Frenchy68 0 #26 May 8, 2004 You may be only one jump away. AFF Level 6 (unstable exit) is a huge confidence booster, which will probably allow you to relax more as you start trusting your abilities to be in control. My first solo dive also was a big step in the relaxing ladder. the 50 seconds of freefall felt like twice as long without having to look at someone making monkey signs at me! And "flying" on your own, landing safely... WOW. If you can't relax after thatIn my own experience... Have fun, Nick "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brodes 0 #27 May 8, 2004 Two weeks ago i did my AFF3 and it was horrible i was all over the place (i thought so anyway) but i still passed. I spent 2 weeks working out how to relax and today i totally nailed AFF4! I am now [email]completely stable in freefall and it makes a hugggge difference, the jump felt twice as long because i wasnt stressing out and it was easily the most fun ive ever had! (this was only 3 hours ago im still totally psyched up!!) I've got a birdsuit video with a nickelback song on it that i watch every morning, on the plane ride up i closed my eyes, did some deep breathing and sang that song in my head. It did wonders, i was really relaxed in freefall and mucking round with my JM pulling faces haha. I do believe once you get it right it'll become second nature but we'll wait till next week to see. Search for relaxing across the forums and take some notes from there, its what i did!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrianSGermain 1 #28 May 9, 2004 The Following is an excerpt from the new Book: "The Parachute and its Pilot" The problem with most people is that they separate mind from body. We all fall into this trap from time to time, depending on the particular context of the stress. We somehow think that since the stress is in our heads, we will be able to extricate ourselves from it with thinking. This is not the case. We must combat physiological phenomena with physiological manipulations. This means that in order to “relax” in stressful circumstances, we must perform behaviors and bodily functions contrary to the natural physiological responses suggested by our instincts. For instance, calming the breathing is an incredibly powerful tool in stressful situations. By altering the respiration rate back to one more indicative of safer circumstances, we can actually fool the body into relaxing. The body then sends a feedback loop to the mind, which minimizes the changes in brain chemistry. This actually alters the momentum of the experience. By sending a “reverse feedback loop” of calming behavior, the sympathetic “adrenal” response is actually diminished. For ordering instructions, go to: www.bigairsportz.comInstructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 0 #29 May 10, 2004 Damned, i can't wait for my issue... Anyway, what Brian said (wrote) has also been recommended to me by some friends, and breathing technique opened a whole new dimension for me. Take some time on the way to altitude, close your eyes and focus solely on your breathing. Inhale slowly throught the nose, exhale through the mouth. Breathe into your belly, not the chest. Feel your body, start from the feet and move up to see if there are any tensions (i usually find some because of being cramped up somewhere between people...). Actively release them.... Go to your "happy place"... Take all the time you need on all that. Then count backwards from ten or five, upon zero open your eyes and be aware! Now have a relaxed and focused jump! I do this more or less intense before every dive (after opening my eyes, i do an EP drill), and it is a very helpful, to me at least. Sometimes i even fall asleep for a few seconds/minutes..The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brodes 0 #30 May 11, 2004 My last jump i deep breathed with my eyes closed from takeoff till height. Very relaxing. I think my JM must do it too cos we always have to wake him up before the door opens Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
