It’s 8.50am on Monday. I’m running a bit late. As I enter the carpark of my local pool, I can’t suppress the grin that always rises inside me when I see the big green van adorned with larger-than-life sized photos of two scuba divers. My kids think one of them is me. It’s not, but it could be though.

Today is Scuba Gym and it’s the best way to start my week! I was lucky enough to have my first underwater gym session in full scuba gear with Lyndi and  the founder of the Scuba Gym, David, at the Sydney Olympic Pool back in 2018.

I certainly had my reservations that day but they quickly evaporated when I had no choice but to follow their lead and let my body do the talking. There’s no opportunity for excuses when you’re submerged, you just have to let it happen and it did.

I called Lyndi one day afterward in excitement and told her I’d instinctively taken a few steps backward in my kitchen, something I didn’t know I could still do, but my legs thought otherwise.

It’s not natural to breathe underwater. We’re  brought up learning to hold our breath when we dive down. It wasn’t easy at first and I really had to convince myself that it was no big deal to carry on breathing as normal underwater and, lo and behold, I did it. 

There’s a unique calm and stillness that overcomes me being underwater. When I release a breath and watch the bubbles rise to the surface as I wobble to hold a lunge position, I feel like I’m watching a glass of champagne.

A slow breath in and all is quiet again and I am in my own private bubble. Nothing is hurried underwater and no-one (apart from Lyndi) is watching.

Each session is different and I never know what my legs will end up doing but the freedom to move in a way I cannot move on dryland wakes up my dormant muscles.

I can walk unaided underwater and there’s always a supporting hand to catch me if I waver; even if I collapse to one side, it doesn’t matter: all part of the fun. The hardest part is trying not to laugh with a mouthpiece in.

My favourite exercise has to be jumping which is a sensation I lost with the onset of this insidious disease.  And when was the last time you did a handstand? The most recent highlight in my scuba journey was the opportunity to dive with sharks at The Sydney Aquarium. What an experience! Thanks to the hard work and determination of Lyndi and the staff at the Aquarium, a couple of us Scuba Gymmers spent a magical time with a variety of these beautiful sea creatures. 

You don’t need experience or even to be a good swimmer, to try Scuba Gym. Out of all the wonderful therapies I do : OT, physio, exercise physiologist, podiatry etc., Scuba Gym is my favourite and an hour with Lyndi is therapy in itself.

I’d be hard pressed to replace all its benefits if I removed it from the formula that helps me manage my symptoms. This is MS and there is no cure, yet. I believe if you feel better, you are better, even if it’s only for that day, or part of that day. 

You never know until you try but I guarantee you’ll surface with a grin!