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.
I think Jayhawk has pretty well hit all the issues (nice avatar!). "Cold pool" throwed me for a bit. As you move around more, the "less warm" pool will seem about as warm as the "warm" pool. For greater comfort initially, turn up your own body heat with mild exercises such as arm whirling or a few jumping jacks just before you get in the pool. Maybe if you think of it as a larger pool you'll reach comfort zone faster. Cruise back and forth in the shallow end until you are ready to do more. It sounds as if the Y near to you could be used for practicing, no?
Congratulations on moving forward with this project!
:applaud:
I think Jayhawk has pretty well hit all the issues (nice avatar!). "Cold pool" throwed me for a bit. As you move around more, the "less warm" pool will seem about as warm as the "warm" pool. For greater comfort initially, turn up your own body heat with mild exercises such as arm whirling or a few jumping jacks just before you get in the pool. Maybe if you think of it as a larger pool you'll reach comfort zone faster. Cruise back and forth in the shallow end until you are ready to do more. It sounds as if the Y near to you could be used for practicing, no?
Congratulations on moving forward with this project!
:applaud:
