May 1, 2011 | Freediving, Yoga
Since the heyday of Jaques Mayol the vast science of yoga has been touted as the key to inspired free-diving. The benefits in this area are undoubted, from mental clarity and thoracic flexiblity to emotional well-being. The list of Yogic benefits to the Free-diver is long, less talked about are the benefits of free-diving to the student of yoga.
The benefits of free-diving to the Yogi, when practiced in the right spirit, are equally profound. The most obvious of course is the control and understanding of the breath, free-diving as a door into the science of pranayama. The Aghori Tantrik Vimalananda apparently trained in Pranayama by submersing himself in the Indian ocean and Chinese masters of Tao developed breath-based energy practices with long breath holds in pools.
It’s clear that the aspects of Yoga that deal with the breath are enriched by free-diving but it’s the less obvious benefits that this Blogger is interested in, such as the way water allows for movement in a gravity free field. When coupled with a mature yoga Asana practice the forgiving nature of water allows us a fluid realignment of the body.The nature of water is that effective movement in water is fluid movement, something which every yogi or body worker aspires to.
In Yoga Asana, we work the body, disciplining it and realigning it. We test it and push it to break rigidity, to develop flexibility and make space. The body becomes fluid in its nature with movements like containers that the body flows into and fills. And this fluidity is not a thing only of ligaments and muscles, it is a thing of energy. We don’t do this for the sake of sitting in ever-more complicated postures, we do this so the body’s subtle life juices can flow better.The body becomes more permeable and energy flows better, resulting in health and a sense of lightness.
With free-diving our focus is precisely on this type of fluid movement, to move like water through water. We learn that rigid movement is wasteful movement.
A useful working definition of a yogi is one who does not waste energy, by their thoughts, words or actions. Be it holding tension, or expressing negative thoughts, the dedicated yogi tries to avoid using energy in a wasteful or self defeating manner. This conservation of energy on all levels is an essential part of free-diving.
Through meditation the Yogi slowly learns to avoid the nagging of the non-essential and to be present in the passing moment. With Free-diving we practice the art of letting go to the moment, of disciplining the body and breath so that sometimes you may go beyond the body and breath. When we dive we may feel contractions, the mind may say go up, go up, but we don’t resist, we absorb, we let the sensation move through us and any associated mental reaction is calmly observed. We observe and enjoy sensation, even so called unpleasant sensation. We become permeable to it and liquid in our reactions.
Time is limited but sometimes the moment draws out and becomes something eternal. The non-essential is left behind and there is a sense of union. This drawing together of mind and body into one focused moment is some of the essence of yoga.
Free-diving when practiced in the right way is actually a form of Oceanic yoga. Finding the stillness in fluid movement and the peace in a moment of pressure. See some training principles…
The Ritual of the long line and the deep Blue.
In Bali Yoga is the work of shamans, a communication with spirits. It’s a ritual balancing act of courtesies paid to both the Gods of Mount Agung and the low spirits of the Sea and other dangerous places, such as crossroads.
The sea is considered a place of many dangerous spirits yet also a place of purification. In a romantic way we can see free-diving in the Balinese context as a ritualised confrontation with the our ‘low spirits’ of fear and needless anxiety.
When we free-dive sometimes the mind turns against us becoming mischievous or fearful. we can become plagued by our own inner ‘demons of doubt’. But with the ritual of our weighted line and safety procedures and our faith in physics we can see beyond the doubts to the deep blue face of mother nature. Then we free-dive mindfully, infused with calm and a sense of home coming.
Mar 8, 2011 | Freediving, Freediving for Surfers, Freediving Trips
Free-diving and yoga for surfers
From the 13th of June till the 25th there will be a very special free-diving training programme aimed specifically at surfers. We will be training aboard the beautiful ‘Jiwa’ as we sail through the Mentawai Islands catching world class waves. Off the coast of Sumatra, these pristine islands had head hunters in recent memory and are famous for world class surf.
When the swell is big, we will be in it. But when it’s not too hot, we’ll be free-diving, with optional classes of Yoga and meditation. When taking a break from the water we will see some of the fascinating local culture. The trip will be one to remember.
This is a free-diving course tailored specifically for surfers to give maximum benefit in minimum time. The focus of the breath hold training is on probing personal limits and breaking down mental walls. We do this by understanding and triggering the Mammalian Dive Reflex and experiencing directly just what the human body is capable of in breath hold situations.It’s all in the mind and when the mind knows what the body is capable of, it can relax with surprising results.
