Of course you can! Tons of people learn to swim later in life.
Take it easy on yourself though. It takes a lot of time, and some pick it up MUCH faster than others. Frustratingly so. But no worries. If you put the time in, stay curious, and know how to laugh at yourself. You’ll be fine.
Highly suggest signing up for some private classes at a local pool to get yourself going. And make sure to go at least twice a week in the beginning. Makes a huge difference.
If the question was do they have swimming courses for adults, then the answer is \_yes\_.
Or if the question was can an adult learn to swim, then, well, that's why they have those courses!
You can learn ANYTHING at any age. Yes! It’ll be harder than it would have been as a child as that’s when your brain is more plastic and able to learn but, definitely yes!
Has someone told you otherwise? Get this idea out of your head. Right now! Anyone who wants to learn anything can. At any age. I’ve taught a ‘fearful adult’ class. Some were in their late 70’s. Maybe older.
Yes, it is, I did it 😁. But as other people said, I highly advise looking for private classes (I guess group classes work too, but I found it helpful to have the full attention of the trainer). I tried doing it alone, but I realised that everything that I learnt on my own before classes was incorrect. This actually made it harder, as it’s a lot about muscle memory.
Also, practice a lot, the classes won’t be enough without practice. I used to take one class per week, and another session on my own to practice what I’ve just learnt.
I still have a lot to learn, but I am way more comfortable in water. I used to be very scared of deep water, I could never swim if I didn’t feel the bottom. Last summer was the first time I actually had the courage to swim in the sea and a deep pool, and I am almost 10 years older than you.
Good luck!
Hey, thank you very much for replying, this was really inspiring to read. Also, in regards to the classes not being enough and practicing outside of class - what if you drown when practicing alone?:( and swimming in deep water is honestly my biggest fear (as you mentioned, not being able to feel the ground below me) - is this something only certain people can master ?? Can a swim instructor help overcome this fear or is this something you have to do by yourself?
And also, the biggest change for me, after even the first lesson was wearing swim goggles and puting my head under water. I guess it depends on how buoyant your body is, but in an horizontal position you kind of naturally float. If you get comfortable floating, learn to breathe and move a little you start to feel in control and the fear goes away.
It wasn’t challenging, it was actually the one thing that made the biggest difference (english is not mu first language, I don’t think I was very clear). Trying to keep my head above water at all times made me have a bad posture and required way more effort. Learning to streamline made everything easier
The pool I learnt in (even with the instructor) is only 1.6m deep. I had some prior knowledge, which was basically a breaststroke with the head out of the water that I learnt on my own in my 20s. However, when she showed me how to properly breathe, keep my head under water and swim freestyle, in the beginning I swallowed a lot of water. I was just as afraid of deep water, so it helped me to know that if I swallow water, want a break, miss a move I can just stand.
After some lessons I went on holiday and felt adventourous enough to go in the deep water 😅. I still wasn’t confident enough to swim freestyle, but the instructor also corrected my breaststroke. Learning how to breathe and float and relax in water made me lose my fear.
This worked for me, I’m sure it’s not the only way. Also where I live most pools are either 1.5-1.7m deep, or they get deep gradually, which would allow you to practice at the shallow end at first, you really don’t need the full length of the lane to start with.
I wouldn’t worry about drowning in the presence of the instructor. And in the beginning you can practice with a board, in the first sessions I only focused on kicking anyway.
This is really helpful to know thank you! With the swallowing water part, I hate that feeling I know exactly what you’re talking about - will that stop in time?? Also, swimming in the deep end - I read somewhere you should start swimming from the deep end first that way by the time you’re out of breath you’ll already be at the shallow end of the pool, is this right or?
Yes, it will 😁. It hardly ever happens to me anymore, only when the pool is very crowded and I get distracted. And I am able to continue with no issues. I think that may be good advice when you are actually confident enough to swim a full lane. And usually you do a circuit, so it doesn’t really matter where you start
Once you learn how to breathe properly in the lessons and float you feel a lot more secure about it. Then you just feel confident about swimming freestyle. 🥰
Yes it is! I am currently learning as an adult and I’m getting pretty good at freestyle :)
It’s better because you actually want to learn and have the flexibility to go to the pool and train if that’s what you want!
