Could I tail-swim with my disabilites?

[Princess Kae-Leah]

It's no secret that I feel insecure about being a hydrophobic mermaid here, but I've been thinking, if I wanted to conquer my fear and learn to swim, preferably with a tail. The thing is, I have scoliosis and had to have surgery on my back when I was 10 that fused metal rods into my spine, rendering me unable to arch my back and leaving me essentially paralyzed for a section of my back/torso, and I also have very weak muscles throughout the rest of my body, most notably my knees which dislocate painfully if I move them too quickly/roughly. Due to my disabilities/health problems, am I doomed to always? be a mermaid at heart but not in body? :$:(

P.S.: I think part of the reason that I'm so outspoken about being asexual and Terrestetarian(my term for a strict seafood-free diet) is that I'm so insecure about being probably the only mer who can't actually swim, that I try to boost my fragile ego by compensating for it by reminding everymer her that I may not swim, but I'm these two other things that I believe mers to be.

[Kanti]

I think you can do it!
Swimming is an amazing way to exercise. It's commonly used for physical therapy for people recovering from physical injuries and even just for normal therapeutic exercise. Water also makes your body weigh less so you don't stress your muscles as much when you do it. And you can take it slow, there's really no reason to be making violent or sudden movements anyway.

For the hydrophobic part (I assume that's aquaphobia-fear of swimming or being in water), I think you can very well get over it if you just take it slow. Maybe try getting into some shallow water and just seeing how it feels. Slowly moving in deeper and deeper step by step until you're comfortable and stopping whenever you think it's too much. If you get scared or think you're too deep, just get out of the water and try again later. There's no reason to rush anything. Getting over a fear takes time and dedication but you can surely do it!
I wouldn't really recommend trying it with the tail at first though. Swimming with a tail is an awkward way of swimming you have to get used to. It's much different than swimming normally, but not in a bad way.
I'd say you should practice floating, swimming normally above-water, see how you like it, then when you're comfortable, practice holding your breath and swimming underwater.
Swimming underwater is a very nice feeling. It's calm and relaxing and you don't have to jerk or kick hard to get movement. This is especially true when you start swimming with a monofin. Monofins are great because they propel you through the water with little to no effort. Only a couple flicks of your monofin will glide you through the water.

As for your scoliosis, I had a friend who had the same problem. She had to get the rods put it and it did limit her movement, but she can still swim fairly well. You just have to work with your limits is all, but I think you can do it :')

[Moonflower]

I agree with what Kanti said. Swimming or even just moving around in the water is a great way to build up muscle strength, which will help when you do begin to swim.

[kazekoh]

Yes you can. :> You might have to build up but You can do it. Maybe start off with water aerobics first? ^^ That is what I had to do. I have a chronic pain condition so, it took me a while to build up to swimming. It took 2 years, but I am now able to swim 8 laps in 10 minutes. ^^ So you can do it!~

[HBMermaid_Angela]

As stated by everyone else...YES! I agree with taking it slow...go to a shallow pool (something enclosed...no open water) and try it out. Swimming is quite theraputic and actually very easy on the joints, back, etc. which is why it's so popular to do. Best of luck! And remember, you are what you feel you are. You have the beauty of a mermaid on the inside and out!

[Moonflower]

Oh, if it helps with the water phobia, you could always find a place with a kiddie pool and go right when they open for the summer. Kiddie pools are small at most places, so in colder climates they will more than likely drain them for the winter (you said you live in Washington State, so it would be cold enough to freeze there if they didn't drain it). If you go the day they open, you could get into the kiddie pool without worrying about little kid pee in the water. Plus, it only gets about a foot or so deep in the center, so no risk of drowning ^_^

[Aquatarian]

You just need the right support. You don't need to be thrown out into the middle of the raging ocean in your tail to swim, just start out small. Go to the pool with a few close friends and walk and hop along the bottom of the pool. Once you feel comfortable enough you can start holding your breath and practicing other swimming techniques. I think a big part of it is being careful but learning to go beyond your comfort zone.

Even if you can't swim like a dolphin you are and will always be a mermaid! <3 :)

[malinghi]

1. To repeat everyone else, yes you can.

2. Swimming in a tail is slightly more advanced that swimming without one, so learn the normal way first.

3. You don't need to teach yourself to swim- many pools offer adult swimming classes. Call your local pools for more info.

