But why swimming?

ByShannon Keegan

The means matters.

There are many lenses through which to view the world, why swimming?

Have you ever had a moment where you lost track of time? Whether your ideas flowed effortlessly in your writing, your perfectly coordinated movements allowed you to bound down the trail, you got lost in the notes and rhythms playing an instrument, or had a rich and thought provoking conversation with a dear friend?

That feeling—where mind and body are seamlessly synchronized—is called flow.

Flow is more than just a magical moment. It’s a powerful state of focused presence where you perform at your best, free from distractions and judgement.

While there are many ways to experience flow, water is the perfect teacher. And the beauty of swimming is that it doesn’t just help you experience flow—it teaches you how to access it, in the water and beyond.

The water demands your attention.

Your breath becomes your anchor.

And repetition fosters rhythm.

Not I.

If you’re a seasoned swimmer and you find yourself distracting yourself when you swim – processing your day or recalling the lyrics from a favorite song – I challenge you to still your mind. Focus on the sensations on your skin, the rhythm of your breath, each movement of your body.

But how?

If you’re newer to the sport, let go of the shoulds, can’ts, won’ts and don’ts.

Just be – in the water.

Float if it comes naturally or find a floaty! Tune into your breath. Experiment with filling and releasing air from your lungs. Play with exhaling through your nose or mouth. Observe how it feels the same or different in your body with each experiment.

Opportunity knocks.

Carve out time for presence in the water.

What other areas of your life can you gift this same presence?

When you explore presence on land, how it is the same or different than when you’re in the water?

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Share your experience in our community. Make 2025 the year that you find flow in your swimming and in your life.

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