Swimming: Anybody learn to do this later in life? (train, beginners, sport)

[southkakkatlantan]

I went jet skiing for the first time at Lake Lanier last summer and the three of us fell off the jet ski three times...

I went on a vacay/cruise to the Bahamas in October of last year and got on a floating beach mat...ended up napping on it for I swear what was 5 MINUTES with my beach hat over my head/face....and ended up wayyyy out in the ocean and had to call for friends to tug me back to shore

I think it's time I learn how to swim. But I'm scared. But I want to do it cuz....well...how would I ever enjoy a future vacation to Bora Bora (it's on my bucket list ) or anywhere else where water activities would be a main attraction?

Anyone here learn to swim later on in life? How did you overcome your fears? Where did you take swimming classes and how well of a swimmer do you consider yourself to be now?

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by southkakkatlantan

I went jet skiing for the first time at Lake Lanier last summer and the three of us fell off the jet ski three times...

I went on a vacay/cruise to the Bahamas in October of last year and got on a floating beach mat...ended up napping on it for I swear what was 5 MINUTES with my beach hat over my head/face....and ended up wayyyy out in the ocean and had to call for friends to tug me back to shore

I think it's time I learn how to swim. But I'm scared. But I want to do it cuz....well...how would I ever enjoy a future vacation to Bora Bora (it's on my bucket list ) or anywhere else where water activities would be a main attraction?

Anyone here learn to swim later on in life? How did you overcome your fears? Where did you take swimming classes and how well of a swimmer do you consider yourself to be now?

When Elvin Bethea reported to camp with the Houston Oilers in 1968, he met with the physicians and training staff for his physical. They wanted to see him swim. He asserted that he couldn't swim. He was told to just jump in the pool and give it a go. As a credit to his fearlessness, he did. Elvin was listed at 6'2", 260 lbs, and he naturally carried about 5% bodyfat. He was more dense than water and, with a full breath of air, jumped into the pool, rapidly sank to the bottom and stood flat footed on the deep end of the pool looking up at the trainers as if to say "See?". He was subsequently retrieved and went on to a long and storied career of such prestige that the organization retired his jersey. At any rate, he swam that year with a little private instruction.

There are bound to be discreet, private swim coaches in Atlanta for your exact situation. Swimming and bike-riding are very similar in that each can seem like a mysterious skill that must be very difficult to attain and must require a lot of discipline, but once you get over the mental barrier you realize that there's nothing to it; no magic, no mystery, no floaties necessary. You can already swim, you just haven't had someone show you that you can. It's really not about knowing a lot of different strokes, it's about being comfortable submerged in water and realizing that you aren't going to drown if you keep your wits.

A google search for "Atlanta private swim lessons adult" will probably get you talking to the right swim coaches. You'll be swimming in no time.

[Coolhand68]

I'm 43 and I swim like a rock. I look like a wounded animal in the water. I've been meaning to take some formal swim lessons and will try to commit to that this summer. No shame and no embarassment, you have to learn sometime. You'd be surprised how many adults can't swim.

[Mattie]

The Y's with pools offer adult swim lessons for both beginners and intermediates, at very reasonable prices. I have been thinking about taking a class for a while. I learned to swim as a child, because we had a pool, but I never mastered any decent techniques.

[2nd trick op]

I was compelled to lern to swim as a college freshman at the age of eighteen.

Admittedly, I fought it tooth-and-nail at first, I have a spinal curvature (idiopathic scoliosis) that had to be addressed surgically when I was ten. Those unfamiliar with the condition tend to think of it in terms of risk of strain or injury, but the actual problem is co-ordination. Any rhythmic activity, like swimming-or dancng, takes a longer time to master. Dtoo for playing a musical instrument, let alone marching in close order while doing it.

So one day in the fall of 1967, I found myself getting adjusted to Penn State's brand new pool. Now in those days, many all-male groups in school and college pools, or YMCA's still swam without benefit of suits, but I'd missed out on that by just a year, What we did wear, however, didn't cover nearly as much as what young men are conditioned to wear today.

But to get back to the main point, after a whole lotta repetition, I finally passed the course, but only after a second ten weeks of basic instuction, plus some practice on my own over the winter term between my two fomal classes. Yet the experience turned into a big plus -- not only did I get the satisfaction of mstering a physical challenge, the experince of working in a supportive environment, free from the dumb-bullyig I'd had to endure in Junior high Phys Ed, helped me to see my physical deformity (which is no longer an obstcle, but remains quite noticeable), in a much more positive light. I still swim regularly. Go for it!

[hoffdano]

Triathlon is the fastest growing adult sport in the US. Many of the athletes who start the sport are already good runners and/or cyclists. But they are often weak with swimming.

The popularity of the sport has increased the availability of adult swim lessons and adult swim coaching.

I strongly recommend finding a good swim instructor experienced with teaching adults. A good instructor will adjust their teaching of you to accomodate your fears and strengths.

Please do it. Any adult that can't swim is at minimum missing out on some great recreation. At worst they are dangerous to their family and friends in certain situations.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by southkakkatlantan

I went jet skiing for the first time at Lake Lanier last summer and the three of us fell off the jet ski three times...

I went on a vacay/cruise to the Bahamas in October of last year and got on a floating beach mat...ended up napping on it for I swear what was 5 MINUTES with my beach hat over my head/face....and ended up wayyyy out in the ocean and had to call for friends to tug me back to shore

I think it's time I learn how to swim. But I'm scared. But I want to do it cuz....well...how would I ever enjoy a future vacation to Bora Bora (it's on my bucket list ) or anywhere else where water activities would be a main attraction?

Anyone here learn to swim later on in life? How did you overcome your fears? Where did you take swimming classes and how well of a swimmer do you consider yourself to be now?

OMGoodness! I hope you take lessons! It's one thing to not know how to swim. It's another thing to put yourself in danger by doing water activities and floating on beach mats. Until you learn how to swim, you shouldn't do anything on the water without a life jacket, even floating on a beach mat. Especially floating on a beach mat. Wear a life jacket until you know how to swim.

My mother's parents wouldn't let her learn how to swim because they were afraid she would drown. She made sure all of her children had swimming lessons because not knowing how to swim is more likely to cause someone to drown.

If you are not afraid to do things you are doing in water (jet skiing, floating on rafts, etc), there is no logical reason for you to be afraid to learn how to swim. Remind yourself of that to get the courage.

FYI: Swimming lessons start in water you can stand in. You won't drown during swimming lessons.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by southkakkatlantan

Anyone here learn to swim later on in life?

I tried for a very long time, but have now given up. I can stay tread water, and I can swim underwater. That's it.

Originally Posted by southkakkatlantan

How did you overcome your fears?

I am not afraid of water at all. I respect it, but no fears.

Originally Posted by southkakkatlantan

Where did you take swimming classes and how well of a swimmer do you consider yourself to be now?

Local swimming pools, private lessons, group lessons, YWCAs in three states... you name it, they tried to teach me.
I sink like a rock.

My 'specialty' is retrieving things people drop into the pool!

[losha]

Hello sweetie , wow this is a great wish to go to Lake Lanier, I will tell you secret, I do not know swimming hahaha , and I am afraid of the beaches are terrible, and I hope such as learning what you want

[asitshouldbe]

If you learn let me know. I don't believe everyone can float, because I can't, eventually, if you drown, then you'll float.