Learn to Swim

I am really frightened of the water.

You can conquer your fear of the water. If you have tried learning to swim with other organisations you have probably found they make light of your fear or expect you to toughen up and just do it.  We don't.  Most of us are ex water phobic ourselves.  It is not irrational, neurotic or something to be laughed at, it is very real.

How long you have lived with your fear of water?  Gay was 48 before she overcame her fear, Irene older still.  You CAN learn to overcome this and interact with the water in a enjoyable way and eventually learn to swim.  That said, we will ALWAYS go at your pace.  You won't find our instructors getting impatient with you.

I immediately feel short of breath with my face in the water

This is something many people feel, even strong swimmers who swim with their head above water.  There are a variety of reasons for this:

• Lack of confidence

• Inability to relax

• Incorrect technique

• Incorrect breathing during swimming

• Incorrect breathing during every day life

All of these can be overcome.

I am OK in the water but I am frightened of putting my face in.

Let's put this one to bed straight away.  You are NOT ok in the water!  Into this category fall the many heads up breast-strokers who can swim and have swum for years.  My sister was a typical example.  She swims in the deep end as long as she is close enough to grab the side.  Let's be absolutely clear about this.  IT IS NOT SAFE!  If you are worried about putting your face in or feel the need to be close to the side, can swim but fear the deep end, then to some degree or other, you are nervous of the water and will put yourself and possibly others at risk if you don't learn to swim in a way that leaves you in full control.

I can swim but only a few strokes

We have dealt with the subject of the great many people who are water phobic in some way, small or large.  Please be assured Irene and Gay came into this category until quite late in life.  We were non-swimming water phobics but many of those who can and do swim a few strokes, can be water phobic to a lesser degree.

Now we come to those that have never learned to swim properly for some other reason or can only learn to swim a few strokes no matter how hard they try.

Well this pretty much comes close to some of what we covered in the last paragraph as regards safety.  Presumably you are considering learning to swim properly or you wouldn't be here.  It's hard to generalise but phobias aside, there are 4 very broad reasons for finding yourself in this group.

• You never had the opportunity to learn.

• Teaching methods were inadequate.

• Confidence was an issue

• You are 'physically challenged'.

Now if you are wondering what the latter means, I am smiling at my efforts to be politically correct.  It covers a multitude of sins but it largely means your basic shape or physical abilities get in the way of your efforts to learn to swim.  This doesn't mean there is any good reason why you shouldn't learn to swim.  Simply that you should learn to swim PROPERLY with an instructor that understands what you PERSONALLY need to do to achieve balance in the water. We are not all the same and the instructors in our 'Learn to Swim' program have no set method of teaching.  EVERY SINGLE SESSION is individually designed for your specific needs.

I can't swim - my legs sink.

A very very common problem.  All our instructors just love sinkers!  The teaching methods we use enable you to find balance in the water.  We all have a 'pivot point' in our body a little bit like a seesaw.  Remember seeing dancers or ice-skaters where the man lifts the woman into the air?  They make it look so easy but if he holds her in the wrong place, or she leans too far forward or backwards, the weight shifts and the balance is lost.  Swimming is a little like this.  There are simple techniques to allow you to be balanced in the water.  Just like those dancers, your build will affect how easy or otherwise it is for you to maintain your balance in the water.  If you're a sinker at the moment, don't despair.  It's just like having to learn anything else - some things we learn easy, some we learn with a little more effort.  You will learn though.  We've never had one that got away yet!

I am too old to learn to swim now.

Shame on you!  You are NEVER too old to learn to swim.  We've had people in their 80's come to us, we've had people from abroad, retired, learn with us.  Yes we know all about those irritating problems we get as we get older.  Don't let that arthritis stop you learning to swim.  Your instructors are no spring chickens and some of us have arthritis and other age related problems.  It's not unusual for our swimmers to worry they'll need the loo too often during lessons (that's 2 steps away from the private pool) or be embarrassed about changing (you change in private next to the pool).

OK I could go on but you get the message!  No more excuses.

You can LEARN TO SWIM!

Learn to Swim Tips: If you want to learn to swim but have defective eyesight, you first thought will be that you don't want to wear swimming goggles.  I would urge that you trust us on this and start with a good pair of prescription swimming goggles. No we don't sell swimming goggles before you wonder if we have an ulterior motive.  There are plenty of adverts on the prescription swimming goggles page so just have a hunt around and discuss with your swimming instructor which would suit you best.  When you learn to swim you will feel a lot more confident in goggles especially if it's the difference between whether you can see properly or not.