Apneist: The meaning behind the app name

An apneist is someone who practices apnea-the temporary suspension of breathing. In the context of freediving, an apneist is a person who trains and performs breath-holds, whether for sport, recreation, or competition.

But there’s more to the word than just its definition.

The word breakdown: Apnea + ist

The term “apneist” comes from two parts:

Apnea (from Greek ἄπνοια, meaning “without breathing”): The voluntary (or involuntary) suspension of breathing. In medical contexts, it often refers to breathing interruptions during sleep. In freediving, it’s the deliberate breath-hold that defines the sport.

-ist (suffix denoting a practitioner): Just as a pianist plays piano or a cyclist rides bicycles, an apneist practices apnea. The suffix transforms the act into an identity-you’re not just someone who holds their breath, you’re someone who systematically trains this skill.

The word emerged as freediving evolved from something people did (holding breath underwater) to something people are (trained breath-hold athletes). This linguistic shift mirrors the sport’s transformation from casual swimming to systematic discipline.

What is an apneist?

An apneist isn’t just someone who can hold their breath. That would be like calling anyone who can run a “marathoner.” The term implies deliberate practice, systematic training, and understanding of breath-hold physiology.

Modern apneists:

• Follow structured programs, not random workouts
• Track everything: dry, pool, depth
• Train consistently, not heroically
• Connect the dots between sessions

The difference between someone who holds their breath and an apneist is the difference between playing and training. Apneists approach breath-holding as a trainable skill, not a party trick.

Why Appneist: The app for apneists

When we built our freediving training app, the name was obvious: App + apneist = Appneist.

But it’s more than wordplay. The name reflects our core philosophy-this is not an app for casual swimmers who want to hold their breath longer. Not for spearfishers who need basic safety. It’s for people who identify as apneists and want to train systematically.

Every feature in Appneist assumes you’re serious about the sport:

• Structured CO2 and O2 table progressions
• Professional coaching programs from elite apneists
• Session tracking that captures the data apneists actually need
• Training plans that follow periodization principles

We didn’t build a freediving app that happens to have training features. We built a training system.

From definition to practice

Being an apneist in 2025 means something different than it did 20 years ago. The sport has evolved from depth records and static holds to a comprehensive training discipline with:

Structured methodology: Modern apneists follow systematic training plans, not random breath-holds. They understand progressive overload, periodization, and adaptation cycles. (See Progressive Training: Why Freedivers Need to Stop Winging It for why structure matters.)

Scientific understanding: Today’s apneists know the difference between CO2 buildup and O2 depletion. They understand chemoreceptor adaptation, mammalian dive reflex, and blood shift. Training isn’t mystical-it’s physiological.

Safety and fairness: Being an apneist means accepting responsibility, for yourself and your buddies, whatever that means. We compete for the sake of exploration, not ego.

The modern apneist’s toolkit

Today’s apneists train smarter, not just harder:

Dry training: CO2 tables on the couch. Walking apnea. FRC holds. Modern apneists know that breath-hold adaptation doesn’t require water. (For specific protocols, see How to improve breath hold time.)

Pool work: Structured static and dynamic sessions with specific goals. Not random underwater swimming, but targeted training with measurable progression.

Mental training: Visualization, relaxation techniques, and stress inoculation. The mental game separates recreational breath-holders from true apneists.

Technology integration: Training apps, dive computers, and heart rate monitoring. Modern apneists use data to drive decisions, not just sensation.

Are you an apneist?

If you follow structured breath-hold training and track your progress systematically, you’re an apneist. Not because you can hold your breath, but because you’ve committed to the practice.

That’s why we named our app Appneist. It’s recognition that being an apneist means something specific-and that specific something deserves tools built for the job.