about me...
Photo by Trish Sangster
My name is Mandy Buckley.
I am a BSY qualified yoga teacher.
I am a competitive freediver, AIDA freedive instructor, AIDA judge and previous British record holder in dynamic discipline.
I am a BSY qualified yoga teacher.
I am a competitive freediver, AIDA freedive instructor, AIDA judge and previous British record holder in dynamic discipline.
swimmer...
Thanks to my parents, I could swim before I could walk.
That's what started my love of water.
As a kid, and into my teens, I was a competitive swimmer. 6am training sessions, galas, and the constant smell of chlorine.
I still swim regularly, and now really enjoy endurance open water swimming, especially 10k swims. In August 2016, I successfully complete an English Channel Relay Swim, crossing from Dover to France in a little over 15 hours.
That's what started my love of water.
As a kid, and into my teens, I was a competitive swimmer. 6am training sessions, galas, and the constant smell of chlorine.
I still swim regularly, and now really enjoy endurance open water swimming, especially 10k swims. In August 2016, I successfully complete an English Channel Relay Swim, crossing from Dover to France in a little over 15 hours.
scuba diver...
In my 20's, I discovered scuba diving. I learned to scuba dive with PADI and then later joined BSAC and SAA where I progressed through to SCUBA Instructor. I even dabbled in a little bit of tech diving with IANTD.
Over the years I've dived with dolphins, sharks and seahorses. I've dived on wrecks and reefs, in the UK and in far flung seas.
Over the years I've dived with dolphins, sharks and seahorses. I've dived on wrecks and reefs, in the UK and in far flung seas.
Freediver...
Photo : Kate Adams
As a scuba diver, I had often noticed a group of freedivers at Dorothea Quarry. While I was loaded with cylinders, I envied the sleek freedivers and admired their aquicity.
But.... I was a little bit intimidated by them. I thought that you had to be some kind of super-human to even think about taking up freediving (not true, I was to later learn).
My shift from scuba diver to freediver started in 2006, thanks to Sam Kirby, and Saltfree Divers. Sam is one of the UK's most inspirational freedivers. She organised a competition called the "Mermaid Challenge" (oh, did I mention I'm obsessed with mermaids?). Well, I entered and I discovered that freedivers are amazingly open and friendly, not at all intimidating, and that freediving was great fun. The rest, as they say, is history!!
Since then, I hooked up with that first group of freedivers from Dorothea, Apneists UK, run by Steve Millard, (they are based a little closer to home).
Although I enjoy the depth disciplines, I am a pool diver at heart (chlorine is my drug of choice!). Dynamic with fins is my favorite freedive discipline. I set the UK National Record for Dynamic back in 2009.
I've now completed my AIDA Pool Instructor training with Steve, and I enjoy passing on my knowledge, passion and enthusiasm to new freedivers.
But.... I was a little bit intimidated by them. I thought that you had to be some kind of super-human to even think about taking up freediving (not true, I was to later learn).
My shift from scuba diver to freediver started in 2006, thanks to Sam Kirby, and Saltfree Divers. Sam is one of the UK's most inspirational freedivers. She organised a competition called the "Mermaid Challenge" (oh, did I mention I'm obsessed with mermaids?). Well, I entered and I discovered that freedivers are amazingly open and friendly, not at all intimidating, and that freediving was great fun. The rest, as they say, is history!!
Since then, I hooked up with that first group of freedivers from Dorothea, Apneists UK, run by Steve Millard, (they are based a little closer to home).
Although I enjoy the depth disciplines, I am a pool diver at heart (chlorine is my drug of choice!). Dynamic with fins is my favorite freedive discipline. I set the UK National Record for Dynamic back in 2009.
I've now completed my AIDA Pool Instructor training with Steve, and I enjoy passing on my knowledge, passion and enthusiasm to new freedivers.
Yogini...
Photo : Phil Oldham
Yoga and freediving sit hand-in-hand.
Both are about developing and strengthening the relationship between the mind and the body.
I've been practicing all kinds of yoga (Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Kundalini) and attending regular classes for years. I've even had the privilege to practice in India.
But, I'm not naturally flexible. I'm not super-strong, and never thought that I'd become a yoga teacher.
That was before I got sick....
G.B.S.
In August 2010, I developed Guillian-Barre Syndrome (or GBS). GBS is an autoimmune dysfunction. Basically, your own immune system goes into over-drive and attacks your own nervous system, leaving you paralysed. There's varying degrees of GBS, and I got it pretty much as bad as you can. Within the space of a few days, I was fully paralysed, and couldn't even blink my eyelids.
While I was in intensive care, I was told that I was looking at a 12 month stay in hospital, followed by a slow rehab.
I was out of hospital in 8 weeks, back in the pool in 10 weeks and back at work in 12 weeks and now, all I've been left with is a bit of facial weakness (it kinda makes my smile a bit wonky, LOL!).
I fully believe that yoga and freediving were the main reason for my quick recovery. Both have helped me to have a physically fit, healthy and strong body. But, more importantly, yoga and freediving mean that I also have a fit, healthy, strong mind. This mind-body connection is key to both yoga, and freediving (and, it seems, to overcoming GBS!!).
During my illness, and recovery, yoga mantras, pranayama and asana practice helped me to win back my body. That was the reason I decided to complete my BSY yoga teacher training. I figured if yoga could help me, it could help others, and I wanted to be able to share this.
I am now a BSY qualified yoga teacher, registered with the Independant Yoga Network
Both are about developing and strengthening the relationship between the mind and the body.
I've been practicing all kinds of yoga (Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Kundalini) and attending regular classes for years. I've even had the privilege to practice in India.
But, I'm not naturally flexible. I'm not super-strong, and never thought that I'd become a yoga teacher.
That was before I got sick....
G.B.S.
In August 2010, I developed Guillian-Barre Syndrome (or GBS). GBS is an autoimmune dysfunction. Basically, your own immune system goes into over-drive and attacks your own nervous system, leaving you paralysed. There's varying degrees of GBS, and I got it pretty much as bad as you can. Within the space of a few days, I was fully paralysed, and couldn't even blink my eyelids.
While I was in intensive care, I was told that I was looking at a 12 month stay in hospital, followed by a slow rehab.
I was out of hospital in 8 weeks, back in the pool in 10 weeks and back at work in 12 weeks and now, all I've been left with is a bit of facial weakness (it kinda makes my smile a bit wonky, LOL!).
I fully believe that yoga and freediving were the main reason for my quick recovery. Both have helped me to have a physically fit, healthy and strong body. But, more importantly, yoga and freediving mean that I also have a fit, healthy, strong mind. This mind-body connection is key to both yoga, and freediving (and, it seems, to overcoming GBS!!).
During my illness, and recovery, yoga mantras, pranayama and asana practice helped me to win back my body. That was the reason I decided to complete my BSY yoga teacher training. I figured if yoga could help me, it could help others, and I wanted to be able to share this.
I am now a BSY qualified yoga teacher, registered with the Independant Yoga Network
mum & wife
I was born in Glasgow and now live in Crewe, Cheshire.
I've been married to Richard since 1999. He doesn't freedive or practice yoga (although he has completed his AIDA 2* Pool). Instead, he races motocross bikes.
I also live with my son and two dogs...
My grown up "day job" is in Recruitment for the NHS.
I've been married to Richard since 1999. He doesn't freedive or practice yoga (although he has completed his AIDA 2* Pool). Instead, he races motocross bikes.
I also live with my son and two dogs...
My grown up "day job" is in Recruitment for the NHS.
