Making a Splash – Flopping and Flailing in the Med

If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that I’d soon be doing water aerobics in the Mediterranean Sea, I would not have believed them.

Firstly, I’m not a water baby. Years can go by without me dipping so much as a toe in a pool, let alone the ocean. And secondly — me, living on the Med? That sounds way to good to be true.

But life has a funny way of turning everything upside down. When you’re younger, surprises often mean something exciting. As you get older, you learn that “surprise!” usually translates to “speeding fine” or “your knees don’t work like they used to.” Moving to Cyprus has reminded me that surprises can also be wonderful.

When I was invited to join a seaside water aerobics class, I immediately said “yes!”… and then immediately panicked. The closer it got to actually showing up, the louder the self-doubt became:

• I’ve never done this before. I feel uncomfortable.
• What if the class is in Greek and I don’t understand a word? I would look stupid.
• What if (despite the lack of sea creatures in the Med) a shark attacks me? I could die!

I managed to override the whiny voice in my head, I went.

And it was lovely.

The class was in Greek, but the ladies translated for me, and the instructor went out of her way to make sure I understood the exercises. I spent an hour splashing around, flopping and flailing ungracefully (look mom, I’m a dolphin), and working muscles that haven’t been challenged in years (confirmed by the soreness the next day.)

It was fun, salty, and a little surreal and I will be back – flopping and flailing and all.