Tom Cruise always shows an indomitable spirit on screen, which is reflected in many of his famous stunts. The Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning star once recalled how during the shoot of Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation (2015), he trained with a freediving expert for a stunt to hold his breath underwater for six minutes and six seconds. “Normally, people hold their breath for 10-15 seconds. So, I had to prove to everyone that it was actually safe and spend time with the safety officers to show them that it is possible, because I was going to be relaxed,” says in an undated video doing the rounds on social media.
Notably, he practiced with safety officers to ensure the stunt was safe. He then pulled off the visually impressive scene in the film.
Taking a cue from his candid admission, let’s consider whether it is humanly possible to spend six minutes or more underwater.
As fitness coach Varun Rattan says, holding your breath for six minutes requires patience and consistent . “Start by establishing a baseline: while at rest, take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can, stopping at the point of mild discomfort. Record this time—this is your starting point,” said Rattan.
When practicing, ensure your mind is calm and your muscles are relaxed. “Tensing up uses more oxygen and will increase your urge to breathe. Practice mindfulness or focus on bodily sensations during each hold,” shared Rattan.
After each breath hold, allow yourself 10 to 12 deep, diaphragmatic breaths before attempting the next hold. “Aim for 5 to 10 breath holds per session, and try to increase your hold with each session. Any improvement above your baseline is progress. However, if your hold times fall below your baseline, you may not be well rested and should take it easy,” Rattan elaborated.
Practice both full exhale and full inhale during your training. Once comfortable holding your breath for two to three minutes, begin practicing underwater. “It’s a good idea to do this under supervision, at least for the first few days. Remember, panicking or moving underwater will increase your and shorten your breath-hold duration,” said Rattan.
What to note?
Rattan said that while it is good to challenge oneself and one’s ability for a , it should strictly be under guidance with safety precautions in place. “If not needed, don’t even attempt,” said Rattan.
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