I am 34 years old and I am really desperate to learn to swim. When I took a class last year I stopped going because the instructor wanted to move to deeper water (8 feet) and I was afraid because I can only stand up in 6 feet of water. I feel comfortable swimming with a noodle to hold my upper body up and an instruction/therapy bar to hold on while I move through the pool, but letting go has been very difficult for me because I keep thinking that I will not stay afloat. Can someone please give me some tips or something that will help me just let go. It took a lot for me to just get to the point of actually trusting the flotation devices. I am starting more lessons on 3/16 and I hired a private instructor for inbetween class times. I just really have a desire to swim for the rest of my life. Please help me out. I'm really desperate here in Virginia.
Parents
Former Member
Your post reminds me of how I was in the water. Freaked! I never learned to swim and had a very bad experience when I was twelve with an open water tide, so needless to say water was not my friend. Fast-forward thirteen years and I find myself dating a swim coach. I wanted to know what he was talking about so I decided to give it a try. Six weeks ago I had my first swim lesson and now I am doing laps and working on my endurance. Yay!
What helped:
First and foremost, I agree with everyone else here; learn to float in shallow water. Learn to relax. I like to hum to myself, it keeps my brain busy, so I don't overthink being in the water.
This is a suggestion from my dad and I love it. Bounce. Start off in the shallow end hit the bottom and 'bounce' back up. Take a breath. Go back under hit the bottom and 'bounce' again. Breathe. Once you've got this under control, bounce into deeper water. Six feet, seven feet, eight feet, Bounce. You'll learn that bouncing off the bottom will get you to the surface easily. You will get more comfortable in deep water knowing that your next breath is only a bounce away.
Don't hesitate. Don't tell yourself "I can't do this." Tell yourself, "I can and I will. Dammit!"
Get in the water and stay in the water. Learn everything you can about swimming. Read about it. Talk about it. Live it.
I am most comfortable right now when I think about anything but staying afloat and breathing. I had my first swim lesson 6 weeks ago and if I think about arm extension, proper technique, form, drills, etc; I am fine. If I start to think about sinking or not getting enough air-then I can't swim or I swim poorly. Think about specific swimming skills not fears. Concentrate on where your arms are, what they are doing, your pacing, whatever, your body will float and breathe on its own, just get your mind out of the way.
Master one swim stroke in the shallow end. I think the breaststroke or sidestroke is a good one for this. Learn it so well that you can cross the shallow end a few times with it. Once you know you can cross that distance, the depth won't matter. You will have the skills to traverse the length of the pool. The rest of the water is just underneath you.
Good luck. I know how hard it is. :)
Your post reminds me of how I was in the water. Freaked! I never learned to swim and had a very bad experience when I was twelve with an open water tide, so needless to say water was not my friend. Fast-forward thirteen years and I find myself dating a swim coach. I wanted to know what he was talking about so I decided to give it a try. Six weeks ago I had my first swim lesson and now I am doing laps and working on my endurance. Yay!
What helped:
First and foremost, I agree with everyone else here; learn to float in shallow water. Learn to relax. I like to hum to myself, it keeps my brain busy, so I don't overthink being in the water.
This is a suggestion from my dad and I love it. Bounce. Start off in the shallow end hit the bottom and 'bounce' back up. Take a breath. Go back under hit the bottom and 'bounce' again. Breathe. Once you've got this under control, bounce into deeper water. Six feet, seven feet, eight feet, Bounce. You'll learn that bouncing off the bottom will get you to the surface easily. You will get more comfortable in deep water knowing that your next breath is only a bounce away.
Don't hesitate. Don't tell yourself "I can't do this." Tell yourself, "I can and I will. Dammit!"
Get in the water and stay in the water. Learn everything you can about swimming. Read about it. Talk about it. Live it.
I am most comfortable right now when I think about anything but staying afloat and breathing. I had my first swim lesson 6 weeks ago and if I think about arm extension, proper technique, form, drills, etc; I am fine. If I start to think about sinking or not getting enough air-then I can't swim or I swim poorly. Think about specific swimming skills not fears. Concentrate on where your arms are, what they are doing, your pacing, whatever, your body will float and breathe on its own, just get your mind out of the way.
Master one swim stroke in the shallow end. I think the breaststroke or sidestroke is a good one for this. Learn it so well that you can cross the shallow end a few times with it. Once you know you can cross that distance, the depth won't matter. You will have the skills to traverse the length of the pool. The rest of the water is just underneath you.
Good luck. I know how hard it is. :)
