MASTERY IN AND UNDER WATER
Deep End Fitness teaches people how to manage stress, unlock flow, and maximize performance through water training/therapy and breathwork.
Deep End Fitness is the practice of movement, breathwork, and strengthening one’s mind with the goal of increasing human performance and confidence in and out of the water. Within the Deep End Fitness Training, there is a focus on four key training systems: Movement, Breathwork, Mindset, and Water Confidence.
We specifically utilize water as a valuable tool to give us a glimpse into the type of mindset we are creating. When underwater, the volume of your thoughts increases and you are given a direct insight into the internal dialogue you allow when faced in an uncomfortable situation – especially as carbon dioxide (CO2) increases.
CO2 tolerance training can significantly benefit mental health by promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and improving stress management. By increasing tolerance to higher CO2 levels, the body becomes more adept at handling stress, which can enhance resilience and emotional regulation. Improved CO2 tolerance also positively affects heart rate variability (HRV), a key indicator of autonomic nervous system balance. Enhanced HRV reflects better adaptability to stress, leading to improved cardiovascular health and greater overall emotional well-being.
At Deep End Fitness, we view challenges as opportunities and train the adaptive capacity to shift our physical, mental, and emotional state on demand. Our mindset system is based on the F.R.E.E. (Focus, Relaxation, Economy of Motion, Efficient breathing) operating system that can and should be used out of the water in everyday life. It consists of mental reframing, resilience, strength, eliminating drag, and self confidence.
Safety
Deep End Fitness participants hold their breath underwater for many different exercises. But just like with swimming, springboard/platform diving, synchronized swimming, and even swim lessons these times underwater are brief. In fact, most breath holds are only 15-20 seconds in duration. Here are three areas of safety we hold to:
High CO2, Not Low O2
The first safety principle is that participants operate underwater with high CO2 levels, NOT low O2 levels. Carbon dioxide in the bloodstream gives the urge to breathe, and the higher the CO2 levels, the stronger the urge to breathe. Exercises are performed with proper breathing > breath holding > recovery protocols.
Buddy System
The Buddy/Guardian system is always in effect when underwater performance takes place. Buddy teams follow a one-up-one-down principle, so that there is always supervision of an athlete underwater.
Underwater Breath Holding Pledge
All Deep End Fitness Tallahassee participants sign an Underwater Breath Holding Pledge whereby they make a safety pledge to those who love and care about them, that whenever they engage in underwater breath holding activities (in a class session or outside a class session), they give their promise to perform proper principles and procedures outlined in the pledge.
Locations
Morcom Aquatics Center
2560 Pottsdamer Street
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Deep End Fitness Tallahassee classes are conducted primarily at FSU’s Morcom Aquatics Center. The state-of-the-art facility is located off-campus next to the Don Veller Seminole Golf Course. The main pool – where we hold our General Classes – features up to 30 practice lanes which are 8 feet in depth and maintains a water temperature of 80 degrees. The dive well is 17 feet deep, and that’s where we hold our Advanced Classes. Parking is free. And students can take the FSU bus system to get to the pool free from main campus.
Other pools may come on-line soon for Deep End Fitness Tallahassee pool training.
Our Breathwork classes can take place in multiple studios locations throughout the city.