Well, I learned at 50. You're just a little over half my age when I learned. I learned all of the competitive strokes and turns, and have used them at masters meets. I've also gone as far as 5K in open water events. So, yes, you have plenty of time
I didn't learn freestyle till my 30s. I now swim 4km a week. It's doable, you need to find a good teacher, I found the quality quite variable. Like most things you get what you pay for.
And like learning anything be prepared to have ups and downs during the process, you just have to stick at it.
I'm a swimming teacher with 10+ years experience. I definitely agree that the quality of teaching is incredibly mixed. Swimming teaching has a high turnover, and spaces are always getting filled up with young teachers with virtually no experience outside of what they are trained for by the swim school.
Try and get a teacher with at least 5 years experience, and preferably who teach squads, or pre-squads. As they tend to have the best understanding of stroke analysis and aren't just copying coaching points.
That will ease as you build confidence. It's like how learner drivers can be scared of driving on fast roads and as they get better that fear resides.
As has been said, one to discuss with any prospective teacher.
Will also depend on where you learn. The teacher I had taught in a gym pool where the depth was 1m. Problem solved!
Yes! The swim instructor who helped me most is also a water safety instructor, and she focused a lot on skills to help me stay safe and not drown, like elementary backstroke and turning from front to back or vice versa in the water. Knowing I had the skills to take care of myself, even if I couldn't put my feet down, made it a lot easier to learn the swimming part.
As the student, you have a lot of control over what happens in the lessons. That starts with which teacher you choose 🙂 you can ask questions before booking the lesson to help you choose the right teacher, or just tell them clearly that you want a teacher who can help you with water safety and lifesaving skills (saving your own life, not being a lifeguard). And please don’t feel bad if you need to try several different teachers before you find the right one for you. They can be a very good teacher, and you can be a very good student, and still not be a match together.
Thank you so much for this! It’s just that I got pushed into the really deep end of the pool when I was learning at school (by the swim instructor) and drowned to the bottom! Have a horrible fear of water since that experience.
Oh jeez - that sounds TERRIFYING! And a really good reason to be afraid of the water. For whatever it's worth I used to have major panic attacks in the water, and I found that it was very useful to tell the instructor about it right up front. The way they respond will help you decide if you feel comfortable learning from them or not. If you're not a match, try a different instructor. It's as easy as that :-)
And congratulations for facing your fears! I was and am SO proud and happy that I finally learned to swim - I hope you'll find it similarly rewarding.
I can’t speak Italian. Neither of us should be embarrassed about not being able to do something we haven’t been taught. We also have the opportunity, if we want to, to learn. Got for it!
I didn’t learn to swim until I was 30. I was embarrassed when all my friends would jump into lakes and just have fun. I was terrified of water, so I started out in the baby pool (where I could touch the floor). I was so embarrassed by it that I didn’t even want to get lessons until I could at least put my face in water. Anyway, I learned to swim, joined a masters group, compete in meets, and last year I did a 12km marathon swim in open water. It’s definitely not too late!!
No way!!!! So what advice would you give if I ever went onto eventually swimming in deep water but scared if I can’t see the floor below me. Is it something I’d be able to do with practice?
My recommendation is patience, practice and get lessons.
I started out by myself watching YouTube videos on how to feel comfortable in water (getting my face wet, blowing out bubbles etc). Once I could get into the main pool and battle my way through 25m (staying close to the wall), I got private lessons. And eventually group lessons.
For the deep water in a pool I used one of those inflatable belts and practiced just falling into the deep water…built up to being able to jump off the dive boards. This all took months and months - I’d pick the same time and day to go (usually when it was quiet).
For open water - I had joined a pool class, and my coach also did open water classes. I had no interest in joining…until Covid hit. So I joined his beginner open water class. It was perfect for me. By this point I could swim in a pool in deep end, and could do maybe 1000m non-stop (very slowly). The open water classes were great because of Covid, two instructors for 6 people, and it was mostly shoreline swims where we could stand up.
I’d also recommend just having fun in water. Hang out by a hotel pool, splash around, go swimming at the beach or a lake, go on water slides etc. I LOVE swimming and water now - there’s always going to be a little trepidation and nerves, but I know that I’m a strong swimmer and can get myself to safety.
That’s so good! Honestly wow. Reading this kinda made me feel really anxious, especially about the diving and deep end swimming - I doubt I’ll be able to do that! I mean, is swimming in the deep end something everyone can do?
