Pool and Lane Feng Shui

Every fall we get a new crop of FFH and everyone gets into the pool with differing fears, goals and skills. A few years ago I had Googled swim practice Feng Shui and nothing came up so I set about writing my own. Wikipedia teaches that “the Chinese words "feng" and "shui" translate to mean “wind” and “water," respectively. This concept derived from an ancient poem that talks about human life being connected and flowing with the environment around it.”

Though we continue to use the phrase to help create order with our things – it screams to be used with water.

We ask this.

In swimming there are a few understood practice rules.

• The five second rule: leave AT LEAST 5 seconds AFTER the person before you. ALWAYS.

• We ask that you stay out of the way of other swimmers when you have to sit out.

• We ask that you are always nice.

We also have a Feng Shui rule. Honor the lane.

Each lane is its own ecosystem. It has its own balance. All should welcome new swimmers and it is the job of the seasoned swimmer to use their “wind” or voice to help the new swimmer understand that ecosystem that is in that "water". But the new swimmer needs to read that flow and observe how it is working. And then join in a matter that doesn’t completely disrupt that ecosystem. The scariest part for new swimmers is the worry that they will “mess it up”. However the biggest worry that a seasoned swimmer has is that a new person will get into the pool and do whatever they want. Please work together to honor the lane together.

Your coaches on deck spend time writing workouts; they are happy to explain and help a lane modify a workout together. They are also there to balance out the pool as a complete ecosystem- Pool Feng Shui. At times this means that they will move an athlete to another lane. We ask that you comply.