A little while ago I posted a 'how on earth do I start' thread and with the feedback decided on a NoTanx one day intro to freediving course. I was a little unsure as there wasnt really any web based material on what I might expect so thought I would share what happened!
Well, sunlight was streaming through the window on the saturday morning and usefully I had prepared for the days session by drinking a load of Cobra and sharing an indian takeaway with mrs Aquapaolo. Happily I was in good condition notwithstanding and it wasn't long before we were letting the train take the strain and approaching London Bridge. We walked the rest of the way and found the venue quite easily and walked in to bump into Kat from Notanx who immediately spotted us for what we were and put us at ease that we were in the right place at the right time. By design we were very early and headed down the road for bacon rolls before the start time of 9:00 am which is always a very recommended start to a busy day!
On getting back to LA fitness we were handed the most comprehensive disclaimer I believe I have ever seen to fill out! It must have been 3 pages long though I suppose in these litigious times its to be expected. After that we went deeper into the 'schoolroom' for the first of our dry sessions. Here we started by an overview of the NoTanx philosophy before discussing the mechanisms of the body and how to deliberately slow breathing and heart rate with a commensurate improvement in oxygen efficiency. After this there was a cautionary safety briefing and then the first pool session!
In the first session relaxation techniques were applied and some basic dynamic apnea completed. We had the pool to ourselves though it did get a little tight for space with everyone swimming breaststroke underwater! It was also a first for me as we had to wear bathing caps (provided for us by the NoTanx team!) It was a useful session though and the water was warm and clean and really enjoyable.
After this it was lunch. There is a McDonalds nearby and also an M&S for Gucci sandwiches.
After lunch (eaten in the centre watching freediving vids) it was a classroom session on dry breathholds and generally breathing. It was really good - probably the best 'dry' session of the day with Mig and the others working really well to encourage us to experience a 'zen' like calmness when breathholding. Some yoga style work took place here too and it was very enjoyable. It was clear the students (14 of us on the day) drew different things from the experience but it was one that for me worked really well. I was definitely in the zone
after this there were taught lessons on rescue and recovery, equipment a freediver might use and also an overview on the various freediving disciplines. I believe there was also a biological input to explain the human body and freediving and a concise but effective lesson on how we breath and why and how we can control the body better.
After this it was the much anticipated second pool lesson. This was dynamic apnea and practical statics and we split into two groups for this. First up it was dynamics with drills for breathing after a swim and this was good, though tempered somewhat with a fair amount of caution. I found that while I wanted to push myself, I was somewhat 'reined' in. To be fair though I suppose that firstly its only a day trial course and secondly we live in a 'blame culture' so I can't moan too much. I tried freediving fins and found them to be awesome though and will definitely be getting a pair.
The groups then swapped and we tried statics. Here we were given more free reign and could go as long as we could manage. This was a really good session and really was the culmination of the day for me. I achieved some good statics (or so it felt) though there was no quantification (timings or similar) though I suppose that wasnt the point of the session. I really enjoyed the statics though and after this was...
The last classroom session which was an overview of freediving and what NoTanx can offer in the future. It was then that we got certificates to go with our reading material from the day and it was all over
I enjoyed it - so did Mrs Aquapaolo and would say if you are curious, give it a go! there was certainly a wide range of abilities in the session so theres no danger of intimidation or anything like that.
Verdict? Good way to spend the day!
Well, sunlight was streaming through the window on the saturday morning and usefully I had prepared for the days session by drinking a load of Cobra and sharing an indian takeaway with mrs Aquapaolo. Happily I was in good condition notwithstanding and it wasn't long before we were letting the train take the strain and approaching London Bridge. We walked the rest of the way and found the venue quite easily and walked in to bump into Kat from Notanx who immediately spotted us for what we were and put us at ease that we were in the right place at the right time. By design we were very early and headed down the road for bacon rolls before the start time of 9:00 am which is always a very recommended start to a busy day!
On getting back to LA fitness we were handed the most comprehensive disclaimer I believe I have ever seen to fill out! It must have been 3 pages long though I suppose in these litigious times its to be expected. After that we went deeper into the 'schoolroom' for the first of our dry sessions. Here we started by an overview of the NoTanx philosophy before discussing the mechanisms of the body and how to deliberately slow breathing and heart rate with a commensurate improvement in oxygen efficiency. After this there was a cautionary safety briefing and then the first pool session!
In the first session relaxation techniques were applied and some basic dynamic apnea completed. We had the pool to ourselves though it did get a little tight for space with everyone swimming breaststroke underwater! It was also a first for me as we had to wear bathing caps (provided for us by the NoTanx team!) It was a useful session though and the water was warm and clean and really enjoyable.
After this it was lunch. There is a McDonalds nearby and also an M&S for Gucci sandwiches.
After lunch (eaten in the centre watching freediving vids) it was a classroom session on dry breathholds and generally breathing. It was really good - probably the best 'dry' session of the day with Mig and the others working really well to encourage us to experience a 'zen' like calmness when breathholding. Some yoga style work took place here too and it was very enjoyable. It was clear the students (14 of us on the day) drew different things from the experience but it was one that for me worked really well. I was definitely in the zone
after this there were taught lessons on rescue and recovery, equipment a freediver might use and also an overview on the various freediving disciplines. I believe there was also a biological input to explain the human body and freediving and a concise but effective lesson on how we breath and why and how we can control the body better.
After this it was the much anticipated second pool lesson. This was dynamic apnea and practical statics and we split into two groups for this. First up it was dynamics with drills for breathing after a swim and this was good, though tempered somewhat with a fair amount of caution. I found that while I wanted to push myself, I was somewhat 'reined' in. To be fair though I suppose that firstly its only a day trial course and secondly we live in a 'blame culture' so I can't moan too much. I tried freediving fins and found them to be awesome though and will definitely be getting a pair.
The groups then swapped and we tried statics. Here we were given more free reign and could go as long as we could manage. This was a really good session and really was the culmination of the day for me. I achieved some good statics (or so it felt) though there was no quantification (timings or similar) though I suppose that wasnt the point of the session. I really enjoyed the statics though and after this was...
The last classroom session which was an overview of freediving and what NoTanx can offer in the future. It was then that we got certificates to go with our reading material from the day and it was all over
I enjoyed it - so did Mrs Aquapaolo and would say if you are curious, give it a go! there was certainly a wide range of abilities in the session so theres no danger of intimidation or anything like that.
Verdict? Good way to spend the day!