Be in your body with joy!

Last nights sunset was so magical! Kommetjie beach is a 5 minute drive from our house and it is a beautiful beach to have a long walk at the end of the day. 

It was one of those days in Cape Town yesterday with not a breath of wind and the colours in the sky as the sun set was breathtaking...

 This morning, the sunrise  at Dalebrook pool at 6:45 a.m

.  The air was warm and you can see and feel the change in seasons. Its still low tide and the water is so clear. 

In 3 months of swimming here everyday I have met so many lovely friendly "early bird" swimmers. We all chat and laugh and swim together and although I don't swim many laps ( some of the grannies and grandpas do MANY laps  - amazing) I have found for me at this time in my life I just need to swim with JOY! To "Be in your body with joy! " my favourite quote from my friend Miranda. 

There is "yoga " man who does his stretches as the sunrises then jumps in for a swim. Then there is "shark" man or as he likes to be called the  "shark whisperer " ! :-)) He has been finding the shyshark who has been in the pool for a few days for us and tracking its movements.... 

There is a lovely couple who  have been coming to the pool to swim for 7 years and swim all year round! They take the temperature of the water everyday ... 17.6 degrees today! Warmer ... as last week it was down to 16 and 15.8 degrees! It was soo cold last week. 

They swim all the way through the Cape Town winters! ( I'm going to wear a wetsuit!!)  

Exercise and being out in nature are the most wonderful gifts we can give ourselves! 

I hope you find the time today to "Be in your body with joy!" Find time to move your body - mindlessly. Now try this - everyday - and you will see your life change,,, 

Happy Tuesday 

Shirley xx 

Dalebrook Pool... my very happy place!

This is "my" pool and my very happy place. 

I have been waking up very early ...before the sunrise! This is so unlike me. I have been as Gretchen Rubin the author of Better Than Before explains... I have always been an "Owl" My favorite time of day has always been the evenings. 

However since mid January my daughters encouraged me to get up early and take them to this pool for a dip before the school run. I never swim in Cape Town water...its just tooo cold for me!( Im a Durban girl)  But the one morning it was just so incredibly beautiful - that I decided I' m going to swim with them. 

Well 3 months later I am still swimming - every morning! I am totally addicted to my "new" morning routine and life! 

This morning we arrived at 6:40 am to a calm, beautiful sunrise. The tide was at its lowest (6:35am) and the water is absolutely clear and calm. 

This morning one of our friends who also swims every morning spotted a small Puffadder  shyshark. We could  all  clearly see it at the bottom of the pool. 

This little shark is also known as happy Eddie and is a species of catshark. This is a common shark and typically reaches 60cm in length. When threatened, the puffadder shyshark curls into a circle with its tail covering its eyes, giving rise to the local names "shyshark" and "doughnut". 

Thankfully it is harmless to humans. 

There are lots of other little fish in the pool and a beautiful big Cormorant was swimming and then sunning/ drying off his wings on the rocks close by. 

Quote to Ponder: 

Lifestyle change requires focus and effort; it can only work if its constant and intensive and results in habit formation. 

Have a happy Monday! 

Shirley xx