IV Freediver Rally - report

During the weekend of 15-16 June 2013 the 4th Freediver Rally took place – a meeting for girls who already practice freediving or want to learn the basics and see if they feel like doing it. This year the group was incredibly large – over 30 participants! And there was also a reserve list… So not only the instructors of our Freediving School Bluego, but also the best of our students and freediving friends took care of the ladies. The staff also included a physiotherapist using Watsu techniques and a coaching specialist.

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More photos can be found here

One of the participants, Agnieszka, describes her feelings about the Mermaid Weekend as follows: At the Freediver Rally I got to know other mermaids, which I thought were scarce in our country (…)! Finally, I got to know the professional side of freediving, which is something I’ve always dreamed of! (…) This meeting reminded me of who I am and what I want in life. I was positively surprised by the friendly atmosphere at the meeting (…). I am most happy to have met so many soul mates who, like me, enjoy not breathing and being underwater. Additionally, I had a great honour to meet personally the female staff of the Polish freediving team. To my surprise, the whole staff turned out to be very friendly, kind, helpful, understanding and full of good heart. Nobody – both the staff and the participants – was exalting themselves, there was no hint of envy, jealousy or rivalry (…). I will definitely be at the next rallies!

Over the weekend the girls learnt how to breathe properly using the entire volume of their lungs, how to hold their breath while static and how Watsu can be used to relax the body in water. During the depth sessions, they not only learned the Frenzel technique, but also the rope and passed encounters with platforms. During the lectures, they learned about the disciplines and records in freediving, the principles of safe diving while holding their breath and the technique of swimming in a monoplane. They also learned how to make their dreams come true using simple coaching techniques. Traditionally, on Sunday morning they stretched their bodies during a stretching session with yoga elements. The advanced participants spent two days at depth sessions in the middle of the lake, honing their technique, relaxing and practising mutual belaying.

Apart from the official programme carried out during the Rally, each of the participants did a lot of work within themselves – discovering themselves, their potential, increasing body and mind awareness. The openness and honesty of everyone present at the rally towards each other resulted in an incredibly warm atmosphere and the establishment of very close and friendly relationships.

Dorota, who has been diving with an aqualung for years, describes the effects of participation in the Rally in the following way: I just don’t know what is happening to me. At night I dream that I am sitting on a platform and I am looking at the sun rays from under the water. It is quiet, beautiful and I feel good there. When I close my eyes during the day, what do I see! I see the green of the lake water surrounding me and the chain, link by link, leading me down. These are beautiful memories. It is amazing that with such a delay it comes to me and to my body that I have enjoyed it so much. I am happy to have finally been with you. At the Freediver rally… I discovered that dreams do come true, on land and underwater.

Agnieszka, one of the leaders, summed up the Rally very nicely: This is the magic of this Meeting – this atmosphere that reveals us to each other and helps to fight deeply hidden fears. Reaching for the depths is not the goal here, the goal is to reach for deeply hidden fears and anxieties, which come out by themselves just a few metres underwater and… float away. And all that’s left in us is joy, happiness and satisfaction from overcoming oneself ???? .

Sounds a bit corny, but anyone who has tried it will confirm that they have experienced the same ????

Thank you to everyone who helped organise and run the activities: Emilka, Agnieszka, Ola, Kasia, Tomek, Wojtek, Michał, Irek, Mrozek, Piotrk – your support and involvement made this year’s Rally so special.

We would also like to thank our partners: www.gosiakopec.pl, KASSA deep water world, NEMO diving base, magazines: Wielki Błękit and Podwodny Świat, portals: pływanie.pl and divers24.pl as well as Freediving Poland Association and Spearfishing Poland Association.

More photos can be found here

Source: freediving.bluego.co.uk