"There is a growing need for magic and excitement in everyday life, especially those that are available at your fingertips," says Petya Petkova, a true mermaid we meet in downtown Sofia.

That's right, mermaids exist - not only in the mythological folklore of numerous cultures, in Spasovden (Midsummer) traditions or children's fairy tales, but also in a more beautiful, energizing and useful manner, which can be part of everyday life. And mermaid Petya is ready to share the magic with everyone. All you need is enthusiasm, imagination and the basics of swimming.

The first Mermaid Academy in Bulgaria, which the young Bulgarian founded exactly a year ago, is the place where the fairy tale comes to life. Dreams can come true even during a Covid pandemic.

"So what we do is teach kids and adults how to swim with a mermaid tail. Technically it consists of two components - there's the monofin, the very basic piece of equipment that gives us the power and thrust of swimming, and of course there is the tail itself, which is the most beautiful part of the costume - it comes in many designs and colors.

The monofin is lighter and has a different shape than that of divers or professional swimmers. The equipment itself is very safe - it is easy to put on and take off, it does not weigh on the legs it does not tire you up additionally. Initially it feels a bit strange for first-time visitors to swim with their legs together, but most people get used to it very quickly, as if they've been mermaids all their lives.

Seeing someone else's dream come true is better than anything," says Petya Petkova. Apart from a once-in-a-lifetime experience to feel what it's like to swim with a tail, it can also become a regular fitness activity with a dash of magic.Apart from knowing how to swim, there are age restrictions, but only for the youngest children.

"Children need to be over six years old to be able to handle the equipment and must have basic swimming skills to enjoy the experience. There are no other restrictions," says Petya. - It is a full body wave motion from the shoulders through the hips and abdomen to the tip of the tail, this way you propel yourself by pushing the water up and down with your feet. This movement puts a lot of strain on the abdomen and legs. For example, swimming on your back with a tail is a great exercise, since it is in fact a series of abdominal crunchesin the water."

In addition, her practice has shown that the mermaid tail can help people overcome their fear of water, submerging underwater, and other difficulties in swimming. And she cites the case of two young ones who attended the academy and who swam much better as mermaids than as humans. "Children's instinct for the fabulous and magical turns out to be stronger than our difficulties as humans. Perhaps, this is the mermaid magic," says Petya jokingly.

You can be a mermaid in open water too, as long as the sea is completely calm, you are always in the proximity of another swimmer and you have a clear idea of where your abilities as a swimmer lie, explains Petkova.

"I came across videos of mermaids swimming with sharks, turtles and other ocean creatures years ago. After seeing them I was inspired to take up mermaid swimming."

In popular culture, the image of a mermaid first appeared in 1911 in an American short film. More than three decades later, in 1947, Florida's first underwater mermaid theater opened in Weeki Wachee Springs. To this day, the place is known as "Mermaid Town."

There are people in Bulgaria who are interested, but we are still at the beginning and there are exciting things ahead, Petya is promisses. The latest event is the visit of Mermaid Academy in Burgas.

And you can recognize the tails of Petya's team in singer Ruth Koleva's latest music video "Wassup".

"It's a hobby that gives people a chance to have fun without worrying too much about other people's opinions. Nowadays, we all have a growing need for magic in our lives," Bulgarian Hannah Fraser* says in conclusion.

*Australian Hannah Fraser, known professionally as Hannah Mermaid, is a central figure in modern mermaiding and is an ocean ecology activist. People from all over the world have fallen in love with this type of swimming after watching her videos.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

English: Elizabeth Radkova

Photos: atlana.bg