THE ELEMENTS
“I conquered my fear of the freezing cold and almost fully submerged in an ice bath.
Thank you Rich for talking me through the breathing to keep my mind under control.”
OUR OBJECTIVE
By deepening the understanding and connection with our vital life force (the breath), we help to build mentally resilient, physically robust, high performing individuals, best equipped to face the many challenges of modern living.
BREATH
“The mind is the king of the senses, but the breath is the king of the mind.”
“I was amazed at how much I learnt about myself and the human mind. ”
The fundamental principles of performance breathing rest on three pillars;
MOVEMENT
Poor posture and breathing patterns greatly inhibit our ability to create and use energy efficiently.
The breath also plays a central role in how our nervous system organises itself and therefore how we express our athletic potential.
We must learn to use our physiology in accordance with the way it was designed to maximise performance.
Outcomes include;
• Understanding importance of nasal breathing
• Achieving effective diaphragmatic breathing
• Anatomically correct breathing aligned with functional movement patterns
MINDSET
Without conscious control of our thoughts, feelings and emotions we are destined to react automatically to the ups and downs of life.
Our breath sits at the intersection of our biology and our psychology.
Learning to use the breath to take control of our mental and emotional state is the key to creativity, decision making and better mental health.
Outcomes include;
• Autonomic nervous system control
• Understand the impact of ‘over breathing’
• Downregulation for recovery and relaxation
ENERGY
More is not always better, and the conventional advice to “take a big breath” can actually undermine performance.
Understanding the processes that govern how our bodies produce energy is essential to maximising health and sports performance.
Learn the latest techniques to incorporate into your training to immediately improve aerobic efficiency, output and recovery.
Outcomes include;
• Importance of CO2 tolerance
• Apnoea (breath hold) training
• Simulation of high altitude training
We apply our techniques in the following unique proving grounds;
ICE
“Cold water is merciless, but righteous. It is capable of bringing us back to what we had once lost.”
“The ice bath was something I have never experienced, and I can’t describe the sensation through my body afterwards. Well done to you & the team.”
Exposing the body to a temporary yet significant cold stressor will trigger a series of physiological and psychological adaptations in a safe and controlled manner.
Learn to apply breathing techniques to override the automatic reactions to fear, panic, stress and anxiety.
Experience the flood of energy and endorphins associated with sudden exposure to frigid temperatures.
Benefit from a range of health and wellness impacts including, reduced inflammation and joint pain, stronger cardiovascular and lymphatic systems and improved immune function.
FIRE
“The pressure’s high, just to stay alive. ‘Cause the heat is on.”
“The workshop posed a lot of self discovery and has ignited a real interest in high performance.”
Regular heat exposure (dry sauna use) has been associated with physiological adaptations that will improve health, fitness and overall longevity including;
Improved aerobic capacity (endurance level) in trained athletes.
Pairing heat with cold exposure (ice baths) provides a powerful contrast therapy which assists in flushing the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Improved insulin sensitivity and promotion of muscle growth to help achieve a healthier body composition.
EARTH
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.”
“My sleep, workouts, health and ability to deal with stressful situations have all improved.”
The benefits of getting outdoors and training in a natural environment go well beyond mere strength and conditioning. We treat the natural world as our gym - be it sand, ocean, rock, trail or grass.
Well timed sun exposure will elevate vitamin D levels and help to rest circadian rhythm for improved sleep quality.
Training with odd objects and in uneven terrain will aid in the development of deeper strength, balance and proprioception.
Barefoot training provides an opportunity for earthing (allowing for transfer of the earth’s electrons from the ground to the body).
WATER
“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.”
“Going past what you assumed your limits to be is a powerful asset. I am finding I can push far beyond what I thought was possible.”
Our pool & ocean training sessions are specifically designed to test physical and mental capacities in novel and challenging ways.
Test the limits of your physical capabilities without any damage to muscle tissue or joints, training explosively in a near weightless, low impact environment.
Calm and quiet the mind and learn to manage physical and mental stress completing exercises in a challenging world below the surface.
Learn to manage effort and efficiency in a hypoxic (breath-hold) environment, where excessive strain or tension will detract from performance.