What motivated you to become an Apnea Survival Instructor?

I’ve always had a great affinity with the water and feel completely at home in the ocean. I’ve experienced various challenges in my own life and time in or on the water has always been therapeutic. Working as a Lifeguard, and a therapist and childbirth educator and birth support person, I support others through intense experiences and witness both incredible human resilience, and the negative impacts of unmanaged stress. Whether its giving birth, being honest, vulnerable and accountable in a relationship, or simply doing the unpleasant daily tasks or having the difficult conversations that no one really enjoys, being able to tap into ones inner calm and confidence, think clearly, prioritise energy, release unnecessary tension, and undertake the presenting task staying connected and present, makes for a more satisfying and enriching life. While not many people will experience big wave hold downs, we all have daily life stressors to deal with. The same tools can be used to manage both. Becoming an Apnea Survival Instructor has equipped me with more resources and knowledge to share with others. The end goal is to love the life we get to live. By learning and applying inner resources and skills to manage intentional stressors of water, apnea and cold immersion, we can transfer that learning and skill-set to better manage the life stressors we don’t choose.

List three tools you use to manage your stress during intense situations?

I slow my breathing to remind my body that I’m actually safe. That enables me to think more clearly, see the bigger picture, make a plan and articulate myself.
I use other experiences where I’ve overcome seemingly impossible challenges or performed well under less than optimal conditions, as reference points to remind my self that I’m more capable and resilient than any fear based myopia might lead me to believe.
Sometimes I just need to go for a long ocean swim or paddle… I know from years of experience that after about 20 minutes of one-two-three-breathe, or just the present moment focus on my body’s sensations as I move, and the form, shape, and movement of the waves or chop, that the sense of stress dissipates and I enter a completely different physiological and emotional state.

What are your greatest strengths as an educator?

I’ve spent over three decades as an educator, in wilderness adventure education, facilitating birth preparation courses and individual and group therapy, as well as swimming, lifeguard and surf club coaching and training with people of all ages and abilities. I’ve learnt everyone learns in their own unique way, learns better with an optimal balance of relaxation and challenge, translates learning into knowledge through practice and repetition, and that fun and play are ways to optimise any learning experience. I also have five decades of my own life experience to draw from and a desire, intention and acuity to understand and connect with others.

What specialty or unique point of difference do you bring to the AS instructor team?

My own life experience, university study, work with pregnant couples, birthing mothers, new parents, as well as people in aquatic environments whether they be competing or panicking as they trying to swim against a rip, has helped me see how anxiety and fear impedes the clear thinking, present moment awareness, optimal decision making and authentic connections that are essential for better outcomes in any context. I believe the resources developed in Apnea Survival education and training have countless beneficial applications way beyond the big wave hold down.
I seek to use Apnea Survival tools to help others develop their own inner resources, awareness, confidence and skill set to better manage their reactions to every day stressors in order to be calmer, happier, more connected parents, partners, people. To help others love the life they live!

What’s your most memorable water based experience where you’ve had to put your Apnea wisdom to the test?

I’ve had countless memorable experiences out on the water, many where I’ve had to draw on my inner resources and Apnea wisdom… But it was before I knew about Apnea Survival that I had the opportunity to put that wisdom to the test. In 2018 at 48 years old , I paddled a 12 foot prone board across the Channel of Bones, 55kms of 700m deep water from Hawaii’s Molokai to Ohau. I’d never experienced anything as beautiful and ugly as that water or as gruelling as that crossing! I’d done the training, I had the fitness and stamina. I knew however, that with something like that, at one point it becomes mind over body. So I’d trained my mind too. Stay focused. One kilometre at a time. Feel the water. Stroke, one two three four… My back hurts…ok, stay on your knees from when you look at the watch till the next full minute, than go to your belly… Keep paddling. That’s the option ( of course I could have bailed at any time and jumped on my support boat and gotten out of there !). But that thought didn’t cross my mind. I’d already visualised myself crossing the finish line. Paddling was just what I was doing to fill in the gap to get there. Easy. I focussed on the next bit of water in front of me, not on my sore shoulder or raw swollen eyes ( that I was unaware of until I finished and suddenly I was in agony!). I couldn’t see the destination but I just kept paddling, knowing I’d get there eventually. I’d had plenty of other experiences of getting through tough stuff, grim stuff. I’d given birth, lost a parent young, gone through an excruciating relationship breakdown. This was easy compared to all that. Just keep going. I’d heard a 16 year old had done it, so I knew I could. I knew the impossible was possible.