4. Swimming classes focus more on the technical side of moving in the water than on the mental aspect of fear, so you might want to work on your phobia concurrent with taking the class. Getting over fears of being in the water basically involves spending time in the shallow part of a pool with someone that can give you support and remind you that you're safe. Also, see if you can find a zero depth entry pool- that means the pool has one side that slopes gradually so near the wall the depth is literally zero. They're good for getting over a fear of swimming. Here's a picture:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_COfvQUJMYBo/TEmR3CiWnmI/AAAAAAAACJg/6g0AoJqmrec/s1600/GEDC6927.JPG

[Kanti]

I agree very much with malinghi.
Using the gently sloping shore of a zero depth entry pool is a great way to monitor your progress and they're shallow enough that you can lay down fully submerged in the water
without worrying about swimming or floating to keep your head above water. Also, I think these pools are way more fun than the normal pool. They remind me of the beach~

[MermaidNerenia]

YES YOU CAN! Zero entry pools are a great way to start! Bring friends who will fill you with confidence! Start slowly and only do what you are comfortable with. Even just sepping in the water and back out is a great start! All us mers will be cheering you on!

[-Annwyn-]

Absolutely! Plus mermaiding for me is a very forgiving exercise. It's gentle and easy on the joints while at the ame time toning up your core muscles without really trying. I hope it's working out for you Kae-Leah! One fin at a time! :D

[Capt Nemo]

Better yet....SCUBA!

http://www.divingadream.org/

If he can do it, you can too!

http://www.hsascuba.com/

[AniaR]

KL I have similar health issues and taught myself to swim as a teen :) You can do it! I have scoliosis and my freaking feet dislocate all the time. Swimming is low impact

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I've tried doing the dolphin kick motion in the bathtub, and it's quite painful on my back and knees! :( I find water actually makes my joints feel worse, not better, for some reason, as it sort of throws things out of balance. My body is extremely stiff, and does not float well at all. I've actually come to terms that I'm not cut out for swimming and hope you guys don't think any less of me for that.

[SireniaSolaris]

Practicing regular swimming is good, but there is also some land help that I would recommend.

A LOT of the movements used to dolphin swim are IDENTICAL to practices found in ATS (American Tribal Style) - a genre of belly dance. It is actually a very low-impact style of belly dance, so I would highly recommend it, since that could help build up your muscles. After all, you would want to be able to move like that on land before you attempt it in water where you are dealing with all of that resistance. A word of caution though; if you are unable to find actual ATS and can only find tribal fusion classes, just be weary of floor work or more stress to the knees. You wouldn't have to worry in ATS, but with many Tribal Fusion classes and workshops I've encountered, I've found a lot of stuff that was heavy stress on the knees.

Hopefully after a year or so of this paired with REGULAR swimming practice (not dolphin swimming and not with your tail - it is important in any kind of 'working out' to take baby steps and start from level ONE), you might then be ready to start trying out mer swimming. Don't give up. Because I noticed you seem to have decided you aren't cut out for it after a mere 4 months. Weak joints aren't something that just fix up overnight. It requires the right therapy, dedication, and consistent strength-building routine.

Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions about dance or your back limitations, etc. I once had a bad back, too. Not quite the same as your situation, but I had my own complications. And then there was this past year with the whole C section thing. Yucky body problems. All better now, though :)

[AniaR]

I also dont think the tub is an accurate representation of what you'd feel in a pool. Many people with back and joint problems and issues like fibermyalgia swim in special rehab pools that are extra warm to soothe those muscles. Even just standing in one doing basic stretches and excersices will help.

[Odette]

are your wrists alright? im thinking of some things you can do which will allow you to swim safely. dolphin kicks will hurt your knees for sure. ive been learning alot about aquatic exercise. can you stand in the water? thats the first step. swim without the tail first. hopefully i can come back with some useful information for ya, Kae-Leah.
if i dont get back to you about this in at least a month, message me on facebook. i would love to help such a wonderful mermaid any way i can. =)

[Princess Kae-Leah]

For those who are confused about how my spinal fusion surgery can make it next to impossible, or at least very difficult, for me to learn to swim, especially to swim mermaid-style, here are some quotes from a bunch of other people with first-hand experience with spinal fusion on a scoliosis support forum! I hope sharing these quotes anonymously isn't stepping on any toes. If someone wants me to remove their quote, for any reason, I promise I will. :)
"I harbour considerable doubts that swimming is the best exercise for a fused person. It can be remarkably difficult to swim properly without straining the neck or aggravating the lower back when you are fused rigid"
"Swimming really was a killer for me...my neck got so incredibly stiff and sore"
"My leg was fine until I tried to go swimming"
"I only get more pain while swimming properly"
"I'm really suffering for having gone swimming on Friday morning"
"Swimming was a really difficult experience"
"Swimming was...so hard and painful"

[Mermaid Photine]

What about those things divers have- the little motorized things that they hang onto and then get tugged around in the water? I'm no diver, and I don not remember what they are called, but you could decorate it to look like a dolphin or octopus, maybe. The idea of a little dolphin engine friend souds like loads of fun to me.

