Written thousands of years ago, Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga, as described in the Yoga Sutras, provide step-by-step guidance to prepare the body and mind to achieve Oneness, Bliss, enlightenment or Divine Unity.

Yoga teaches us to have a strong and supple body, and a calm stress-free mind fit for meditation. This mastery of mind and body is invaluable to us as freedivers. For many, the dive is the meditation.

The higher limbs do not have direct application to freediving and to use them here would only dilute their significance, for this reason, I have included only the first four of the eight limbs, or the lower limbs. The Yamas and Niyamas are practical and straight forward and can apply to any area of life, in or out of the water. Asana maintains and develops a fit, supple body. Pranayama can help to regulate our thoughts and emotions.

​*The following material is my opinion based on my years gaining knowledge and experience in yoga and freediving. Yogic philosophy has helped me in and out of the water so I have compiled this information in hopes that it may help you the same way.*

Pranayama - CONTROL OF THE BREATH

"By regulating the prana, we regulate our minds, because the two always go together. If one is controlled, the other is automatically controlled." ~ Sutras, II.50

"As its result, the veil over the inner Light is destroyed." ~II.52

Prana is 'Life force,' and ayama is 'extension.' Therefore, pranayama is the extension of the breath/Life Force. The mind is linked to the body through the breathing so to control the breath, is to control the mind. If the mind is racing, take a moment to notice the state of your breathing. It will likely be fast just like your mind.

To slow down the breathing will slow down the mind helping you to manage anxiety, balance the levels of the gasses in your blood, and get the most out of your peak inhalation.

Many of the breathing techniques used by yogis for centuries to transcend the body, commune with the divine, prevent illness and gain control over the monkey mind can improve our lung capacity, flexibility, CO2 tolerance, and our vitality. The breath is our fundamental tool to establish the optimal mindset for freediving.