Safety
Last updated 1 October 2026
Breath-hold training is safe when done the right way, and dangerous when it isn't. These rules are part of the Terms of Use.
The rules
- Dry only. Never train with Monk Apnea in or near water: not in a pool, bath, hot tub, lake or the sea. Holding your breath in water can kill you through a blackout you don't feel coming.
- Sit or lie down somewhere you can't fall or hit your head, on a bed, sofa or the floor.
- Do nothing else while training. Never while driving, cycling, operating machinery, standing, walking, or caring for someone else.
- Stop straight away if you feel dizzy, light-headed, tingly, confused, see unusual colours or tunnel vision, or feel unwell in any way. Breathe normally and rest.
- Don't push to the limit every time. Max attempts are hard on the body; keep them to about one a week, and follow the schedule guidelines in the app.
- Go easy on FRC and RV (holds after breathing out). They are much harder on the lungs and diaphragm. Build up slowly.
- Don't hyperventilate (fast, deep breathing) before a hold. It makes a blackout more likely.
Talk to a doctor first if
- you have a heart condition, high or low blood pressure, a lung condition (including asthma), epilepsy or a history of fainting;
- you are pregnant;
- you are under 18, or have any condition you are unsure about.
What Monk Apnea is, and isn't
Monk Apnea is a training timer. It is not a medical device, does not watch over you, and cannot tell if you are in trouble. Heart rate shown in the app comes from your own sensor and may be delayed or wrong. Nothing in the app is medical advice.