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ That actually sounds like a really cool idea, but wouldn't be costly???

[LittleTreasure]

I'm going to mirror everyone's responses here and say that if you want it bad enough, you CAN learn to swim. Even if it's not exactly the way other 'mers' swim. I really think that you shouldn't give up on this. Of course, I have no idea how much pain you may be in when you get in water. But like AniaR said, a tub isn't really the same as open water. You might even find that using those muscles like that gets less painful over time. I'd suggest you take some classes, letting your instructor know about your difficulties with water. Learn to swim normally first (always with someone there), then gradually move up to the tail. You don't even have to swim underwater - you could use a noodle or foam board and move your tail while leaning on it. I had to swim with my tail on my back before I was secure enough to try swimming underwater with it.

Of course we all love you the same no matter whether you swim or not. But if you want to swim, go for it! <3

And MermaidPandorah's idea is really neat too.

[Gem Stone]

If its absolutely impossible to move your back and legs, which I don't know for sure if this will entirely help but, try swimming with just your arms. It takes some training and you may not get too deep or far on one breath, but it is possible. I'm not sure how it would affect your back though. If you want to try it, go for it. If not, it's your choice and your body. I've swam with just my arms in a tail just to see if I could do it, and you have to be able to float on your back so when you get tired you can rest. Floating is ten times harder in a tail and again, I'm not sure how your back would feel about any of this, but if it worked than you wouldn't have to move your legs at all. I'm sorry that this is all the help I can give.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I honestly don't see me ever tail-swimming, which is really the only kind of swimming I'd really enjoy, and my tail isn't even made for serious swimming anyway(it's open at the bottom). Several other people on a scoliosis support forum made it very clear that even regular "human swimming" is a very difficult and painful experience for those of us with fused spines. A fused spine means there are metal rods holding our spine in place, which makes us unable to move it much. As for swimming with just my arms, I've thought of it before, but any movement may throw my back "out of balance" and cause pain. I try to be EXTREMELY cautious about exerting myself, since one wrong move and I could do serious damage.

[taom]

KL, don't give up! My suggestion, since you have said your body is pretty stiff, is do out of water stretches. Just gentle joint movements and muscles stretches on a regular basis will aid immensely in dispelling stiffness. I would also say look into yoga. It seems like this crazy scary intense thing but there are tons of extremely gentle poses that will help your body loosen and correct. My mother and I both have scoliosis (my mom much worse than me). We both danced and did yoga and stretching. Now, mine is completely gone and hers is negligible. I know that one wrong movement can be very dangerous so I really suggest getting a trainer or going to a class where there is someone who can make sure you are doing the proper technique.

You have to build you body up. Don't stop trying. You can do this. We all believe in you. You just have to go slow, move in little increments and sooner than you think you will be able to do all the things you wish to.

(I'm a long time dancer and do yoga all the time. If you want me to send you some poses, PM me and I'll be glad to help!)

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I don't just have scoliosis, I have a fused spine, I cannot do stretches at all, it is physically impossible

[BlueMermaid]

You could wear a swim vest, that allows you to float on the water. Lay on top of the water and use your arms to swim.

[Maple]

Honestly, the best thing to do is to consult your doctor and see if it's a good idea for you, and if it is, give it a try with a private lesson in the pool. That way you'll have one-on-one attention and someone who can hopefully find a way of making swimming and water work with you.

If not, we'll set up kiddie pools in the summertime and sit in them with floppy hats, sunglasses and margaritas. :)

[MermanJesse]

http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Doo-Dolphin-Scooter/dp/B000FZZUIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329760288&sr=8-1

I am actually thinking about getting one.

[Mermaid Crystal]

you should swim without a tail for the first time and practice and then swim in a tail and i KNOW you can do it!

[Mermaid Crystal]

do you have to swim in a dolphin kick style? you can just swim in another style but with your legs together!

