Master breath-hold techniques and mental resilience in this comprehensive surf apnea workshop in Sintra. Learn specialized freediving training adapted specifically for ocean sports, building the confidence and composure needed to handle underwater hold-downs, multi-wave sets, and challenging surf conditions with clarity and calm.
This training extends far beyond simple breath-hold duration. The freediving workshop teaches controlled stress exposure through systematic development of physiological adaptations, breathing regulation, and mental conditioning that transforms panic-inducing scenarios into manageable experiences. Skills learned apply not only to ocean safety but to high-pressure moments in everyday life.
This apnea training in Sintra develops three interconnected foundations that work synergistically to enhance your underwater performance and stress management:
Body Preparedness: Develop physical fitness and physiological adaptations including CO2 tolerance and oxygen efficiency. Build cardiovascular fitness, respiratory muscle strength, and the ability to maintain comfortable extended breath-holds through gradual adaptation.
Breathing Regulation: Improve performance capacity and mental control through proper techniques. Learn pre-surf ventilation that optimizes oxygen loading without dangerous hyperventilation, diaphragmatic breathing for maximum efficiency, and recovery protocols for rapid oxygen restoration between sets.
Surfer’s Mind: Strengthen mental focus, emotional control, and adaptability during high-pressure moments. Master visualization practices for calm underwater responses, relaxation techniques preventing panic-induced oxygen consumption, and psychological reframing that transforms fear into focused presence.
These pillars interconnect powerfully. Improved breathing enhances both physical performance and mental calm, while mental conditioning allows fuller expression of your physiological capacity. Physical preparedness provides the foundation supporting advanced breathing work and psychological resilience.
The surf apnea training covers comprehensive underwater performance skills:
Learn how strengthening across all domains produces exponential improvements in underwater confidence and overall stress management capacity.
This surf apnea workshop provides integrated three-pillar training:
The training methodology teaches you to remain calm, focused, and mentally strong during challenging situations both in the ocean and everyday life.
This freediving training in Sintra welcomes:
The skills developed through this training enhance performance in surf-specific contexts and high-pressure professional, personal, or emergency situations demanding clarity under duress.
Comprehensive Training Approach: This workshop addresses underwater performance through integrated physical, breathing, and mental conditioning. The three-pillar methodology ensures balanced development across all domains critical for ocean safety and stress management.
Beyond Breath-Holding: Learn much more than extended breath duration. Develop the mental strength and composure needed during actual wipeouts and hold-downs, where panic management matters as much as physiological capacity.
Synergistic Development: The three pillars work together, producing exponential rather than merely additive improvements. As you strengthen one area, the others benefit, creating rapid overall performance enhancement.
Real-World Application: Skills learned for handling underwater stress translate directly to high-pressure situations in everyday life. Build confidence, focus, and adaptability applicable far beyond surfing contexts.
Controlled Stress Exposure: Practice managing challenging scenarios in safe, progressive ways. This deliberate training methodology builds genuine resilience through systematic exposure rather than hoping to react correctly during actual emergencies.
Mental Conditioning: Develop the surfer’s mind that approaches challenging moments with clarity rather than panic. Transform fear into focused presence through visualization, relaxation protocols, and psychological reframing techniques.
Join this surf apnea workshop in Sintra and master the interconnected skills that enhance water safety, wipeout confidence, and mental resilience. Build comprehensive underwater performance capacity through integrated body, breathing, and mind training that serves you in the ocean and throughout life!
Above all, you need to be healthy. This is an entry-level workshop where you learn the fundamental techniques to improve your breath-hold time and mental control.
Yes: - Cardiorespiratory issues: If currently under medical supervision, you need to consult your doctor if you're current situation allows you to participate. Other limiting factors: - Epilepsy; - Pregnancy;
Yes, if above 13 years old.
This workshop is for all surf levels. It's about mastering breathing regulation, and body & mind preparedness, not surf technique.
OR
Hi, my name is Ricardo, and live in Lisbon, Portugal. I’ve been surfing for over 40 years now, and therefore 90% of my work is with surf athletes.
In the past 2 years, I have had the opportunity to train and instruct Breathing and Apnea for Surfing to more than 400 surfers, from beginners to big wave professional surfers from Nazaré.
Breatheology instructor program, not only fits 100% of my client’s needs but allows room to include all my previous background and experience. My approach is client’s needs and goals first. From there on, I would love to build the training program that most fit the desired outcome.
Although I’m based in Lisbon, plenty of my support can be delivered online to international surfers who aren´t able to come to Portugal. If you are a surfer that:
Wants to increase the breath hold time
Improve confidence and mental control to tackle bigger waves in challenging conditions
Is looking to surf or tow in at Big Wave Spot in Nazaré
Is older than 40 years old and wants to improve surf readiness
Looking to overcome a traumatized surf session, such as a bigger hold down that become the root cause of high levels of anxiety when facing any wipeout or longer breath hold and limiting the surf progression





