Here is my story:
I am a 63-year old male who is looking to started swimming instruction. I was very afraid of the water growing up and avoided swimming lessons througout childhood and adolescence, although my two younger siblings learned without trouble. I was the typical shy, glasses-wearing nerd-type, tall and thin, with mostly intellectual interests. I did try several sports when young but didn't do well at any of them. I gave those up by tenth grade and have only walked for exercise since. I had zero water experience exxcept for some summertime wading in lakes.
I didn't learn to swim in high school, since none of the local high schools then required it. I often wonder what I would have done if they had.
After watching the 1972 Olympics, I finally decided to face my fear and, at age 27, enroll in an adult swimming class. Despite a humiliating experience in the first session ("OK, let's everyone swim down to the end of the pool and back.") I persevered and kept coming. That first session I submerged for the first time, simple but very scary. We worked on very basic skills. It took some courage just to open my eyes underwater.
I worked on the basic stuff, but never enjoyed it. There was minimal emphasis on building confidence and relaxation before moving on to stroke mechanics. We were introduced to deep-water adjustment skills, which I was not really ready for. They included descending the ladder to the bottom in the deep end, deep-water entry, and jumping off the diving board. The last two were terrifying. All I could think of was to get back and grab the side as soon as I could.
I never got totally comfortable with my face in the water. Every time I was in a prone in the water I thought of what it was like to drown.
Being in the prone position in the deep was especially scary. I just couldn't do it.
I took swimming classes off and on for about ten years with only modest success. I did learn the elementary back stroke and back crawl, but couldn't do any storkes on the front. I was given a kick board to practice the flutter kick but, despite much trying, couldn't move an inch. Strangely enough, I could kick across the pool, slowly, without using a board.
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Former Member
Thanks for the quick replies. I gave up on learning the crawl because it was too hard a struggle. I panic very easily. Although I could swim a passable backstroke, I was tense and I was very well aware that I could not stand up if anything went wrong and that therefore I was not safe. I took instruction for ten years before giving up. I have considered Miracle Swimming Institute, as well as other intensive programs for fearfuls. There don't appear to be many in the US and, unfortunately, none in the Midwest that I know of. They are costly and require traveling a long way, but they may be the only way to finally get the job done. Please comment on the Total Immersion program for teaching fearful nonswimmers, as I live a short way from my state's only licensed TI instructor, who has recommended private instruction with him as the best option he has. for I'm certain that he would be the best instructor I've ever had, but I'd very much like your opinion. I've been undecided about this for a long time. I long to feel comfortable and experience joy in the water, both shallow and deep. Is the TI approach as good as MSI's for this problem? Or is there another good local alternative?
Thanks for the quick replies. I gave up on learning the crawl because it was too hard a struggle. I panic very easily. Although I could swim a passable backstroke, I was tense and I was very well aware that I could not stand up if anything went wrong and that therefore I was not safe. I took instruction for ten years before giving up. I have considered Miracle Swimming Institute, as well as other intensive programs for fearfuls. There don't appear to be many in the US and, unfortunately, none in the Midwest that I know of. They are costly and require traveling a long way, but they may be the only way to finally get the job done. Please comment on the Total Immersion program for teaching fearful nonswimmers, as I live a short way from my state's only licensed TI instructor, who has recommended private instruction with him as the best option he has. for I'm certain that he would be the best instructor I've ever had, but I'd very much like your opinion. I've been undecided about this for a long time. I long to feel comfortable and experience joy in the water, both shallow and deep. Is the TI approach as good as MSI's for this problem? Or is there another good local alternative?