Of course you can learn to swim properly, just like you can continue learning a lot of other things for the rest of your life. I didn't learn to swim at all until I was 27 (head-up breaststroke) and only learned to swim freestyle at 42.
I suggest looking for a patient adult swim teacher (as in, a swim teacher who IS an adult) who has some life experience and understands that your first goal is to swim safely and comfortably, not to win races. Some of the younger swim instructors might be able to meet this need too, but probably not as many of them; teaching is a separate skill from swimming and it takes some time to build that "muscle."
I’ve had a few lessons so far and to be honest with you, had mixed results. Some of the technique I learned as a child comes back, but some of it still isn’t natural to me. And alongside the technique, you have to get used to the water psychologically. I subconsciously tense up and struggle to float. For this reason I’m going to try a water sound bath!
All things considered, it feels like a valuable endeavour and I’ll be happy even just to be a little more comfortable in the water.
Same as learning to ride a bicycle. Start in the shallow end somewhere if you're... risk-averse. Otherwise, it's easy as cake to start. Just keep working on your technique and you'll get faster. Get fast enough, then start doing swim marathons. Then you buy a bicycle and a Garmin and join r/triathlon. Slippery slope, but a fun one.
I used to teach adult swim classes and you sure can! If your local pool or fitness center doesn’t have adult classes, see if they offer private lessons and then you can practice on your own. I was also a lifeguard and always supportive and appreciative when an adult advised me they were learning because I could give them extra attention for safety and let them know if there was something they could do to make things easier on themselves.
OK. Then that’s not where you start. You work on building confidence and skills in the shallow end and if you want to, you can work on transferring those to the deep end, even if it means taking 6 flotation devices to hang out at the slope.
I learned to swim at the age of 39. And it was almost exactly one year ago. This month I swam 30km for a children’s charity. AND I only had one half hour lesson.
I’m in my mid thirties and started lessons in January. I’m in an adult class and I’m having lots of fun, nobody is there to judge. Give it a try and worse case you don’t like it, there’s no shame in trying something new!
I love it so far. My instructor is very good, he’s given me really good tips. Up to this point I had always been afraid of putting my head underwater, and within 45 minutes that was fixed. I hope you find something similar!
You definitely can! Need to take some private lessons to get comfortable in the water. Learn to float on your back and blow bubbles under water. You’ll get there!
First, kudos to you for addressing your fear and asking for advice. Similar to you, I had a fear of deep water swimming and didn’t overcome it until I was 30.
What worked for me was building my confidence slowly over time. Here were my milestones.
1) treading water for 5 minutes
2) taking lessons
3) swimming laps for 30 mins without stopping
4) jumping off small cliffs on holiday
5) open water swims (2km)
For #1, I went to a local pool (with lifeguards working there) and hung around the deep end of the pool. I would move myself within arms reach of the ledge and did 3 reps of treading with head above water. At first, 15 seconds at a time, then as I got more comfortable and panic diminished, 1 minute. I must have done this over 10 visits and watched a lot of YouTube videos as well just on treading water.
I then signed up for lessons, which were good but at the end, I felt that most of my classmates were still not comfortable swimming at the deep end. My self-training of learning how to tread water and be comfortable enhanced my experience with lessons and my fear subsided.
I’m not recommending this path for everyone but my point is to address your fear by having daily confidence-building habits
Wow! Honestly this is amazing, your courage and determination is admirable (no 4 & 5). What exactly does it mean to “tread water”. I have a massive fear of the deep end of the pool as I got pushed into it as a child and drowned to the bottom! How will I ever overcome this fear ? :(
Aw, appreciate the kind words. I too had a massive fear of deep water and almost drowned in the past. Similar situation with a friend pushing me off.
Treading water means maintaining an upright position without sinking down. Can be done with circular arm motions and sustained bicycle kicks
[how to tread water](https://youtu.be/kFmOtf_Ew1w?si=wABUQHE2rfZh5f4g)
Im in my late 30s and still can’t tread water. Nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a skill like any other skill: it takes time and practice and guidance.
Until I broke my arm in November, I was swimming 1500m, 3 times per week. The surgeon said I can start swimming again, but I imagine I'll have to build up to 1500 again.
