I don’t know why this isn’t yet common knowledge!

For most of us, hiccups are occasional, maybe rare, and possibly annoying or painful, especially when they don’t seem to want to stop. I’ve known a few people who suffered from frequent hiccups that would come often enough, and go on for long enough, to cause intense pain and discomfort. This method to stop them will work for everyone.

For over 20 years now, I’ve been terminating my hiccups as soon as they arrive, and I’ve taught others to do it just as easily.

Standing up works best, especially when you are first learning the technique. Eventually, with enough practice, you’ll be able to do it sitting down, if you need to.

Hiccups are caused by an involuntary contraction of the muscle called the diaphragm, which is a main mover in our breathing process. What you’re about to learn is how to take firm, voluntary control over that muscle when it is in hiccup mode. Practice it when you don’t have hiccups, and you’ll be ready to try it out when the moment arrives.

1. Stand up
2. Put your arms up, reach for the sky, and hold them there
3. Take a big breath, the biggest breath, and hold it
4. Lower your arms, but hold the breath – FIRMLY. Lock it in. You will notice the perky elevation of your chest and ribs, and it may feel  sort of extreme, like you are imitating a rooster. That means you are doing it right. Hold for a few seconds, then let go.

That’s IT. That’s all it takes, and I’m not kidding. 

If you had hiccups, this would stop them. You are holding your diaphragm in a very voluntary contraction when you do this, so it can’t do its little whoopdee that makes a hiccup. It just can’t, because you are holding it in place.

It will be the strength of how you hold that giant breath that will stop the hiccupping. Feel for some stretching under your sternum (breastbone) and rib cage. You might also experience a little lightheadedness, so for goodness’ sake, don’t keep holding your breath if that happens.

All it takes to stop hiccups is a few seconds of holding this posture with firm muscle control. Play with it, and practice. In the beginning, I sometimes had to try 2 or 3 times in order to halt the hiccups. You’ll gain more ability the more you do it.

Side note – I was originally taught a similar movement to this in high school chorus, as the appropriate posture for singing! Years later, I learned it again in belly dance class, as the way to hold the body for movements known as “isolations.” It’s up to you if you want to dance and sing once you’ve gotten rid of your hiccups…but do ponder this, please: if just this little bit of focus and collaboration with the inner workings of our body are enough to solve the mystery of hiccups, what else might we alleviate if we pay attention with respect and intention within?