by Bonnie Tsui
Water is a magnet for our teeming throng of humanity.
Hypnotized by the pulse of the ocean
Pulled to the paradox of water as a source of life and death.
Prehistoric stone-age swimmer swimming down for dinner.
Green Sahara – dotted with ancient lakes
Cave of Swimmers, Egypt. 10,000 years old.
Paleolake Gobero
- aquatic system of interlinked shallow lakes
- mountains of shucked clamshells
- carved fish hooks.
Sea Nomads – Mokan kids
- underwater vision, can focus underwater, constrict pupil, which increases fine detail
- 50% larger spleen (similar to seals)
- early immersion training
- keen observation, intimate knowledge of marine environment
- storytelling, pass aquatic skills
Mammalian diving reflex
- heart rate slows
- blood vessels constrict
- blood flows away from extremities toward organs
Humble, gentle with coral, respectful of fish. Don’t take more than you need. Ocean will take care of you.
Cold seawater – cure for urban maladies.
Kim Chambers – nerve damaged right leg. blood rush back to extremities after warming up again, oxygen circulate back at higher rate than sedentary. Result nerves regenerate quicker.
Swimming – reduce blood pressure, pressure of water on body.
Best exercise, stimulates mobility without pain.
Buoyance, weightlessness, circulation
Submerge in water, submersion internal quiet, swimming to blankness
Brown fat – burns energy, generates heat
White fat stores energy
Chronic cold exposure – browning effect on white fat, revs up metabolism
Seawater in veins. Get in ocean every day, body calibrates.
Seawater similar mineral content to human blood plasma
Amniotic fluid, utero, fetus, gill slits become jaws and respiratory traits
After drop – mild hypothermia
Ama – cold water exposure effects – loss of hearing, lower heart attacks
Swim like a dolphin, swim like a SEAL
mindlessness (autopilot), biomechanics visualize, mental rehearsal
Physical repetitions – meditation transcends goal of winning, zen practice.
Swimming as self improvement (competition, integrity, dominance, power, adrenaline)