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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Yes, of course, the physical properties of H2O are the same regardless of depth, but as the innovative Berkeley swim school founder Melon Dash has said, deep water doesn't feel the same as shallow water. I can float like a cork--there is no problem with that--yet I do not feel confident when crossing over into deep water. It is absolutely necessary to build confidence in both shallow and deep before starting to learn swim mechanics. I don't mind it at all if that process takes a long time--in fact that would make it a lot more enjoyable.
Once the deep emotive part of the brain is thoroughly trained to learn that water holds nothing to fear, it can then absorb the needed swimming skills rather quickly. Learning swim techniques alone does not lead to loss of fear, rather, the reverse is true. You can learn to have a darn good time in deep water without having to move around in it a lot.
I'd like an instructor who would see it that way.
You are obviously a smart and thoughtful person. These traits can sometimes lead to negative results in unintended ways. I agree with Ripple, you are over analyzing the issue. Beyond that, you are also trying to control too much. You have control of the selection of a coach or teacher. You tell them your fears and apprehensions, then THEY teach you how to overcome. Trust in the process is a factor that you have not yet exhibited. No swimming teacher is going to ask you to dive into the deep end of the pool until you show that you are ready. You may not think you are ready when they do, and that is the time to confer about the change, not now.
It is good that you have opened yourself to the possibility of learning to swim once you have conquered your irrational fear of water. Have you taken the first step yet? That is, go to the local pool and register for lessons?
As an aside to your feelings about shallow versus deep water. The deep end of a pool is the most comforting, relaxing, fun part of the pool. When not training, I often will go to the deep end and try to get neutral buoyancy in the middle of the water (about 5 feet deep), floating as if in outer space. Totally quiet except for your own heartbeat. It is a spiritual experience. Once you have gotten comfortable in the deep end, try it.
Yes, of course, the physical properties of H2O are the same regardless of depth, but as the innovative Berkeley swim school founder Melon Dash has said, deep water doesn't feel the same as shallow water. I can float like a cork--there is no problem with that--yet I do not feel confident when crossing over into deep water. It is absolutely necessary to build confidence in both shallow and deep before starting to learn swim mechanics. I don't mind it at all if that process takes a long time--in fact that would make it a lot more enjoyable.
Once the deep emotive part of the brain is thoroughly trained to learn that water holds nothing to fear, it can then absorb the needed swimming skills rather quickly. Learning swim techniques alone does not lead to loss of fear, rather, the reverse is true. You can learn to have a darn good time in deep water without having to move around in it a lot.
I'd like an instructor who would see it that way.
You are obviously a smart and thoughtful person. These traits can sometimes lead to negative results in unintended ways. I agree with Ripple, you are over analyzing the issue. Beyond that, you are also trying to control too much. You have control of the selection of a coach or teacher. You tell them your fears and apprehensions, then THEY teach you how to overcome. Trust in the process is a factor that you have not yet exhibited. No swimming teacher is going to ask you to dive into the deep end of the pool until you show that you are ready. You may not think you are ready when they do, and that is the time to confer about the change, not now.
It is good that you have opened yourself to the possibility of learning to swim once you have conquered your irrational fear of water. Have you taken the first step yet? That is, go to the local pool and register for lessons?
As an aside to your feelings about shallow versus deep water. The deep end of a pool is the most comforting, relaxing, fun part of the pool. When not training, I often will go to the deep end and try to get neutral buoyancy in the middle of the water (about 5 feet deep), floating as if in outer space. Totally quiet except for your own heartbeat. It is a spiritual experience. Once you have gotten comfortable in the deep end, try it.
