lung capacity, improving your diaphragm strength and strengthening your entire respiratory system. In other words, it’s about training your body to use oxygen more efficiently and keeping you from running out of breath during physical activities – whether you’re underwater or not.
The breath-holding and rhythmic swimming activities involved in freediving also have significant effects on cardiovascular endurance. As your freediving skills develop, your body also becomes more efficient in utilising oxygen, which then enhances lung and heart functions.
Through freediving for fitness, you can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases while enjoying the beauty of freediving in Sydney. Just think about it this way: the more advanced your freediving skills get, the stronger your heart gets!
If you’re looking for a way to boost your flexibility and develop your range of motion, freediving can help too.
Because of the movements required in freediving, freedivers often do full-body stretches before diving to maximise flexibility and minimise the risk of injury. In advanced freediving courses, stretches that increase thoracic flexibility are also taught.
With regular freediving practice, you can develop your range of motion, take care of your joints and improve your overall flexibility. That way, when you’re out of the water, you can both breathe and move more freely.
If your fitness goal is to build more muscle strength and develop your endurance, freediving is also a great option. When you’re freediving, the repetitive movements and the hydrostatic pressure of the water keeps your arms, shoulders, core and legs engaged.
As several muscle groups are required to move while you’re freediving, it’s like having a full-body workout underwater – and with lovely marine animals to accompany you!
Freedivers tend to focus on the moment. That’s because freediving is a relaxing experience that allows you to practice mindfulness and just take in the beauty and peacefulness of the water.
Freediving even provides opportunities for meditation and teaches you to listen to your body and focus on the task at hand. That’s how freediving helps with a healthy body and mind – it’s essentially a holistic activity that allows you to take care of yourself while having fun.
Just keep in mind that although freediving is an exciting fitness activity, it’s still an extreme sport that requires proper training, safety precautions and the guidance of experienced freediving instructors.
So, if you’re looking into freediving for fitness, don’t forget to follow safe freediving practices and discuss your health and fitness goals with your freediving instructor. That way you can gradually (and safely!) progress your skills, adjust your depth limits and enjoy a fun freediving for fitness experience.
Are you ready to breathe new life into your health routine?
Well, you’re in luck. At Freediving Central, we offer beginner, intermediate and advanced freediving courses, as well as freediving courses for instructors.
Even if you already have freediving experience, our courses can help you refine your technique and help you add freediving for fitness and add it to your health routine.
Discover various breathing techniques that are commonly used in freediving and relaxation practices. Whether you’re an experienced freediver or someone looking to reduce stress and anxiety, these techniques can help you achieve your goals.