Apart from free-diving on a line, personal training routines will be taught so that after the trip everyone can continue to develop their breath hold abilities in their daily life.
The optional yoga training is also designed towards the needs of surfers focusing on strength and balance in rotation as well as opening the chest and shoulders and increasing lung volume. Students can learn some of the principles of good yoga and become established in a very effective daily whole body sequence. There will also be Pranayama and meditation to help develop focus and mental balance, so necessary for those more intimidating waves.
For more details see tradewinds adventures
Mar 2, 2011 | Freediving, Yoga
Some mildly esoteric training concepts for those readers that are that way inclined…
Fluid body:
- Free-diving: Divers should move like water through water, without tension or rigidity, creating minimum resistance.
- In yoga asana: Continuously probe the form of the asana with gentle exploration of our limits, using the breath as a tool of postural investigation and to consciously release tension.
Fluid mind: An unresisting, tension free mind, actively engaging in every new activity without pre-conceived ideas or mindsets.
Silent witness: We practice awareness of the body’s sensations and our thought processes in each passing moment with the attitude of curious, but calm observer, present but non-reactive.
Stillness in motion: We find inner stillness even in movement, with an inward centering of our awareness.
Motion in stillness; developing awareness of the subtle movements that happen in the body even when it is still, for example the movement of the breath, the build up of tension or the slow releasing of tightness.
Feb 27, 2011 | Freediving, Yoga
There are days on the deep line when the waters of Bali are so full of translucent life that the ocean seems like evolutionary stew. So many different jellyfish and combjellies, wriggling, pulsating and spiralling elementary forms of life. If you look closely the shapes, bio-luminescence and varied means of propulsion are all mesmerising. They seem unchanged by millions of years of evolution.
Some days Amed bay is thick with these delicate and unlikely creatures. One is reminded quite forcefully that the ocean is the place where all life began, the womb of Mother Earth. The ocean is a source of livelihood, a playground and even a dumping ground, but above all it is a birthplace.
There are free-dives when one is particularly relaxed and centred in the moment. When time seems to slow down, the mind becomes quiet and a sense of uterine peace unfolds. Even as the body runs low on air, and contractions start in the belly, curious feelings can arise, spontaneous womb-like comfort or a strange sense of home-coming. These subjective experiences are in a evolutionary sense true. The ocean is essentially the womb of Mother Earth and the first home of all life on this blue planet.
Mar 28, 2010 | Freedive Training, Freediving
Free-diving rescue in water.
The vast majority of loss of motor control(LMC) or blackouts happen on the surface though sometimes on rare occasions they can also occur as the diver nears the surface. In the last ten metres the diver should be accompanied by the safety diver who stays within arm’s length.
Underwater approach.
The safety should be alert enough to notice any signs of excessive fatigue or overexertion and provide assistance to the tired diver. If blackout occurs before this can happen the safety should come behind the unconscious diver and reach under their armpit and across their chest with one hand while the other arm supports the head, holding it in such a way that the airway remains closed. This is to avoid entry of water into the lungs. The rescue diver should fin towards the surface in a sideways position to the victim. This allows greater freedom of movement for the rescue divers fins. It’s very important that he tries to come up at the safety buoy as this will help lessen the shock to the victim as he comes around.
Surface rescue.
On the surface the victim should be supported with one hand holding his head well up out of the water in such a way that his airway is fully open. The other hand will very gently slap his face while the rescue diver repeats in a soft voice ‘breath, breath’. The hearing sense is the first to come back after black out and it is very important that the rescue is done in a calm and reassuring manner. The victim may be in a state of disorientation and it is essential that there is nothing done to cause further shock.
Bringing them around gently.
Black out is the last attempt of the body to preserve O2 for the heart and brain as unconsciousness reduces use of O2. Once the body is in a place where respiration is possible i.e. the surface then breathing will resume naturally. We avoid loud noises or abrupt movements because the victim while unconscious is in a vulnerable place and the unconscious mind will react against any situation that seems traumatic by prolonging unconsciousness.
Be tactful.
