Navy SEALs are the world's most elite warriors.

What's their secret weapon?

Breath control.

Here's how they train it (and how you can master it too):

You take 22,000 breaths each day.

Most people are unaware of their breathing.

But different breathing patterns can result in more energy, a calmer mind and a clearer head.

Here's what the Navy Seals taught us during a 52-hour non-stop training:

First, the instructors threw us a "Welcome Party"

100s of pushups, burpees and squats.

We were simply gasping for air and running out of energy fast.

Then at the bottom of a squat, we were told to just breathe. Deep inhales, filling the lungs, slow exhales.

Why?

Because, like most people do all day, we were only taking in “shallow” breaths. This leads to:

• increased blood pressure & heart rate
• increased stress response
• reduced oxygen intake
• impaired thinking
• slower recovery

Counter this by filling your lungs fully.

Next, we were taken to the ice bath by the side of the old tennis court.

The cold water feels like a giant fist around you squeezing out all the air.

The only way through was by focusing on each breath and slowing it down to control your fight-or-flight response.