Wealden Times | WT243 | August 2022 | Taste Of The South East Supplement inside

Wellbeing
Into the Blue
Sarah Maxwell dips into the world
of blue health coaching
At this time of year, many
of us take to the water in
one form or another. I
love water (when it’s warm) but
my swimming technique leaves
a lot to be desired. That was
until I met Camilla Golledge.
Camilla, who is actually a
Mermaid – yes really – is also
an aquatic specialist, an STA
Ambassador and recently qualified
in blue health coaching (promoting
mental and physical wellbeing
through connection to water). I
was really interested how Camilla
had evolved in all aspects of water
training over the last few years.
As times change and we all relish
spending more time outdoors, she has
begun to take her business outside,
open water coaching, spending time
on her paddle board and helping
people through challenging times
in our beautiful blue spaces.
For those who prefer their blue
space to be inside, she is currently
developing water play, mindful
swimming and aqua sensory sessions
for aquaphobics, SEND participants,
and those who want to strengthen
their bond with the water.
Camilla advises that to be able to
safely enjoy the blue, you must first
learn to be water confident and safe.
Having a few lessons or coaching
sessions and following advice from
the RNLI is a good place to start.
In Victorian times people were
encouraged to spend a ‘week by
the sea’ to convalesce, and in
2022 health care professionals
are now able to ‘blue prescribe’,
to motivate patients to spend
time outdoors in blue spaces.
We now have so many