[Mermaid Celissa]

I had scoliosis surgery, it's not that bad, actually. My surgeon actually recommended swimming as a recuperation technique. I started off just walking around the pool, then hopping, then swimming lightly, then full-blast like I usually did. After a while it starts to loosen your back up. I had a spinal fusion literally from the top of my neck to the bottom of my back, so practically my whole back is full of metal. You can do it Kae!

[Capt Nemo]

You may be able to do a sculling/frog kick with just your feet. Wouldn't be too good for diving though, but with scuba it would work. Your tail would need to be a bi-fin tail and free from the ankles down. I wild beta type tail design.

Wish you were closer so we could work on this!

[roamingmer]

Try to find a 'body balance', 'yoga' or 'Pilates' class and learn to relax during he moves. It my be that tr spine is too stiff at the start but given determination and time and lots of relaxation you might be able to regain some flexibility. TThese exercises will also help build up the 'core' muscles necessary for powerful swimming.


However if You also need to overcome fear of being under water then allow yourself to purchase some body floats
- some over SMS and some between legs. You need to become very comfortable with feeling of water in face, occasionally down nose etc.


Cat memo may be right that a split tail design would work easier?

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I have pretty much decided that swimming is not for me. I hate chlorinated pools, and I feel pretty content with the leg exercises I do in my bathtub, and mer-meditation. Deep down, I'm not so sure I ever really wanted to swim as much as I wanted to feel I fit in better w/the community. I felt as a non-swimmer I didn't fully belong among mers, so it was something I whinged a lot about. Ultimately, though much of that was just in my head, most people here have always accepted me but I did not fully appreciate or realize that. Lately, I've noticed event planners have been doing a pretty good job of including dry activities as well as swimming in mer-meetups, and mers are designed dry tails. We're all unique individuals here w/our own passions, at the end of the day. I do not feel quite as jealous as I did toward swimming mers, because there's still a lot I CAN do and I have my own passions to pursue. I'm trying not to *obsess* over growing my fanbase on FB, as per the lovely Raina's advice, but I am very very happy that several Sea Shepherd supporters/activists have "liked" my mer-page, as my mission statement as a mer is a lot closer to SSCS's than the average recreational swimming mer, and hopefully instead of telling the same old things to the same old people, I can network w/some folks who with their help I can do all I can to protect my sea creature friends. :)

[Mermaid Bella]

Kae- leah, I have scoliosis and when I was younger my back was so stiff I used to walk like a penguin and one of the other kids found out you can push me over like a skittle . I was lucky that I got chiropractor help and it was able to keep me from surgery, but I totally understand what you say about swimming being rough, I've been there.

but I worked hard when I was very young and now the water is more home to me than land. I am not at all saying it will be like that for you, I do know that it is nothing like the bath but if you have managed to sit in the bath you can totally sit in a kiddie pool, then you can get some photos taken and it will be a.treasured moment for you.

I can see that starting this thread was a big step for you and like all big steps we take you seem to want to put the lid back on the can of worms. but don't let tiny little fears (as they are small in the mighty shadow of encouragement XD haha )get into your head. I have seen your tails and they are lovely. I have seen your bathtub photos with your dolls (btw I'm super doll addicted myself) and you look so at home when you are getting photos taken.

Please for everyone on here who desperately wants you to take the leap. you don't even have to bring your tail. just go sit in 2 inches of water, wiggle your toes and fingers, take in the sunshine. and get a photo for me ;)

[telzey.amberdon]

I haven't been to any mer-meets but what I understand is alot of time is spent on the rocks just looking good and hanging out with fellow mers. I think as long as you think you are mer, you can serve as an example to people straddling the fence. Let me one of your fans and say I would be happy to be at any meet we both could be at. Unfortunately I am at the other end of the country, but who knows?

[Mermaid Melanie]

Kae-Leah - I have seen quite a few different "mer-gigs" my first one was a dry event for charity - this seems like the kind of mer work you may be interested in - I think you dont have to swim to be accepted. Just having a good attitude and wanting to spread a positive message about our oceans is a great way to fit in :)

[Elle]

I had back issues and had to have rehab for my back. heated pools are a great way to loosen up.
Even if you decide against swimming you could always make your self more confident being around water and even sitting in it. You don't have to swim to be a mer. I don't even own a tail (yet) but I still consider myself a mer.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I'm very slowly testing the waters, so to speak ;), to do more with my tail in water. Not so much actual swimming like Hannah, Linden, etc. do, but now that I own a FinFun monofin, I like sometimes sitting in a kiddie pool and just flicking my tail. It's hardly Olympic-level swimming but it's decent exercise and makes me feel mermaidy. FF monos are perfect for that kind of thing