Introduction

If you've ever done Breathwork techniques like Wim Hof Breathwork, you'll most likely have experienced the uncomfortable sensation of your hands feeling like lobster claws, like they've curled up and you just can't seem to make them move!

Why Do My Hands Cramp In Breathwork?

When we are doing Breathwork, we are fundamentally altering the chemistry of our blood to be high in oxygen and low in carbon dioxide (hypocapnea). Most people are not aware, but our muscles need a little bit of carbon dioxide in order to function properly.

Learn more about low carbon dioxide levels here:

When we engage in Breathwork for significant amounts of time, carbon dioxide levels get so low that in fact they impeded oxygen delivery: Hemoglobin, a protein in our blood, is responsible for carrying oxygen to our cells. However, if carbon dioxide levels are too low, the oxygen we're inhaling can't be liberated from the hemoglobin effectively. This results in a significant reduction in the amount of oxygen being delivered to the brain and other tissues.

What Can I Do To Prevent My Hands From Cramping?

Alex's advice is to "remind yourself you have your foot on the gas pedal"; you can go as fast, as slow, as deep or as shallow as you'd like with the Breathwork. Focus on a vigorous inhale, and let the exhale happen naturally. You can imagine your breath like a giant spring that you pull open on the inhale, and on the exhale it just wants to go back to normal.