Swimming Manly to Shelly and back can be seen as a meditation because it comprises those three steps: breath control, withdrawal of the senses and concentration. If you add to those elements an attitude of cultivating awareness, your swimming can become a practice in moving meditation
You can start with Yoga before your swim !
Just like any meditation, there is no right or wrong. Resist the urge to criticize your breathing technique or stroke action
Just lose yourself in the swim, clear your mind.
In the open water, sensory deprivation is not a choice…it is just a cold,
hard fact.
Swimmers cannot see far in the water and can hear even less, so let yourself go !
This meditation will transform ordinary swimming into spiritual practice, providing a powerful meditation for overcoming obstacles and helping you balance your body and mind.
I’ve always known that I climb out of Manly after a swim I’m a lot happier than when I dove in.
Swimming serves, as well, to sop us excess fight-or-flight stress hormones, converting free-floating angst into muscle relaxation
According to the Australian Olympic Gold medallist Murray Rose
‘I have found that when I pay attention to the sounds and feeling of my body moving through the water, it makes me swim faster, but when I think about other things or try to solve an intellectual problem, I swim slower. I have experimented with this phenomenon many times and the result is consistent.’
What are you waiting for ? come down and join us ! !
Immersion in water is well known to help allievate stress, faciliate relaxation and help heal physical injuries and illnesses.
The ever lovable Dereks Birthday is today….
Have a 
Day Derek
As Porky Pig once said…….
Have a great day ! Shelly Xo
Official photographer of the day was Brian Chapman
============================================
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
The B & B Christmas Party is on Tuesday 9th December at 6.30 pm in the Moonshine Bar (2nd Floor) at the Steyne Hotel. All swimmers and partners/friends are welcome. The theme this year is simply “Christmas“. So come dressed in your finest Christmas paraphernalia. There is no need to be shy, as we will have the whole bar to ourselves. The Steyne will provide finger food and pizza, with drinks at bar prices. Lots of fun and dancing guaranteed, with music by our own band “The Troubadors“, who have generously agreed to perform free of charge for us on the night. The cost is $10 per head, with all proceeds going to the running costs of the B&B. Our charity partner, the Royal Far West Children’s Home, will also be running a monster raffle on the night, so please come prepared to support them. Bookings are essential. Book HERE now! Don’t miss this fun event, numbers are limited.
Newbies ….6
swimmers…. 94 so far
temp …balmy 22!
17 comments
John.St.xx
25/11/2014 at 1:14 pm
Happy Birthday Derek
xxx
Nick Dawkins
25/11/2014 at 1:18 pm
Happy Birthday Panda’s Dad 🙂
tmcjannett@gmail.com
25/11/2014 at 1:20 pm
Yes I agree with Murray and Derek! It is a form of mediation! Wonderful swim ! Nice blog King Neptune!
LSA aka HKTQ
25/11/2014 at 1:31 pm
Derek, you weren’t as Shelly and no one mentioned you were having cake!!! Have a great day and see you tomorrow!
Love that pic above Derek’s head of the meditative swimmers!
Great team work:)
Lainey
25/11/2014 at 2:33 pm
Sorry I couldn’t be there for King Neptune’s birthday. Ted didn’t see a cake either, maybe it was at Bluewater. Nice blog Shelly and Brian and yes it is very meditative swimming to Shelly. I try snd fo that when I’m not thinking who I can matchmake 😜 My 1000km swim tomorrow and I’ll have my special seedy/nutty slices!
Lips
25/11/2014 at 2:38 pm
Happy Birthday Derek!
Thanks LSA, Claudia, Jo, Javier, Virginie for great B’elly this morning. Made my day!
PS: I didn’t see any cake either!
Shelly
25/11/2014 at 2:55 pm
I’ll try and be there for your 1000Ks !
we also have Virginie Guiot who will get her 500k badge when she swims her next swim !
Cya
Shelly
Shelly
25/11/2014 at 2:56 pm
Lips, it was a virtual cake as was Derek.
LSA aka HKTQ
25/11/2014 at 3:22 pm
Perfect swim followed by a hilarious cake-less coffee with Pete A holding forth on ‘the avalanche of abundancy’, his search ‘for the soul with the perfect body’ and ‘corporate transcendental existentialism’:-))
I think it’s his meditative bolderdashes with Ted that give him the inspiration!
Eva missed out today and is keen to have to do a B’elly tomorrow, so I’ve put my hand up to go with her! Anyone welcome.
LSA aka HKTQ
25/11/2014 at 3:24 pm
Were they virtual swimmers too?
Jo
25/11/2014 at 3:42 pm
Happy Birthday Derek! Hope you get cake at some stage today.
All hail Lips the B’elly guru! Guided us through perfect conditions yet again. Can’t do tomorrow LSA but looking forward to another one soon.
margot
25/11/2014 at 3:56 pm
But we all know you can’t have your cake and eat it. Happy birthday Derek!
LSA aka HKTQ
25/11/2014 at 4:55 pm
The B’elly guru and I are looking at Friday, Jo!
Elizabeth X
25/11/2014 at 6:19 pm
Really wonderful blog Shelly. Totally agree with the sentiments and love the photos Brian, some real beauties as always. I too especially love the black and white one
Happy Birthday Derek!
Elizabeth
25/11/2014 at 9:30 pm
Wow Elaine!
Elizabeth
25/11/2014 at 9:31 pm
I agree with elizabeth
Elizabeth
25/11/2014 at 9:32 pm
But an actually fabulous blog! Happy birthday Derek