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Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
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sourpatchkids
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/12 727 total posts
Name:
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Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
I need pointers on how to learn to swim! I realize how important it is for me to learn...I have a pool and 2 small children now. I just fear that I won't be able to do it, I've had a fear of water for so long and I don't know if I'll be able to overcome it. If you've learned to swim as an adult, how did you learn? Did you take an adult swim class, or did someone you know teach you? TIA!
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Posted 4/29/14 12:09 AM  |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Are you afraid of the water? If so, this book worked WONDERS for me.
It isn't a book about how to do this stroke how to do this move - it is a book about how to be comfortable in the water so you can not be scared and then learn those things.
I tried having someone teach me personally (DH) - I tried having professional lessons, but no one could get it. The book doesn't take for granted anything so it helps you thru each step. My teachers would say 'Just float!' with no explanation. This book explains how to float, and why it works. I would ask teachers how to float and they would just say "Like this, or it just happens" and my brain couldn't comprehend it without being so scared that I was petrified to be in the water.
So what I would do is to read a bit of the book, which has some 'exercises' in it (Some in the water, some out of the water) and then I went to the town pool. I would go off to the side and work on what they mentioned until I was comfortable. Sometimes I was comfortable in 5 minutes, sometimes it took a few sessions. DH went over and swam laps while I was doing my exercises, because I didn't want him near me (He has good intentions, but his pushing would have freaked me out or confused me from going different from the book.)
Slow progression. Now, I go in the water with little trepidation. I'll be honest, I never learned the official strokes. But I can float on front/back, and backstroke/breaststroke to where I need to be, and I have no issues being in deep water. I'm sure I have horrible form, but I'm not planning on being an Olympic swimmer. I just want to enjoy the beach/pool in the summer.
In the beginning I would not go into the ocean at all and only go into the pool up to my waist and hold on the side. Less than a year later I was snorkeling in the ocean in the Caribbean in open water, all pool activities and I'll go into the ocean (how far depends on the wave height.) 150% difference, all because of this book. You need the will and the desire, but this book will get you there if you are afraid.
Good luck!
Message edited 4/29/2014 2:43:16 AM.
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| Posted 4/29/14 2:39 AM |
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dianadrw
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 2092 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Posted by Blazesyth
Are you afraid of the water? If so, this book worked WONDERS for me.
It isn't a book about how to do this stroke how to do this move - it is a book about how to be comfortable in the water so you can not be scared and then learn those things.
I tried having someone teach me personally (DH) - I tried having professional lessons, but no one could get it. The book doesn't take for granted anything so it helps you thru each step. My teachers would say 'Just float!' with no explanation. This book explains how to float, and why it works. I would ask teachers how to float and they would just say "Like this, or it just happens" and my brain couldn't comprehend it without being so scared that I was petrified to be in the water.
So what I would do is to read a bit of the book, which has some 'exercises' in it (Some in the water, some out of the water) and then I went to the town pool. I would go off to the side and work on what they mentioned until I was comfortable. Sometimes I was comfortable in 5 minutes, sometimes it took a few sessions. DH went over and swam laps while I was doing my exercises, because I didn't want him near me (He has good intentions, but his pushing would have freaked me out or confused me from going different from the book.)
Slow progression. Now, I go in the water with little trepidation. I'll be honest, I never learned the official strokes. But I can float on front/back, and backstroke/breaststroke to where I need to be, and I have no issues being in deep water. I'm sure I have horrible form, but I'm not planning on being an Olympic swimmer. I just want to enjoy the beach/pool in the summer.
In the beginning I would not go into the ocean at all and only go into the pool up to my waist and hold on the side. Less than a year later I was snorkeling in the ocean in the Caribbean in open water, all pool activities and I'll go into the ocean (how far depends on the wave height.) 150% difference, all because of this book. You need the will and the desire, but this book will get you there if you are afraid.
Good luck!
I just want to say that's amazing! Good for you for overcoming your fear.
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| Posted 4/29/14 8:51 AM |
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VikingChick
LIF Adult
Member since 5/11 1024 total posts
Name:
Anna
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Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
I did! I took lessons the year before I turned 30 at the Nassau Aquatic Center in Eisenhower Park, and completed a triathlon at the end of that summer. I would recommend the group lessons there, and I know they do private as well. :)
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| Posted 4/29/14 9:36 AM |
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sourpatchkids
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/12 727 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Thanks for the replies! I'm definitely going to buy that book...it sounds like just what I need and it got great reviews on Amazon. Good for both of you for learning to swim as an adult, from what I understand it's not so easy. You've given me hope though 
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| Posted 4/29/14 9:20 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Posted by sourpatchkids
Thanks for the replies! I'm definitely going to buy that book...it sounds like just what I need and it got great reviews on Amazon. Good for both of you for learning to swim as an adult, from what I understand it's not so easy. You've given me hope though
You can do it. You will have so much more fun when you're not scared.
FM me if you have any questions or just need support.
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| Posted 4/29/14 9:52 PM |
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MC09
arrrghhh!!!!
Member since 2/09 5674 total posts
Name:
Me speaks pirate!
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Posted by Blazesyth
Are you afraid of the water? If so, this book worked WONDERS for me.