The affected diver should rest and definitely not dive again that day as there is increased risk of black out after having LMC or blackout. Very often the diver will not be aware of having lost motor control or blacked out. In the water there is no need to make a big deal out of it, wait till you get back on the boat or dry land to discuss the matter. It is important that any lessons that need to be learnt are learnt, but we should avoid a situation where the experience becomes something traumatic. There should be no blame or recrimination. It can happen to anyone.
Mar 27, 2010 | Freedive Training, Freediving
How to be a good buddy.
Discussion of shallow water black out(SWB) in the last post brings us to another important part of elementary free dive training; namely buddy skills.
Proper training.
Obviously for a training partner to be reliable, they should be well trained and experienced. They should be aware of the signs of impending SWB or loss of motor control (LMC) and be well versed in correct rescue procedure. They should also trained in CPR and first aid in the very unlikely event of a serious accident. That said training and experience alone are not enough for a good training relationship.
Trust and communication
Trust and communication are also massively important for a good, safe training relationship between buddies. When you are below you really want to know that your surface support is alert and reliable in case of some unexpected incident. It is very difficult to concentrate on your dive, especially a new personal best, if you feel that the guy on the surface is not paying attention or that he won’t be ready if something goes wrong.
Know thy buddy.
You should know your buddies capabilities and mindset, what they can do and what they feel like doing that particular day. Therefore there must be good communication before, during and after dives. Each diver must know what the other plans on doing at each part of the process. Before the dive, the surface buddy should know the expected depth, duration and form the dive will take. It should be agreed beforehand whether the safety diver will remain on the surface or at what depth he should meet the other on his way up.
Doing safety.
While the diver starts his dive the safety should be in a state of readiness, wearing fins and having completed his breath up. While waiting to descend to meet the diver he should keep a good watch on the time and continue breathing up.
When he meets the ascending diver the safety should be alert and very observant. He should look for signs of fatigue or panic and make his presence known in a non intrusive way.
As they ascend the last ten metres together, the safety should stay close enough to the diver to grab them should it be necessary.
They should reach the surface at the same time at the safety buoy. If the diver forgets the safety should remind the diver to do recovery breaths immediately upon surfacing. The safety should be able to grab both the buoy and the diver should SWB or LMC occur. He should be close enough to the diver to support his head and gently slap his face, while softly urging him to breath.
After the dive there should be some exchange of feedback before they start preparing for the next dive.
Being supportive and non-competitive.
These are only the basic elements of what a good free-dive buddy should do. Apart from this, they should be supportive and understanding. Ideally buddies don’t compete against each other, but encourage the other to do the best they can on that particular day, respecting always the limits as they are on that particular day.
Varying abilities from one day to another.
These variable limits might be personal i.e. physical or psychological or they might be environmental such as currents or visibility. What is important to understand is that what was easy Monday might be difficult on Tuesday and there is no reason to feel disheartened or de-motivated. That’s sometimes that’s just the way it is and no deep analysis is needed. Our physical and mental energy levels fluctuate and we need to accept how we are feeling on a particular day, without ruthlessly pushing ourselves, even if it means that we don’t do a very impressive days diving.
Varying conditions.
Environmental conditions can vary from one day to the next and obviously they can also greatly affect what one feels comfortable doing. Even a mildly stronger current makes a big difference on a deeper dive, possibly changing a dive that is relatively easy without currents to a dive that is potentially unsafe with currents.
Obviously currents can negatively affect our abilities, causing more exertion and use of more O2, but other less obvious environmental variables can also greatly affect our capabilities, such as visibility or changes in temperature. Diving to fifty metres in crystal clear waters is a very different thing to diving through fifty metres of near darkness. It can also be very discouraging to dive into a cold water thermo-cline, while trying for a new personal best, especially if there is an accompanying drop in visibility. Another cause of stress can be choppy surface conditions, making it hard to relax and focus before a dive.
Acceptance of what is.
Clearly there are quite a few variable factors that can affect our performance and sometimes it’s not necessary to know exactly why you’re not at the top of your game, sometimes quite simply we have ‘off’ days. The important thing is to accept the limits as they stand in that particular moment and a good buddy should always help you with that, while still encouraging you to do the best that you’re comfortable with.
Since the heyday of Jaques Mayol the vast science of yoga has been touted as the key to inspired free-diving. The benefits in this area are undoubted, from mental clarity and thoracic flexiblity to emotional well-being. The list of Yogic benefits to the Free-diver is long, less talked about are the benefits of free-diving to the student of yoga.
The Ritual of the long line and the deep Blue.