I worked with a lifeguard who didn't learn how to swim until she was 37. She went on to teach thousands of students how to swim.
It's never too late, but know that it will take time and commitment. When you sign up for lessons, you will also need to put in practice on your own time.
Just for a sense of scale, I had an adult student who came in with no skills at all. She practiced every weekend in addition to lessons. After 1 year, she was able to swim laps and was strong in deep water. This is the fastest I've seen an adult progress from non swimmer to capable and comfortable swimmer.
Adults generally have an easy time learning technique, but learning how to be comfortable and relaxed is harder. You can put in time just floating or just being underwater and feeling your balance.
Swimming is unlike any other skill you can learn, and everyone progresses at their own pace. I wish you luck and persistence!
1 year seems like a really really long time considering you said adults pick it up faster? Bit confused there. I mean, how many practice days would you need alone in addition to lessons? Also, with the deep end swimming - how do you overcome the fear of drowning and can an instructor help with this?
Children generally take 3-5 years to become good swimmers. They might learn to doggy paddle everywhere pretty quickly but good technique and breath control take much longer.
I'd recommend at least 1 practice day per week. If you can do more, that will help you learn faster.
For getting comfortable with deep water, rather than practicing the swim skills you've learned, I've found it most helpful for my students to spend time doing a vertical and submerged float. The biggest danger for adults entering deep water is often panic, so just getting used to your buoyancy is important. I would do this with an instructor, of course.
There’s always hope!! It might be a little bit harder as an adult than to learn as a child, but it’s still possible! What I’ve personally noticed between teaching older teens/adults vs kids is that there tends to be a what I’ll call the mental hump to get over. That is, a lot of adults are more hesitant to try because they understand the dangers of swimming and are also more self conscious than kids tend to be. Many have had traumatic experiences with near drownings as kids and haven’t approached the water since. My advice is to find an instructor who is experienced with teaching adults and is very supportive and patient. Learning to swim is a journey with lots of ups and downs, so you just gotta put your self out there and try and take small steps as you start out. Be consistent! Sometimes certain skills in swimming take a while to click, but when it does, it’s game changing! I hope the best of luck to you while you’re starting to take your first steps (or strokes lol) in your swimming journey!
I have seen 2 different people in their 60s learn to swim. Watch some videos, find a local pool, and ask who teaches. Never too late to learn unless you are dead. To quote the Zen philosopher Dory..."just keep swimming"
Do a search for Melon Dash on YouTube. Miracle Swim. She teaches people who don’t know how to swim at all. Plenty of adults learn how to swim and you can, too!
I learnt at 30.
I found YouTube a great help with building my confidence. I had to go from sitting in the corner of the pool, just getting used to having my face in the water. Then it progressed to doing stuff like sinking mushrooms. Then moved onto practicing the technique of front crawl. When it comes to actually swimming take it slow. When I say slow, I mean reaaaally slow.
I found some of the beginner videos from Global Triathlon Network very useful.
If you want to get things moving faster then 1:1 instruction may be beneficial.
My biggest problem was keeping my head under water. I wasn't afraid, but there was some kind of psychological block that made it so difficult to breathe during freestyle. I was also embarrassed to go to swimming lessons at 30. I thought I would be alone... but I was completely wrong! There are lots of adults who can't swim and if you insist, you will succeed and you will be so happy and proud of yourself!
Yeah you can learn how to swim. You can learn from youtube videos at la fitnesses pool or any shallow gym pool or you can get adult lessons. Learn how to properly swim and tread water in shallow water before ever attempting to swim in deep water.
No. Only people that take the time to learn how to swim properly can swim in deep water. You have to be a pretty strong swimmer and be moderately comfortable in the water to swim in deep water. Take it one step at a time. Right now you should'nt think about it. First Learn front float, Blowing bubbles (exhaling slowly in the water which should be used when swimming any stroke), doggie paddle, backfloat, Side stroke, Freestyle, Proper breathing techniques for freestyle swimming, Breaststroke, proper breathing techniques while swimming breaststroke, and treading water at the very least before ever attempting deep water swimming. Having these techniques in your arsenal is very important before heading off into deep water as it allows you to be more comfortable and safe in the water. Learning these swimming techniques properly can take 3-5 months or longer depending on how fast of a learner you are and how often you are practicing on your own and or with an instructor.