It isn't a book about how to do this stroke how to do this move - it is a book about how to be comfortable in the water so you can not be scared and then learn those things.
I tried having someone teach me personally (DH) - I tried having professional lessons, but no one could get it. The book doesn't take for granted anything so it helps you thru each step. My teachers would say 'Just float!' with no explanation. This book explains how to float, and why it works. I would ask teachers how to float and they would just say "Like this, or it just happens" and my brain couldn't comprehend it without being so scared that I was petrified to be in the water.
So what I would do is to read a bit of the book, which has some 'exercises' in it (Some in the water, some out of the water) and then I went to the town pool. I would go off to the side and work on what they mentioned until I was comfortable. Sometimes I was comfortable in 5 minutes, sometimes it took a few sessions. DH went over and swam laps while I was doing my exercises, because I didn't want him near me (He has good intentions, but his pushing would have freaked me out or confused me from going different from the book.)
Slow progression. Now, I go in the water with little trepidation. I'll be honest, I never learned the official strokes. But I can float on front/back, and backstroke/breaststroke to where I need to be, and I have no issues being in deep water. I'm sure I have horrible form, but I'm not planning on being an Olympic swimmer. I just want to enjoy the beach/pool in the summer.
In the beginning I would not go into the ocean at all and only go into the pool up to my waist and hold on the side. Less than a year later I was snorkeling in the ocean in the Caribbean in open water, all pool activities and I'll go into the ocean (how far depends on the wave height.) 150% difference, all because of this book. You need the will and the desire, but this book will get you there if you are afraid.
Good luck!
  Good for you for taking charge of your fear and all on your own! That's no easy feat! Do you still have any residual apprehension when going in the water?
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| Posted 4/29/14 10:03 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Posted by MC09
Good for you for taking charge of your fear and all on your own! That's no easy feat! Do you still have any residual apprehension when going in the water?
Well, I don't like going into the ocean if the water is rough, because I feel out of control. But, I think that everyone, even experienced or 'normal' swimmers are that way too. I'd rather not go underwater, but I'm not petrified it like I was before.
A fear of mine was that I would be in the middle of the pool, or away from something I could hold on to, and start freaking out/be too tired to swim and then I would feel stranded and just go downhill from there, almost having a panic attack. Once I learned that I could float on my back with zero effort, that helps. So anytime I'm freaked out or tired I just flip over and float on my back until I can compose myself.
That was a HUGE win for me. That's why that book is priceless. The book is more reading then exercises, and the exercises are very very basic. (How to be comfortable floating, how to put your face in the water, etc) But going down to the very basics is necessary when someone is scared of the water.
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| Posted 4/30/14 6:57 AM |
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amazonbunny
LIF Infant
Member since 8/13 97 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Posted by Blazesyth
Are you afraid of the water? If so, this book worked WONDERS for me.
It isn't a book about how to do this stroke how to do this move - it is a book about how to be comfortable in the water so you can not be scared and then learn those things.
I tried having someone teach me personally (DH) - I tried having professional lessons, but no one could get it. The book doesn't take for granted anything so it helps you thru each step. My teachers would say 'Just float!' with no explanation. This book explains how to float, and why it works. I would ask teachers how to float and they would just say "Like this, or it just happens" and my brain couldn't comprehend it without being so scared that I was petrified to be in the water.
So what I would do is to read a bit of the book, which has some 'exercises' in it (Some in the water, some out of the water) and then I went to the town pool. I would go off to the side and work on what they mentioned until I was comfortable. Sometimes I was comfortable in 5 minutes, sometimes it took a few sessions. DH went over and swam laps while I was doing my exercises, because I didn't want him near me (He has good intentions, but his pushing would have freaked me out or confused me from going different from the book.)
Slow progression. Now, I go in the water with little trepidation. I'll be honest, I never learned the official strokes. But I can float on front/back, and backstroke/breaststroke to where I need to be, and I have no issues being in deep water. I'm sure I have horrible form, but I'm not planning on being an Olympic swimmer. I just want to enjoy the beach/pool in the summer.
In the beginning I would not go into the ocean at all and only go into the pool up to my waist and hold on the side. Less than a year later I was snorkeling in the ocean in the Caribbean in open water, all pool activities and I'll go into the ocean (how far depends on the wave height.) 150% difference, all because of this book. You need the will and the desire, but this book will get you there if you are afraid.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for this recommendation! I never learned how to swim even though I lived on an island for a long time (watched a friend drown at a very young age and remained traumatized). Now I'm ready to conquer my fear and this book seems like a lot of help.
Thanks again!
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| Posted 5/1/14 9:55 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Has Anyone Learned to Swim as an Adult?
Posted by amazonbunny
Thank you so much for this recommendation! I never learned how to swim even though I lived on an island for a long time (watched a friend drown at a very young age and remained traumatized). Now I'm ready to conquer my fear and this book seems like a lot of help.
Thanks again!
Good luck. When I was about 10, my 'friend' held me down in a pool because he thought it was funny. I couldn't get over it. My mother didn't know how to swim so she never encouraged me to get over it. Once I decided it was time to make a good effort (at 30ish?  ) this book made it happen.
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| Posted 5/1/14 10:01 AM |
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