Riding waves in the surf at the beach .
I grew up in a surf side city. from the age of 16 I was allowed to go to the beach on my own,
as I did most summer weekends. in my primary school years my parents took us to the beach and passed on their knowledge of safe body surfing. In my older teens and later in my middle age I developed my own techniques.
I understand the surf, the waves. I can look at it and walk away when its choppy or unsafe. I swim between the flags where life savers are on duty.
So this page is not foe everyone. concepts and experiences are only transferable if they are known.
Many ought to look at other strategies.
Riding the emotional waves
It might happen when loads of trauma are released
It might happen when I am tretaumatised
but by applying the principles of body surfing
I ride emotional waves.
I remember sharing this in a survivors group
most of the men looked at me wondering what I was on about.
as most experience being overwhelmed.
I have found the response of riding the wave to turn an emotional wave
from being potentially overwhelming
to a wave I can catch or ride in
or if it dumpes me I know how to ride it to the other side.
by applying the principles of body surfing.
I study it
I strategise how to respond .
the main thing I remember is that waves pass.
the main thing is to take a deep breath when I see the wave comming
and hold my breath whilst under water and not to fear
when under water to focus on holding my breath
focasing on holding my breath and reaching the other side.
suggestion - practice swimming under water in a swimming pool
not too deep so you can stop and stand at any point.
it is important to do this to build up confidence when under water
and how long one can hold ones breath for.
my guess is a min 25m with 50m an increased margin.
sometimes waves come into sucession so when surfacing take a quick deep breath
in case another wave comes immediatly even one deep breath provides enough oxygen
once again whilst these responses may help some
it might not be for you.
take care .
.