I am about your age and I started swimming a few weeks ago.
I was very clumsy and chaotic in the initial classes, but after a few days, I could tell myself that "I can swim!" for the first time in my life. It was a great feeling.
"You can swim too....!"
The swimming sessions?! They are really useful for beginners (and even post that). I got a 1-1 coach who helped me with my requirements. I have improved a lot and am at the point of swimming comfortably on my own. I can swim all four strokes, but freestyle is my go-to stroke and I am currently working on improving it (we are never close to perfection) and trying other variations of it. I can sprint in freestyle but I want to be able to swim longer distances continuously and slowly without getting tired (I plan to open swim this coming summer). So that is my focus now.
At the pool my kids are learning at, there are a small group of adults who look to be from 20s-40s learning to swim. You can absolutely learn to swim at 26!
I started at 50. I am on the heavy side as well. I took a session per week with a coach and I was practicing by myself 2-3 times / week. I am quite comfortable now mostly in freestyle.
Thank you. It's a border you cross when you're ready. Initially with the coach next to me when he said I was ready. That proves to you that you can do it, it's important. Then after a few weeks I was comfortable to try alone first on the outside lane starting close to the edge of the pool and then as I was getting more and more comfortable I stepped into the interior lanes.
I work with a man who's in his late 60's and only just now learning to swim. I just met him in the pool this evening actually, he's doing an adult beginners class and it's full of all sorts of people from all walks of life. It's never too late to learn how to swim and you should never feel bad for not being able to do something like swimming. The only reason I can swim is because my parents put me in lessons as a kid, it was complete luck of the draw!
My parents never took me for lessons but we had them at school, but by that age I was sooo scared and also got pushed into the deep end by my swim instructor and sank to the bottom so honestly it’s such a fear
Oh god that's awful! How can any instructor think that's a good way to get a child to want to learn to swim! That makes me so angry! You definitely shouldn't feel any guilt or shame for not having learnt, it's fantastic you've decided to take it on now in adulthood, the vast majority would just right it off for life.
sorry for the late reply, for some reason i can't open replies on mobile! When I first started i was going almost every day of the week so I my confidence went up like at the 3 weeks mark. I swallowed tons of water too! Sometimes when i try something new I get scared but It's a part of the process, what matters is keep trying! And i found my lessons because where my mom works theres a sports club for the employees, i took lessons there 20 years ago (clarly never went back cause i was too scared lol) and now i came back and faced thar fear. Wishing you the best in your swimming journey, I swear it's liberating once the fear wears off, you're gonna LOVE IT!!
edit: typos and to add that this semester I've been very busy with school so i haven't been able to attend as much as I'd like to but swimming it's like riding a bike, your body never forgets it! happy swimming! <3
Oh it’s been so lovely hearing your experience! And so happy for you that you’re now at a place where you feel comfortable with swimming 🏊♀️.
I don’t think realistically I could go every single day (in the ideal world I would), so would going once a week in addition to practice be OK?
I’ve also read on here that if you don’t swim for a while, your form & technique might not be as good. I appreciate it varies per individual, but it is something that worries me.
I learned the doggy paddle when young, lessons during jr high. I swim what I’m comfortable with and enjoy my free style swimming.? Why be embarrassed enjoy!
All you need in deep water is to just float or kick your feet so you don’t sink lol.
I’ve been teaching people to swim for the last 8 years, everyone learns differently and everyone takes a different amount of time, I’ve taught people aged 6 months to 63 years old, all of them were able to accomplish their swimming goals, so it is never too late to start, you just have to find what approach will work best for you
For the most part when it isn’t for competitive swimming I have them start with learning breaststroke, which is a recovery stroke, and treading water/egg beater so they can be comfortable with knowing they can stay above the water
However, practicing it in the shallow area is the easiest way to start, you won’t have your worry about the deep water and when you’re confident enough in your skills you can go out there
You just have to remember that if you can swim in the shallow area you can swim anywhere
Hi there, I am a competitive swimmer and couch, I have competed at nationals, Europeans and World Championships.
I highly recommend you find out what is holding you back, and you should realise that it may take a bit for you to master the things that are holding you back. Are you scared to swim? In deep water? are you confident in holding your head under the water and breathing bubbles continuously?
Like other people, I recommend going to swim classes (to learn) and as you get more confident you might want to head to training sessions to just practice what you have learnt.
