Swimming: A form of meditation

 It is strange, but I have started noticing how swimming is a form of meditation. Especially swimming the breaststroke, which can be done slowly & purposively.

The other day, I recalled something from the distant past and was full of resentment about a person, as walked to the pool. When I started swimming, something changed. As I felt the cool water all around me and my head went down and I started to glide I wondered how these thoughts take possession of me and upset me. It seemed like something just gripped my mind and was unwilling to let go. As I kept observing my thoughts and kept coming up for my breath and going down again, I realised that I can let go of these thoughts of the distant past that were so unpleasant. Does it really matter what the person did or said? Do I have to carry that resentment? Of what use or purpose did it serve? 

This is what I have experienced in meditation too. Many times thoughts would surface, unpleasant thoughts and I would be overcome by them, till I re focused on my breath--this moment, this breath, this sensation. And there is that calmness that slowly descends on me, returning me to the present moment. This is all that we have. This moment, this breath. 

Swimming is a kind of meditation for me. It helps me stay in the moment, focus on my breath, feel the sensations in the body as I move, pushing through the water. In the beginning, my only objective was to reach the other end of the pool. So I would furiously do my breaststroke with sole intention of quickly reaching the other side. 

So it was when I first started to meditate my one hour sitting. Hardly 10 minutes into the hour I would start wondering how long more should I sit here? When will the hour end? Gradually I realised  what it was to focus on my breath and pay attention to the sensations I experienced as I sat there. The hour eventually passed by. It took me  sometime to realise the importance of moment-to-moment awareness. This moment is all that we have and it is so important to keep our mind steadfast in the present. 

I am now doing the same with swimming, enjoying the moment to moment movement through the pool--- the pull, the bubbles, the kick and the glide and eventually I am bound to reach the other end. 

In fact, I have started noticing that even when I cook, I would keep thinking that I should finish it quickly and get on to the other things that I want to do. My eyes on the clock to quickly have this chore out of my way. As I started observing this, I started to let go to get to the other side of things. Instead, to become fully aware of the moment and do things more and more mindfully, meditatively. 

Surrender to the present moment. There is joy and satisfaction in doing so. For  as you truly live and experience each moment, more harmony and peace envelops you.

A late bloomer

That is me : A late bloomer. Recalling my early childhood days, the things I loved to do was play...I remember that one activity that I enjoyed. I think I was good in school till about 4th grade and then began a slow decline. Difficulties in getting good grades were exacerbated by a slow failing eyesight which my parents thought I was malingering. The poor performance in turn led to lack of motivation to even try. I gave up. I was stupid...why should I prove otherwise? 

When you are young, and parents and older sisters do most of the things for you, you can get away being irresponsible. I didn't even understand why I went to school or why I had to study. 

Some things that my mother told me stuck to me and proved to be a turning point in my academic pursuits.  She pleaded with me to do well in Junior College and later in my undergraduation and said she would no longer comment on my academic performance thereafter. I overheard her telling my dad that it would be a great achievement if I got past undergraduation. 

I trained to be a teacher after that and got really interested in Psychology. My parents were not happy about my interest in doing a Masters in Psychology and they thought I should get married instead. And then I went through this traditional arranged marriage but not before I found out from Raja (my then to-be husband) that he was ok about my continuing my studies.

Newly married,  life was different. We lived in Mumbai, I enrolled for Masters in Psychology at SNDT University Churchgate and I loved my life. I was really interested in academic activities, actively participated in all of them.  Pavithra was born, we moved to Hyderabad and I continued to do my MPhil (Pre-PhD course) against all odds--I was working, studying & was pregnant again. But I did it , and did it very well. Akanksha was born and I completed MPhil  successfully. 

We moved to Chennai and there I met my very inspiring Research Scientist and yoga practioner, who was later my guide for PhD. I completed that too, in between working & raising my children.

Then the move to Singapore. I continued to work as Adjunct Lecturer, first at Unisim (now SUSS) and then at University at Buffalo (Singapore campus) and I work there till this day.

It was Osho who once said: If you don't have breakfast you are going to be hungry at lunch and if you don't have lunch you will be ravenous at dinner. He was referring to childhood, adulthood and old age when he said that. 

I never paid attention to sports or sporting activities when I was a child or young adult. And now post 55yrs I have taken to badminton in right earnest. I train twice a week and enjoy the activity. I learned to swim recently and swim the breaststroke regularly. It has become my morning workout regimen. 

People who have known me in my younger days are surprised and I love that look of surprise on their faces. I sure have come a long way and feel its my inherent  zest  for life that I inherited from my mother that has stood me well . 

Enthusiasm & a zest for life makes life worth living.