As seen in DIVER magazine
Make the most of every breath
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Do you get as much time as you'd like from your tank or breath-hold? Moving efficiently in your fins?
Do you find your dives stressful? Getting cramps or feeling stiff after diving? Thankfully there are things you can do to address these common diving problems. Breathing right, relaxing and keeping fit and flexible are the keys to effortless diving. Yoga-based exercise can help you do all this, and much more....
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New this month
Stay fit on holiday with yoga - even on a liveaboard! Read more...
How I doubled my distance swimming breast-stroke underwater. Read more...
One recent graduate of our OMdiver online yoga programme achieved measurably better air consumption. Have you tried it yet? Read more...
How I doubled my distance swimming breast-stroke underwater. Read more...
One recent graduate of our OMdiver online yoga programme achieved measurably better air consumption. Have you tried it yet? Read more...
If you missed it last month
You can now read my article in April's DIVER magazine online
Read more...
Read more...
Busting myths about yoga
If I told you that the word 'yoga' means connecting your body and mind through breathing then can you see that it's what many of us do in diving already?
If you've ever chilled out to the rythmic sound of your breathing underwater then you'll know it has a meditative feel to it. Freedivers have to stay present and aware of their body and mind to be able to stay calm underwater on only one breath.
We all want to see more and stay longer underwater, be more focused and less stressed. All we need is a bit of practice!
I'd like to bust a few myths about yoga; misconceptions that keep people away from what is a simple and accessible way to better health and wellbeing.
1) You need to be bendy to do yoga - the commonly photographed poses you see in magazines are not what most people do in classes. Yoga poses are only a small proportion of the practice we call yoga - there is also breathing, quiet sitting, ethics, contemplation and self-awareness.
2) Yoga is only for women or hippies - Ryan Giggs, Andy Murray and the All Blacks rugby squad probably wouldn't want to be described as hippies yet they all regularly do yoga. There are many different kinds of yoga classes available. If you don't fancy chanting, Sanskrit and incense then there is still plenty of choice. It's all about finding the right teacher for you. However, it's always good to step out of your comfort zone regularly and try something new.
3) Yoga is a religious practice - Yoga comes from India where Hindu is a dominant religion, but it is not a religion in itself. It can be described as a philosophy, much like Buddhism in my view. Some yogis will also practice by religious worship of their god, who or whatever that is. Others have no religious affiliations at all.
4) I have to go to a class to do yoga - many people begin yoga by attending a group class as it is value for money and allows you to learn poses, sequences and other exercises which eventually you can do on your own. But yoga tuition is also available on a one-to-one basis or online. And after some time you may begin to realise that the practice of yoga spreads far beyond the confines of your mat, for example the deep-breathing you do before a job interview, the thoughtfulness you have for others and your appreciation for the sea when you dive.
5) Self-awareness, kindness and humility are weaknesses - our culture tends to focus on the concept of 'survival of the fittest', rewards pride and emotional restraint and points to consumerism as the path to happiness. It's not - happy people are whole-hearted people who take care of themselves and others equally, and who aren't afraid to understand and express how they feel.
If you've ever chilled out to the rythmic sound of your breathing underwater then you'll know it has a meditative feel to it. Freedivers have to stay present and aware of their body and mind to be able to stay calm underwater on only one breath.
We all want to see more and stay longer underwater, be more focused and less stressed. All we need is a bit of practice!
I'd like to bust a few myths about yoga; misconceptions that keep people away from what is a simple and accessible way to better health and wellbeing.
1) You need to be bendy to do yoga - the commonly photographed poses you see in magazines are not what most people do in classes. Yoga poses are only a small proportion of the practice we call yoga - there is also breathing, quiet sitting, ethics, contemplation and self-awareness.
2) Yoga is only for women or hippies - Ryan Giggs, Andy Murray and the All Blacks rugby squad probably wouldn't want to be described as hippies yet they all regularly do yoga. There are many different kinds of yoga classes available. If you don't fancy chanting, Sanskrit and incense then there is still plenty of choice. It's all about finding the right teacher for you. However, it's always good to step out of your comfort zone regularly and try something new.
3) Yoga is a religious practice - Yoga comes from India where Hindu is a dominant religion, but it is not a religion in itself. It can be described as a philosophy, much like Buddhism in my view. Some yogis will also practice by religious worship of their god, who or whatever that is. Others have no religious affiliations at all.
4) I have to go to a class to do yoga - many people begin yoga by attending a group class as it is value for money and allows you to learn poses, sequences and other exercises which eventually you can do on your own. But yoga tuition is also available on a one-to-one basis or online. And after some time you may begin to realise that the practice of yoga spreads far beyond the confines of your mat, for example the deep-breathing you do before a job interview, the thoughtfulness you have for others and your appreciation for the sea when you dive.
5) Self-awareness, kindness and humility are weaknesses - our culture tends to focus on the concept of 'survival of the fittest', rewards pride and emotional restraint and points to consumerism as the path to happiness. It's not - happy people are whole-hearted people who take care of themselves and others equally, and who aren't afraid to understand and express how they feel.
Freedive your life (without getting wet!)
I've been getting philosophical about the life lessons I've learnt from freediving. Check out my blog about the ups and downs of competition training when life isn't going smoothly.
And from a wider perspective a few slides from a recent talk to colleagues at work on how I apply my freedive training in daily life. For me, diving is a form of meditation. We're given brief respite from the world above to either find peace in the calming rhythm of our breath, or introspection through breath-holding.
The good news is we can cultivate that mental and physical state anywhere - at our desk, on the bus, in the supermarket - not just underwater.
And from a wider perspective a few slides from a recent talk to colleagues at work on how I apply my freedive training in daily life. For me, diving is a form of meditation. We're given brief respite from the world above to either find peace in the calming rhythm of our breath, or introspection through breath-holding.
The good news is we can cultivate that mental and physical state anywhere - at our desk, on the bus, in the supermarket - not just underwater.
Want to find out more?
Follow OMdiver on Facebook and Twitter (@om_diver) to keep updated on the latest news and ideas on yoga and fitness for diving and related sports... with some marine conservation thrown in!
Now also on YouTube - check out Rebecca's favourite videos
Now also on YouTube - check out Rebecca's favourite videos
More about me
The OMdiver project is run by Rebecca Coales, based in Bristol, UK. Rebecca teaches both gentle and energetic forms of yoga for sport and general well-being. Rebecca is also a branch director and assistant instructor for Bristol Freedivers and NoTanx Apnea, and a Divemaster for DM Scuba.
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