INTERIOR FLOATATION WORLD

                                                                                Santa Cruz de Tenerife - 22nd August 2011

By Robert Maher

Upon my arrival I was greeted by Ismail, who immediately put me at ease with his warm and friendly demeanor. I was seated comfortably on the picturesque patio, facing the floation room in serene surroundings. Ismail escorted me through to the floatation room and offered me a choice of themes to experience ie. swimming with dolphins, Africa, visiting the planets etc. I chose complete darkness without sound as I wanted to be at one with myself without distraction, the ultimate in floatation meditation. With it's high salt content, the pool replicates the dead sea in terms of clients being able to float effortlessly. Ismail advised me to lay on my back and relax in the water, resting my head completely. He instructed me to concentrate on my breathing, inhale through the nose and exhale from the mouth. I was then left to experience a hightened state of tranquility and relaxation. The temperature of the liquid matches that of your body which fools the brain, leaving you unable to distinguish between areas of your body submerged in the water from parts of your body which are not. This results in a floating on air sensation,  a euphoric dream-like experience.

While floating, I was able to extend my arms and legs outwards, forming a relaxed star position. The temperature of the water is cosily warm and I felt lighter and at peace with myself. Tension and stress literally vacated my body, as I continued to float without a care in the world. Over the next hour or so, I felt as though I was sleeping while awake, sensations of calm and happiness enveloped me. Once my floatation experience was complete, I took a shower and my skin appeared to be wrinkle free. I then relaxed on a soft and comfortable sofa underneath the blue sky and discussed my float with Ismail. Together, we also practiced Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), which are used to promote general well being and aid positive thinking. I would describe this as a therapy session, during which I was given some very useful tools to take away with me. Techniques and exercises to help me relax, stay positive, feel good and achieve my goals in life. The starting point is letting go of all the nonsense, excess baggage and negative thoughts we carry around with us like a heavy trunk. Our emotions follow our thoughts, therefore it is crucial to think positively if we endeavour to feel good. For our mind, body and spirit to stay fit, we must practice these exercises regularly, akin to mental press ups.

Visiting the 'Interior Floatation World' is a great way to 'let go' and relax, rejuvenate mentally, emotionally and physically. If you want, like me, you will also be given some very useful tools to take home with you. When practiced, these techniques will enhance your mental and spiritual health, which in turn promotes physical well being. Following the actual floatation, I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders, I also felt happy and relaxed for a sustained period. Therefore, I would highly recommend floatation meditation to anyone and everyone. A visit to the 'Interior Floatation World' in Tenerife is a truly rewarding experience, not to be missed.

REMATCH? TOE BE OR NOT TOE BE?

By Robert Maher.

Three days have transpired since the big heavyweight title unification bout in Hamburg and we are back to square one. David Haye is calling out Wladimir Klitschko, has anything really changed? After all the big talk beforehand, the Hayemaker lost by a wide margin points verdict, after which he cried injury. A broken hand? a dislocated shoulder? no, a broken little toe. David had promised in the weeks preceding the bout that he would brutally destruct the big robot, put boxing back on the map and decapitate Klitschko. This would have been achieved of course, were it not for David's poorly little toe. I am afraid this explanation for a lacklustre display has backfired on Mr Haye. A few days ago this man was a hero, now he is being portrayed as a fraudster, a fake, a chump who conned his adoring British public on many levels. Perhaps Haye can be forgiven, in failing to make good on his knockout victory pre-fight prediction. Boxers and sportsmen in general need to be supremely confident and believe in their own abilities. This stereotypical rhetoric puts bums on seats, increases pay per view subscriptions and gets under the opponents skin, the latter either being to the perpetrators gain or indeed misfortune. However, Haye told the world he was in the best physical shape and in peak condition. Then, loses the fight and emerges as a crippled ex champ with a broken toe, an injury sustained three weeks prior to the biggest fight of his career.

David, you have short changed the public, those fans who placed their bets on a Haye win, not knowing you had a serious physical impairment. You could have pulled out of the bout with injury, the fight would have been postponed, not cancelled. How can we believe a single word you say now David? Is all your diatribe a smokescreen? propaganda? designed to manipulate your adoring public as well as your ring adversary. Ok, Hindsight is a wonderful thing, Haye pulled out with injury in the past and lost considerable face because of it. His local anaesthetic had worked in training but supposedly not for this championship contest. So maybe he's the no.3 heavyweight in the world now, behind Wladimir Klitschko and his older sibling Vitali, that does not make him a bum. In reality, Haye showed extraordinary courage to even get in the ring with Klitschko, giving away 2 stone in weight, 4 inches in height and considerable reach. Haye took some full blooded shots from Wladimir and never looked like going down or being knocked out. He showed great speed, a rock solid chin and lion-hearted courage.

Boxing is primarily a business as opposed to a sport, money dictates. The heavyweight division is currently devoid of great talent and charismatic personalities. In terms of a rematch, this could work in David Hayes favour. A return match is indeed probable despite the conclusive points defeat suffered by Haye. Who else is there for Wladimir Klitschko to fight? his own brother? that will never happen. David has talent, good looks, personality and a big mouth. Even better, an injury to blame for his defeat. So here we go folks, prepare yourselves for the rematch, Wembley stadium awaits. As does a multi million pound purse for the engaging pugilists. Haye may have to concede parity this time and accept a 70/30 split in favour of the Ukrainian. Heavyweight history says that next time, Haye will lose again, albeit more convincingly. However, one punch can change everything and turn almost certain defeat into victory. This could happen in round one or round twelve, in such a case the scorecards become redundant. As for the two-faced facebookers and arm chair tweeters, who execute their uneducated verbal swipes from the vantage point of hindsight, most have never laced on a glove in their lives and would lack the intestinal fortitude. Maybe they too should sample a slice of humble pie as well as the Hayemaker. A few days ago he was king in your eyes and now you reduce him to a second rate pretender. Says more about you than David Haye, who in reality is a world class high achiever in the toughest of sports.

I must say, David did nothing to endear his supporters by delaying his ring entrance at the Imtech outdoor arena by ten minutes, made worse by the fact it was raining on the fans. At the time, Sky commentators reported this delay as being deliberate psychological warfare from Haye. Allegedly, Klitschko had planned to keep Haye waiting for ten minutes in the ring prior to emerging from his own dressing room, payback for David turning up late for an earlier press conference. Haye now claims the prolonged wait was down to him receiving a second local anaesthetic injection in his foot. David also runs the risk of alienating his followers with his constant complaining to the referee. A ploy that cost Wladimir initially with a point deduction for leaning on his opponent, only to backfire on Haye, who would later receive a count for an illegitimate knockdown by way of retribution. So prepare yourselves for super fight no.2, let's hope more combination punches will be thrown from both protagonists next time around.