Did you know that 17% of American adults don’t know how to swim unaided?
It’s nothing to be ashamed of, there are plenty of people all over the world who don’t know how to swim, or aren’t particularly strong swimmers. If you want to learn how to swim for adults, that is to be commended, and it could even help you to stay safe in an emergency one day.
In this guide, we’re going through the basics of learning to swim as an adult, and how you can take on this task and get better at swimming without embarrassment or fear of swimming in public.
Should All Adults Be Able to Swim?
One of the things about learning to swim as adults is that there is a stigma around those who cannot swim. A lot of people have friends and family who are confident swimmers, and they are not, which means that they do not choose to even get in the water when on vacation, at the oceanside, or visiting a pool or leisure center.
It is fair to say that being able to swim is a very positive thing. Should there ever be an emergency then this is when the skill can come into its own in terms of safety, but even just having basic swimming skills can introduce a new hobby into your life. It also means you will know the basics of how to teach someone to swim, so if you have children or babies and think they should gain these skills, you can help to pass along the knowledge in baby swimming lessons.
While we would definitely advise people that learning to swim is a good thing, we don’t want to fuel the stigma, either. You may have grown up with a fear of swimming, in a location where swimming was difficult, or just not had the opportunity. Luckily, it’s getting easier to start swimming as an adult.
Overcoming Fear Of Swimming
If you are reading this and don’t have any fear of swimming, then you may wish to skip forward. However, the truth is that most people have some level of anxiety or fear when it comes to getting in the water.
We wanted to include some swimming tips for those who are concerned, as this is such a common consideration. So, if you find yourself overcome with anxiety when it comes to taking the first steps, consider the following tips as a way to help you through:
- Always swim in a controlled environment. A lot of fear comes from thinking about the worst-case scenario. If you are in a pool, with a lifeguard there, the risks that go along with swimming are lessened by the support you have. Trying to learn in the sea may not be a good idea.
- Similarly, always go with a friend who is a confident swimmer. This means that they can give you tips, but also that they can help you out if you are struggling.
- Consider private lessons. If you have swimming lessons miami and work with a swimming tutor or coach then the risks of any sort of negative or dangerous experience are far lower. Not only will they be able to teach you the skills and techniques you need, but they can also help you to ensure that you are safe and not out of your depth (literally). If you run into trouble you will have their support.
- Stay in the shallow water. This is something you can do to keep your mind at ease. Though the saying “throwing them in at the deep end” comes from swimming, it’s not an effective technique for those who are nervous. Stick to where you are comfortable.
- Understand that the risks are low in a swimming pool. Yes, water can be dangerous. Precautions should always be taken and a lifeguard is essential. Don’t swim alone, even if you are confident. However, the risks of swimming in a proper facility are very low. There are people to help you if you get in a spot of trouble, and pools are under strict guidelines to keep everyone safe as much as they possibly can.
A great way to learn if you are self-conscious and worried is to get lessons in a private pool, with a qualified teacher or instructor. This means that you will have all the safety fallbacks needed, and also that you don’t have to worry too much about judgment or who will see you while you’re in the pool. This is something many people struggle with when starting to swim.
Teaching Yourself
Can you teach yourself to swim?
The answer is “yes” but it is not necessarily an easy or straightforward thing to do. Without the help of a swimming teacher, you are less likely to spot the things you are doing wrong, and it is possible that you will find some of the techniques impossible to master.
Like almost any hobby nowadays, it is possible to teach yourself. Watching online videos and understanding the techniques required is a good way to get the basics, but the problem is that once you are in the pool you will be on your own. You can definitely practice and get used to the water in this way, but you might not find it as simple to learn as you would with somebody’s help.
If you are on holiday and you want to start to learn to swim, spending some time in the shallow end of the pool, working out techniques and learning to float, swim, and feel comfortable in the water is a great step towards learning to swim as an adult, but it may not be as quick as learning to swim with help from a professional. Through the history of swimming, most people have had some help and support as they start to learn.
How To Start Swimming
The first step to starting swimming is to find a location and a method. Where can you go to start your swimming lessons and who can help you?
Your local pool may allow you to enquire about lessons, and lots will have instructors that they work with that can help you to learn the basics. Many will already have some system in place for this, and an instructor who can go into the pool with you.
If you don’t find somebody through the pool or leisure center, you can look online for the ideal swimming tutor or instructor. Some work out of private facilities while others work within public pools, either way, they can help you to become a better swimmer and gain the skills and confidence you need.
Once you have the basics nailed, spend as much time in the water as is feasible and swim regularly to keep your skills sharp should they be needed.
Improving Swimming Skills
A lot of adults are wondering how to become better swimmers. Perhaps you aren’t particularly strong at swimming but you want to get to the point where you can be confident in your abilities, or even swim competitively.
A lot of the tutors available and offering swimming lessons are actually former competitive swimmers. This means that when you take lessons, you can still get plenty out of them even if you already have some swimming skills. As you get better, there is no real limit to what you can do, perhaps you will reach the stage where you want to become one of the thousands of people to swim the channel or take part in local races and events.
You can improve your swimming skills through practicing of course, but this alone won’t help you to learn new techniques, that’s something you will need to refer to information or tuition to learn.
Learning to Swim in Adulthood – It Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult
Often, the problems that people need to overcome to learn how to swim as an adult are mental blocks and issues. Perhaps you have had a bad experience, or are embarrassed that you are not a strong swimmer.
Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to learn, and there are even private pools for the sorts of people who do not want to learn in public where others might see them. Whether you are learning with a friend or turning to tuition, getting to grips with the basics doesn’t tend to be too difficult, and you can then begin to build your skills to the point where you are the first person to jump in the pool when you head on your summer vacation, or just remain confident that if you need to, you can swim to safety.
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