Zen and the art of swimming

I started swimming again last night. I just went in and re-signed up for the local Masters team. It was everything I could do during practice not to scream "Sweet Cthulu, it feels good to be here!" I was tired. I am a little sore. But I forgot how meditative the isolation of doing laps can be. Sure there are other people there, but you can't have a conversation while doing laps. Well, you can, but then you'd be a fish. Or maybe a dolphin. But for humans, talking and swimming are mutually exclusive.

Anyway, while you're doing laps, the only thing you can think about is form. You pushed lopsidedly here, you need to breathe on this stroke, your head is not far back enough, reach, reach, don't forget to kick, even out the stroke, that's it... It's almost like dance, only you don't worry about what's going on around you - it's just you and the water. With dance you have to adjust for everyone around you, and the music. But with swimming, you just need to focus on you, and the way your body moves. Actually, it's more like yoga - you focus on how you are moving your body and breathing.

I think I may be a little late to practice tonight. I've gotta go do that again.