Mermaid fitness is about more than just swimming. It's about embodying the grace and beauty of a mermaid in the water, as well as being safe in and around the water. This involves a combination of overall physical fitness, strength, flexibility, performance skills, and of course, mastering breath hold techniques.
Weather you are preparing for your upcoming mermaid course, or looking to improve on the mermaid skills you have learnt, these five fitness techniques will be instrumental in your mermaid journey.
1. Yoga: The Mermaid's Secret Weapon
Yoga is an integral part of my mermaid fitness routine. It helps to build strength and flexibility, both of which are crucial for graceful mermaid movements. Yoga poses like the fish pose, dolphin pose, and mermaid pose are particularly beneficial for mermaid fitness.
But yoga is not just about physical strength and flexibility; it's also about mental strength and flexibility. It teaches you to stay calm and focused, even when you're pushing your limits. This mental strength is incredibly useful when you're underwater, where staying calm and focused can make all the difference to your breath hold, and overall aesthetic underwater.
I use an app called Alo Moves for my daily yoga and meditation classes. I've been using this app since 2020 when COVID meant that I couldn't go out to yoga classes. I tried many other online yoga providers and YouTube yoga classes during this time, but Alo Moves was by far the best. The level of professionalism and skill that the instructors on there have is just unmatched, that I ended up preferring the app over in-person classes. Mainly because it's much cheaper, but also because it actually challenges me and I see massive improvements. You can filter classes by duration, style, intensity and level. There's series of classes available for improving handstands, working on your splits, etc. You can test the app for 30 days for free via this link HERE.
2. Breath Hold Techniques & Training On Land:
As a mermaid, you're underwater most of the time, and being able to hold your breath comfortably is crucial. I start my practice outside of the water, using meditation & breathing tables to focus on my breath and increase my lung capacity.
Meditation has been a game-changer for me. It's not just about sitting quietly; it's about connecting with your breath, understanding your body's capabilities, and pushing your limits in a safe and controlled manner. I found that even just a few minutes of meditation each day could significantly improve my breath hold capabilities.
I also found several apps designed for freedivers incredibly helpful. They provide tables that guide you through holding your breath, helping you gradually increase your breath hold duration and reduce your recovery time. These apps are designed with freedivers in mind, but they're incredibly useful for anyone looking to improve their breath hold techniques. They offer a range of exercises, from beginner to advanced, and provide a structured way to track your progress.
3. In-Water Static Apnea:
In-water static apnea involves holding your breath underwater while staying still. It's a step up from land based breath hold techniques and a great way to prepare for the more dynamic aspects of mermaid fitness.
It's one thing to hold your breath on land, but it's quite another to do it underwater. The water adds an extra layer of resistance, making the exercise more challenging and helping to build endurance.
Safety is paramount when practicing in-pool static apnea. Always practice Apnea training with a buddy and ensure both of you have had the correct safety training. In Mermaid Courses I cover these safety measures in detail, providing a safe and structured way to improve your breath hold abilities.
4. Dynamic & Depth Freedive Training:
In Cairns, we are lucky to have freediving instructors who offer weekly training sessions at the pool. These sessions, supervised by some of the best freedivers in Australia, provide a safe and effective way to challenge yourself and improve your breath hold capabilities. These weekly training sessions are open to those who have completed a freediving course already or have some experience in the discipline. To see if these sessions are right for you, message the instructor prior to attending.
Freediving is not just about holding your breath; it's about moving efficiently and gracefully underwater. It's about understanding your body's responses to pressure changes and learning to adapt to the underwater environment. It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding discipline that has significantly improved my mermaid fitness.
5. Dancing: The Mermaid's Performance Art
Dancing is another key component of my mermaid fitness routine. As a mermaid, you're not just swimming; you're performing. And dancing is one of the best ways to improve your performance skills.
Dancing helps to build stamina and coordination, both of which are crucial for mermaid movements. It also helps to improve your sense of rhythm and timing, which can help you move more gracefully underwater.
But perhaps the most important benefit of dancing is that it's fun! It's a great way to stay motivated and enjoy your fitness routine. After all, mermaid fitness should be about joy and self-expression, not just hard work.
In Cairns we have an incredible Dance School called Full Out Dance Crowd, with adult classes in a range of styles including Commercial, Heels, HipHop and Contemporary.
Dive In and Start Your Mermaid Fitness Journey Today
Mermaid fitness is a unique and rewarding fitness regime that combines various disciplines. Whether you're an aspiring mermaid performer or instructor, or just looking for a fun and unique way to stay fit, taking a mermaid course is a great place to start.
I've learned so much about myself and my capabilities, and I've had the opportunity to embody the grace and beauty of a mermaid. It's a journey I wouldn't trade for anything, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.
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