How Houdini Modulated His Physiology During Stunts

Introduction

Harry Houdini caused the world to marvel at his skill in escaping the bondage of handcuffs and was widely known as the "Handcuff King." Beyond this, Houdini performed many other feats that required more than mere illusion — they required him to alter his own body's physiology. The modulation of physiology enabled Houdini to accomplish extraordinary feats and to capture the imagination of a large and devoted fanbase over many years. Houdini is also well known for having spent a great deal of time and effort debunking individuals who claimed to be mediums communicating with the dead, a form of spiritualist trickery he deeply detested.

Modulation of Physiology Through Breathing

The modulation of physiology is similar to the technique used when learning to play a wind instrument, and it involves breathing from the diaphragm. When the individual exhales with a hand placed on their stomach, the stomach moves toward the spine; when they inhale, the abdomen expands. This is referred to as "reverse breathing," since most people breathe in precisely the opposite manner — inhaling causes chest expansion and abdominal contraction. That common pattern is known as thoracic breathing.

The healthiest type of breathing is reverse, or diaphragmatic breathing, because air is expelled from the bottom of the lungs and replaced by fresh air. Breathing is described as a "present-time, mindful process" because it is always happening in the moment: "You cannot be fondling memories or planning your future when you are contemplating your breath. Observe your breath and you are automatically in the present. You are in the here-and-now" (Seabourne, n.d.). One breathing strategy involves paying close attention to the sensation of air passing through the nostrils and consciously inhaling through the nose.

Psychological and Physiological Factors Affecting Heart Rate

Various psychological and physiological factors affect an individual's heart rate. The heart rate is unique to each person's body and is a self-regulating process — the heart keeps beating and maintains its own rhythm without conscious effort. However, hormonal responses, the central nervous system (CNS), and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) all have the potential to affect the heart's rhythm and speed. Hormones send chemicals into the bloodstream that influence the pace of the heart, and the heartbeat becomes faster or slower depending on how the individual's nerves stimulate it (Seabourne, n.d.).

When an individual is mindful, they are able to "predict and override a conditioned physiological response" (Seabourne, n.d.). In other words, a person can regulate their heart rate even when threatened, allowing them to handle difficult situations appropriately. The control center for heart rate is the medulla of the brain, which can either speed up or slow down the number of heartbeats per minute (Seabourne, n.d.).