Learning to swim as an adult

Originally Posted by the white rabbit

Well done to you. I learned to swim as an adult (32-ish). It was hard especially when kids at the pool say 'Mummy look at that man, he can't swim!' etc.

That's what I hate, so we've had to find an "adults only" evening so I don't have annoying sprats splashing around me, it's really offputting!

Originally Posted by maviczap

Is it a generational thing? We all learnt at school, both my primary & secondary schools had pools, we also went to the local swimming pools in the school bus.

The reason why I can't swim now is because of what happened the first time I went swimming with school! I loathed every single trip after that and didn't improve at all, then I loathed it even more when I got a verucca because of it grrrrr.

Originally Posted by maviczap

But Miss YC, having a goal about swimming underwater with all the fish & beautiful stuff is a great motivation. Even with a snokel & flippers you can see loads, even in this country.

This is the main reason why I want to learn, I'd love to dive. Also I don't want to be left out on holidays as people have mentioned, and when I finally travel abroad and find all those beautiful waterfalls I want to be able to have a dip with confidence

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Posture has a lot to do with swimming ability. I think if you post a picture of yourself in your wet swimsuit we'll be able to offer much better advice

You're right about the posture Ralph, that was definitely where I was wrong in the beginning but I think you can take my word for that, no pics, you'll only be scarred for life, I'm doing you a favour

Originally Posted by Stuuk1

This might be a daunting test but what if you tried floating in the swimming pool, then take a deep breath, straighten your legs and sink, your feet will touch the bottom in no time, bend your knees and push yourself to the surface with force.

Certainly might be worth a try, cheers

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

The reason why I can't swim now is because of what happened the first time I went swimming with school! I loathed every single trip after that and didn't improve at all, then I loathed it even more when I got a verucca because of it grrrrr.

You were unlucky to have such a carp experience, which has affected your confidence for so long.

Good luck with the lessons.

The little sprats still annoy me, when they're splashing about, don't like the cold water any more I'd look like a noob if I went swimming in my shortie wet suit

Well done missYC, you are very brave. Not easy over coming fears. Just don't try and rush it, these things take time and practice. I'm sure you will get there.

You need never be out of your depth if you're learning to swim. Don't go any deeper than the point at which you can just keep your head above water with your tiptoes on the floor of the pool until you know you can swim there and swim back. Moments where you go under without wanting to will do you no good at all.

Backstroke is the easiest stroke in the world, you can even forget the arms completely and just kick until you embarrassingly collide with a group of children
It's a good way to tell if you're kicking is right too.

Howdy do folks, thought I'd give you an update.

Well I've been in the pool again this evening and have actually really enjoyed myself this time. Successfully managed to doggie-paddle across the pool on my own (doesn't sound much I know but apparently it's a good thing ). Used the noodle under my stomach and practiced the breaststroke arm movements, not got round to coordinating the legs at the same time though. I was told that breaststroke is one of the harder ones to learn, mainly because of the coordination, anyone else think the same? Should it be the next technique I practice or is there an easier one?

I'm feeling lots more comfortable in the water, not panicking as much and managing to push boundaries without feeling afraid of it. I inhale the water a fair bit though which is a problem but as it's a reflex reaction I guess that will just stop happening as often with practice.

To top the evening off on a high note though, a lady joined me in the shower after (cossies were on, calm down lads ), her and a friend had been swimming near me earlier and giving me lovely encouraging smiles. She started chatting to me and the conversation went pretty much like this:

Lady: "So how long have you been swimming then?"
Me: "Er not long, had a bad experience at school a number of years ago and haven't been back in the pool since. Came last week for the first time in years."
Lady: "Ah yes I saw you last week actually"
Me: "Really?"
Lady: "Yes, and I wouldn't have thought you'd be swimming this week! Well done!"


I was so chuffed to hear that, gave me a right boost!

[dizzyblonde]

Well done Maria. Glad you are keeping up with it.
I can swim fine, but really hate going. Getting to the pool to teach Dylan is horrid, glad he started at school

As for the breast stroke, I prefer it, can't do the over arm thing with my shoulders Plus I can't co-ordinate my arms and legs with that one...so go figure. Love breast stroke but it ain't half a big works out.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Love breast stroke but it ain't half a big works out.

yeah but I think that's what I like about it. I came out of the leisure centre this evening and actually felt tired, that lovely satisfying tiredness, you know you've worked hard then. I didn't feel it last time, I wasn't stretching and pushing myself anywhere near as much as this time.

[johnnyrod]

Hi Miss YC, forgive me for not reading the thread but it's rather long now. I learned to swim when I was 25, and did my first proper length at about 27. Stick at it, I got married last year and went snorkelling with turtles and manta rays, and believe me all the time thrashing around in the pool trying not to drink it all is well worth it. I wish I'd learned to swim when I was a kid but I'm really glad I did later. And I didn't mention the white water rafting in Oz...

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

Hi Miss YC, forgive me for not reading the thread but it's rather long now. I learned to swim when I was 25, and did my first proper length at about 27. Stick at it, I got married last year and went snorkelling with turtles and manta rays, and believe me all the time thrashing around in the pool trying not to drink it all is well worth it. I wish I'd learned to swim when I was a kid but I'm really glad I did later. And I didn't mention the white water rafting in Oz...

Hi Johnny, very encouraging post that I too wish to do that sort of thing, I've always wanted to dive but wasn't sure I'd get round to swimming!

As for the white water rafting, I went a couple of years ago in North Wales, couldn't swim then but that didn't stop me loving every minute of it!

[johnnyrod]

I'm still a crap swimmer, no question, still more fighting with the water than slipping through it (ahh, all very Zen) but it's enough that I'm no longer convinced I'm going to drown, and once you have a go in seawater and realise that doing anything but floating is hard, it's a real blast. I did try diving and I'm glad I did but it's not for me, I used up almost the whole tank of air in about 15-20mins I was that nervous.

I can't do breaststroke to save my life, front or back crawl (both fairly hard work), but maybe you should have a go at sidestroke, it's an odd one but surprisingly easy to get the hang of, not a lot of effort, and easy to keep your head up. If you need to, it's the one you use for lifesaving, and once you go snorkelling you can sort of go sideways along like that with fins.