Embracing the Present: Freediving, Cancer, and Samadhi in Bali

I’m old. I have cancer. I’m a yogi. And I just learned to freedive.

I just mentioned the old age because last night I discovered I’m the oldest person to complete two levels of training at Apneista in Bali. But age is just a number, so we’ll let that one go.

Finding Freediving After Cancer Diagnosis

Two years ago, almost to the day, I was diagnosed with cancer. During the workup, a second, more dangerous cancer was found. I underwent a full year of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Now a year into recovery, I’m feeling good and cherishing each day and moment.

The Lifesaving Role of Yoga in My Recovery

Yoga played a crucial role in saving my life. Even when I was too weak for asana, the physical practice, I engaged in other forms of yoga. Breathing practices, or pranayama, helped balance my energy. I set intentions, sankalpas, to guide my journey. Yoga nidra provided deep relaxation and rest. Daily meditation brought me to samadhi, a state of mental stillness free from past or future concerns. This mindfulness allowed me to "Be Here Now," as Alan Watts said, enjoying every moment regardless of the circumstances.

Discovering Freediving in Amed, Bali

After a year of being house-bound during cancer treatment, I sought change. My friend Ashley suggested Bali, specifically Amed, where she taught freediving at Apneista. Though I’m a seasoned scuba diver, I was invited to explore freediving. One dive, and I was hooked.

Freediving and Yoga: A Natural Connection in Bali

The connections between freediving and yoga were emphasized during training. Comfortable in water, the practices felt natural, though I initially struggled with equalizing my ears. Recovering from treatment left me mildly anemic, but freediving triggered a release of red blood cells as part of the mammalian dive response, leaving me feeling rejuvenated.

Mindfulness and Freediving: A Path to Samadhi

The profound shift was psychological. Freediving brought me to the same mental state that aided my cancer recovery. Focusing on breath felt intuitive. I set intentions for dives, prioritized relaxation, and sometimes found myself repeating a mantra, slipping into meditation underwater.

Each dive brought me to the present moment, free from past regrets or future worries about cancer. Underwater, I fully embraced the present, achieving a one-pointed mind. Looking up through Bali's blue waters toward the sunlight, I experienced a timeless, meditative state — samadhi.

-Tom