Beyond the Surface, Unlocking Transformation
An adult's quest to swim isn't just about mastering arm strokes and leg kicks. It's a profound voyage that transcends the physical, delving into the realms of the spiritual. Yet, when we mention "spiritual," we aren't referring to religious connotations. Instead, it's about tapping into the intangible aspects of ourselves – the spirit, the soul, the inner essence that defines us as individuals.
In a world where somatics is emerging as a pivotal concept, the term "soma" encapsulates the whole of our existence, including experiences, beliefs, and fears. It is here that the remnants of trauma can find their place, often buried within memory and emotional centers like the hippocampus and amygdala. Triggered by reminders of past traumatic events, the body reacts and remembers what the mind does not. (For those seeking further insight, "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel Van Der Kolk offers a profound starting point.)
My personal journey into this intricate connection began nearly a decade ago during in-water training, with an encounter with a man named James. A lawyer from Brooklyn, he had flown to Sarasota, FL to confront his lifelong aversion to water. His unease was inexplicable, but his discomfort was a deeply felt experience.
Guiding James through the process of submerging his face in water, I bore witness to an astonishing phenomenon. As his eyes met mine underwater, time seemed to stand still, and for him, memories flooded in. Upon resurfacing, James trembled, revealing that he had suddenly remembered being submerged as a young child during bath times. The trauma he had long forgotten made itself known once he felt the water again. The senses, it seemed, possess the power to resurface memories and emotions that can feel as fresh as yesterday.
In the intensity of the moment, James withdrew from class, leaving a puzzle with no apparent solution. This instance was just one many that sparked my fascination with water and trauma, propelling me towards the path of somatic mindfulness.
Over the course of eight years, I've honed the art of supporting individuals like James, creating brave, safe, and fun spaces for the alchemy of healing to unfold. What I have witnessed repeatedly is that the deepest fears and traumatic memories, when brought into the light, are the often the very doorways to healing. These memories, once held in secrecy, require no cure, only recognition. They are a portal for transformation.