Topic

Day 3 – Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT)

Total time: 15 mins

Becoming Stronger

In the 80s, Russian scientists were wondering how to increase the performance of their athletes. They discovered that by training in high altitude (mountain tops) they would somehow become faster and stronger.

They realised that because high altitude environments have lower than usual oxygen levels, this has a positive effect in the body. After much research, they developed the concept of Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT).

Today’s lesson will take about 15 mins and you will learn:

  • What is Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) and how it can make you stronger
  • How to achieve this amazing results, with a very simple breathing technique
  • One exercise you can do daily, to achieve IHT and improve your physical and mental state

Lowering Oxygen Levels With One
Simple Breathing Technique

As it turns out, the first Yogis, thousands of years ago, somehow figured this out. The most revered breathing technique of Pranayama, has the effect of lowering the Oxygen levels in the body for a brief period of time. This is the very definition of IHT.

Now, thanks to modern science, we have countless evidence of benefits from this practice.

YES, we know… at first, the idea of lowering the oxygen in the body might sound dangerous, or counter productive. However there’s a specific way to go about it. There’s been a ton of research done on the topic and we recommend you learn about it because it’s fascinating.

The next video will help clarify all of this.

Oxygen Control (4 mins)

DON’T DO THIS IF: This practice is NOT recommended IF you’re in one of the following:

  • Pregnancy
  • Epilepsy
  • Severe COPD
  • Cardiac Arrhythmia / Pace Maker

If this is the case, you CAN still do everything else in the course: Breathing In Beats and Squeezing the pelvic floor muscles. Just skip the breath retentions.

Exercise – One Round Of SOMA Breath (7 mins)

The exercise you’re about to do includes everything you’ve learned so far: Rhythmic breathing, the Mula Bhanda squeeze and now Breath retention.

This is pretty much one full round of SOMA Breath. By doing this sequence two or three times per day, the quality of your life will increase quite rapidly.

Instructions:

  • Breathe in Beats for at least 3 minutes
  • Squeeze the pelvic floor muscles on every inhale, release and fully relax on every exhale
  • When instructed, exhale fully. Hold as long as possible with NO air in your lungs
  • When you can’t hold any longer, and you’ve gone past your comfort zone, take a deep inhale and Hold for at least 30 seconds
  • Go back to normal breathing and enjoy the new state of peace and relaxation in your body
  • Repeat once or twice per day

NOTE*** This is NOT Chronic Hypoxia. Chronic hypoxia is a medical condition that needs to be addressed by profesionals. What we are doing here is Lowering the Oxygen levels in the body for a very BRIEF period of time. This is known as Intermittent Hypoxic Training

So, today you learned:

  • The benefits of lowering your Oxygen Levels for brief periods of time. This is known as Intermittent Hypoxic Training or simply IHT.
  • How to lower your oxygen levels by using simple breathing techniques
  • One round of the SOMA Breath sequence

Now what?

One Round Of SOMA Breath is quite powerful. If this is new to your body, once per day is enough.

Of course, you are free to do it more times since it might take some practice to get it right, but for now once or twice is ok.

In the coming days we will continue increasing the level of difficulty and the range of experiences gradually.

The best is yet to come!