BREATH RETENTIONS are used in the HYPOXiX workouts for a variety of benefits.

1. THE CORE: at the END of your ENGAGED EXHALE, you have a high level of deep core recruitment that trains the deep core isometrically. Want an incredible AB BURN? Add a Breath Retention of varying lengths in your core and functional fitness to achieve stellar results!
2. RESPIRATION: Lung capacity has been shown to be the leading predictor of longevity. Training your Breath Hold in conjunction with your functional fitness drives you to a place of involuntary inhalation, which uses a full exhale and full inhale to enhance your lung capacity!
3. CO2 TOLERANCE: Breath Retentions in conjunction with movement raise CO2 Levels, which encourages positive adaptations in the body's ability to tolerate stress and CO2. Additionally, the increased blood flow to the muscles and the brain during exercise accelerates our brain and body results!

I have chosen to be highly conservative in the application of Breath Retentions because of the minimum effective dose concept. How much do we really need to achieve positive adaptation? Not a lot! In the formal research, we see perfectly beneficial blood oxygen drops at at 8 second exhale followed by very short breath retentions. This encourages positive adaptation without falling into maladaptation as is seen when overstressing the body without the right recovery!

Less is more baby!