swimming is my yoga....

So today I got back in the pool... I always forget, when I'm not in the habit of swimming, how much I love it, feel energised by it, calm from it, and just generally in a good mood with the world. Some people hate swimming- something about the chlorine, black line and I guess the difficulties of getting arms and legs moving together to propel you through the water, all the while staying a float and drawing breath appropriately. Lucky for me, dad threw me in the deep end at musgrave park pool when I was little and got me to swim a length (I had done some swimming lessons across the pool beforehand- it wasn't child abuse!). Since then, I have always been able to hold my weight in the water, be it at swimming squad, waterpolo or mucking around in dams and in the surf.
Anyway, it has been about 6 months since I was doing any kind of regular swimming (yeah, I know- fair-weather swimmer who can't hack the cold!) and this morning was the perfect day to get back in the pool. Today is the first of spring. A sunny, warm morning in beautiful Brisbane and the pool was not too busy. I even smelt jasmine in the air as I walked down to somerville house pool. There is something about submerging my head beneath the surface, that allows me to enter my own little underwater world. Here, with every day noises muffled, my own thoughts can wander, as much or as little as they like. I find it calming, therapeutic even- and even though I am keen to try some yoga (I even picked up an introductory offer brochure when I was at the pool!), the slower pace and relaxed vibe of water means that, for now, swimming is my yoga...
L.