freedive

[artolmaeus]

For two years roughly, there was a place at Boca Raton beach, where there was a low current depth of 125 feet and usually an area with good visibility. There were some generous people there who just gave of their time and worked with people who showed up as agreed. First, it was about a week of learning to move slowly and to breath fully with three distinct inhales and holding it for as long as possible. Ideally, getting ones heart rate lower was important and once it was in the 40's, a slow immersion exercise began. Just going from floating on the surface to gently and slowly positioning the body in a dive position and holding the breath until resurfacing. It was hard to fi very deep without releasing the breath underwater but holding it was important. No fins no special equipment. There was a goal to be able to stay under for three minutes before anything is to be done further. The diver did not keep time, the divers only focus was relaxing breathing in fully until the heart rate slowed down and then surface diving with slow even movements of arms and legs. After three minutes, it was time for long fins and rocks and at four minutes, it was weight belts and hand flippers. I the first year it became five minutes and at about the eighteenth month, seven minutes was reached. Seven minutes was not the goal. The goal was a slow heart rate, slow swim and slow return. Technique constantly followed and having days off in between to restore. It became such a calming experience to just go into the silence of the water and then to begin to see and hear what it was under. To not be in a hurry to go deeper or no rush to surface. To build that feeling and trust to know when to start resurfacing and to hold your breath the entire time. At about 75 feet, was the limit experienced, to be able to move the jaw and adapt to the pressure was an experience as nothing more than wax plugs were used to keep water out. To resurface and to still exhale slowly and to inhale slowly and to keep moving slowly, intentionally. Sometimes, one of the people teaching would gently hold you and swim you back in. The process to be able to speed back up was long. In a very direct way, cortisol was avoided. The only thing that makes sense is that abandoning expectation, thought or any track of time was contrary. Being more calm and patient was a side benefit from keeping with the technique. After some time, stopping this work was part of life, assumedly. The hectic pace took control again. For just two years roughly, one act carries out twice a week made the rest of the week effortless and how easy it was, once stopping the method, the benefits stopped and life became hurried again. None of the daily INS and outs struggle and pains were present in this time. Upon stopping, within a year, it was as if it was never done. Sure miss that time. Perhaps, it is a good time, to begin free diving again, a way to meaningfully bring an intentional slowness to a faster world. Funny, how moving slow got more done than trying to move with the day to day pace. Time matters and maybe even more, when it does not dictate outcome or maybe forgoing time and immersion in process, is almighty. Seems so anyways.