Learning from teaching

By Ricardo Sánchez Velázquez

When I was seven years old, our family doctor recommended to my parents to get me into swimming; he believed it would improve my asthmatic bronchitis. My parents followed his recommendation and enrolled me in the town swimming club. For six years I swam and competed so as not to come last; I cannot say I enjoyed it very much. I remember my bronchitis attacks getting better, but I don’t remember enjoying myself. At the age of thirteen, I left my home town and forgot about my bronchitis. Swimming, however, continues. Swimming is a wonderful activity if the coaches who only worry about the fast swimmers can be kept far away from it. I do not have a single memory from my childhood years of ever getting any personalized instruction from the coaches who trained me; I only remember the number of meters to be covered and the shouts demanding greater effort.

As a young man I trained to become an instructor in relaxation and tonal harmony, and learnt a whole new approach to physical activity focusing on the interdependence of physical, affective, and intellectual functions. It was not about arduous discipline, it was more about exploring one’s own potentials and limits, and then going on from there with patience and concentration, enjoying small advances in the process. But all this is easier to write about than transmit to others. People with different interests and sensibilities came to my courses; they came with varied physical experiences which were hardly ever suited to the type of training I was proposing. Although not always successful, I tried to devise the most favourable way for each one to develop their potential. This meant individual work that could be done alone or in a group, but the priority was each individual’s experience. Unexpectedly, I found that I learnt a lot when I listened to them one by one, accepted that each one did things in their own time, and when I tried to make the technique stem from individual interests.

What about the swimming? I went on with it, enjoying an easy, slow, peaceful pace. When my wife and son became interested, I proposed a relaxed approach, without splashing and noise. I tried to make it a pleasant experience for us. Then one day I came upon the work of Terry Laughlin; I could hardly believe it, but there was somebody out there who understood swimming in a different way. And not only that, it was somebody who devoted his time and energy to researching technique, to exploring the possibilities this technique opened up to competitive swimmers as well as the rest of us. I bought the first of Terry Laughlin’s books, and then his DVD; I began to frequent <www.totalimmersion.net> and, of course, started practising a series of techniques in the pool that constituted a new way to experience swimming.

The similarity between the Total Immersion (TI) technique and those of certain oriental disciplines like yoga or tai chi has been highlighted. I would like to highlight some similarities TI has with western techniques. In my opinion, Terry Laughlin’s approach can be framed within a western movement that seeks to overcome the mind-body division. During the 20th century, a whole series of body techniques emerged that took into account the organic indivisibility of human beings and our social interaction. The body ceased to be considered a perishable vehicle for a transcendental soul or a divisible machine in certain mechanistic interpretations. These techniques abandon suggestion and opt for self-awareness, going beyond relaxation in search of tonal harmonization, and explore the human organism in its encounter with the Other. This movement has revolutionized western corporal awareness, but uses the methods of analysis. Contemporary dance, new theatrical explorations, tonal harmonization techniques and schools of psychomotricity all form part of this essential change in western self-awareness. Terry Laughlin, following the inspiration that resulted from his meeting with Coach Bill Boomer, proposed a series of techniques that tended to develop our awareness and facilitate movement with less effort while immersed in an aquatic environment. In so doing, he joined the ranks of those men and women who have so profoundly modified our conception of the corporal.

The patient and conscious practice of these techniques supposes that the body is understood not as an enemy to be beaten and exploited, but rather as an essential dimension of human subjectivity which enables greater self-knowledge and the development of our potential. Only practice based on analysis and self-awareness allows seeking a harmony which, perhaps, is natural in animals but profoundly altered in man since the beginning of his existence due to his emotional and physical experiences. We know now there is no Garden of Eden to go back to, but rather a path to be constructed.

So, day by day, I am making small discoveries, minuscule changes, which in turn make my activity in the aquatic environment more effective and pleasurable. This pleasant experience was enriched when I was able to begin sharing it with other people. As soon as I began experimenting with the TI movements, I wanted to share them with my wife and son. I wanted to give them the pleasure that comes with every new practise executed with serenity and concentration. I then thought about the best and most flexible way to expose each of them to TI techniques.

Arturo, my son, was at that time under the pressure of school training; his swimming grades depended on how fast he could swim. It seemed to me that the best way to get him interested in TI was to show him techniques that could improve the effectiveness of his strokes. Techniques like the patient hand and mail slot really worked for him. They not only provided him with a new way to develop his abilities in the aquatic environment, but also his self-awareness. Arturo’s swimming grades improved and now that he is at university and away from the pressure of his school coach, swimming has become a pleasant daily activity.

With Rosa, my wife, the way to approach TI techniques was very different. She is characterized by her aesthetic sensibility, and her swimming style has always been very serene and careful. However, she had little flaws that spoiled the flow and integration of her movements. Seeking a beautiful and harmonious movement was a good introductory approach for her. Later, with her patient practice she has gone on discovering the importance of feeling supported by water, the improvement in speed due to lowering the chin, greater efficiency from using correct rotation, as well as the beauty and economy of a relaxed hand that enters the water aligned with the shoulder. She has progressively eliminated unnecessary movements and beautified her style. Rosa has been surprised by the new confidence she feels in aquatic activities, which contributes to a more enjoyable and less exhausting experience.

For all of us, swimming has become a source of small and pleasant discoveries, a pleasurable activity in the pool or in the sea, and a meeting place with old and new friends. Each practice becomes a fun and enriching experience. Our times, by the way, have improved and we are set on taking part in masters and open water events.

As for myself, I have decided to keep exploring the possibilities opened up by Terry Laughlin and the TI community. My immediate goal is to train as a TI coach. Meanwhile, in view of how much I still need to improve, I am guaranteed many days of enjoyable practice and pleasurable discoveries.

 

 Comment on this Article • Back to Current Issue