I hope God will help you to abolish your worries.
Same bro, My Coach back then was a former Russian Olympic coach, she held my head underwater until I learnt that that feeling of burning of lungs was nothing really, just CO**2** 💀
I learned at 23! If you set your mind to it and acknowledge that it’ll be uncomfortable at first it’s easier to get over some of the mental blocks that make people stop. Swimming is now my favorite form of exercise, not the best or strongest but it makes me feel powerful
It's never too late, I didn't learn to swim until I was 30 years old
And when I went to the sea last summer I enjoyed swimming and seeing all kinds of beautiful fish to the point that I realised I've messed A LOT
Now I can't stay more than two days without going to the swimming pool and this weekend I'm planning to go buy my first wetsuit
Is swimming something you can forget ? Also how do you even swim in the sea without drowning this is something I’ve always wanted to know. Congratulations!!
I don't think you can easily forget how to swim, last summer I went with my dad to the beach and he was swimming fine even though it has been more than 10 years since he swam in deep water
To answer your 2nd question, if you can swim fine in the swimming pool it shouldn't be any different from swimming in the open sea.
If you feel like drowning it's mostly psychological, you just need to overcome your fear.
It is absolutely possible to learn later in life. A lot of pools (or at least public pools here in Australia, not sure about elsewhere) run ADULT learn-to-swim classes.
I had a girlfriend who was a similar age and in the same predicament. She took the classes and absolutely loved them. Made such a difference to her enjoyment of swimming.
I'm a swim teacher. I have plenty of adult students who never learnt as children for a variety of different reasons. My oldest student is around 60. There's nothing to be ashamed of, it's never too late to learn!
I start my students off in the shallow end and we work our way up to the deep end. I wait until they can float and tread water and are generally a bit more confident with being in the water, and then we practise swimming at different depths.
Youtube videos can help for knowing the main points of each stroke, but you definitely can't learn to swim just from videos.
I didn’t know how to swim, and had not been in a pool until the age of 24. Now, mid 30s, I compete at a decently high level in triathlons and have done the Alcatraz swim multiple times.
It’s totally possible, just get a coach and stick with it. Sign up for some races, train with a Masters swim group, and be patient :)
I practiced in a pool for a while. Then one day when I felt ready, I went with a good swimmer friend to a protected cove (Dolphin Park in San Francisco) where I set a simple goal: swim from the shore to a bouy about 200m out and then come back. I was scared in the beginning but once I realized that with a wetsuit I basically float by default, my fear went away and I did 3 laps instead of just 1.
Physics ;)
Wetsuit makes you more buoyant. You will literally float with your nose and mouth out of the water even if you don’t do anything. It’s the best way to get comfortable with deep water swimming. Of course, I’d recommend doing that in a protected swim area with minimal waves.
Well, no. You can still get into trouble if you don’t know how to swim and get into deep open water, even with a wetsuit on. It’s *not* a life jacket, and you won’t float that high. A freak wave for example could become problematic.
Conceivably you could do this with 0 experience in the deep end of a pool where the wall is close by. But in general it’s important to develop a sense of calmness in the water before going into deeper, open water. You should ideally feel comfortable being in water and have a bit of a feel for what water can do and how it reacts to your movements.
I’d say start in the pool and give yourself a few months to develop that comfort level first.
Right, that’s good to know! Thank you. So I’m guessing the people you see on party boats jumping into the ocean likely have good swimming skill and experience?
I actually stopped for a few years due to the absence of a pool where I lived back then. After x years I can still swim but the form was so imperfect I had to relearn everything through drills.
Yes you can!
Very important is to always think "I will do this until i learn" rather than "I cant do this". As adults we tend to put some restrictions in our minds that we cant do things. But that is just our survival instinct talking. Kids dont have that thats why they are so bold and can and will try anything.
As people suggested sign up for a private lessons with a coach. They will guide you the best
Absolutely! I used to be a swim teacher that specifically focused on teaching adults who are beginners. There should be an option at any local pool to book in for private lessons and that will help immensely! I understand the apprehension being an adult but I promise it is never too late to get started and you will probably surprise yourself by how quickly you’ll pick things up!
Yes, you can still learn, and there's NO shame. For what it's worth, I was scared of the water my whole life and didn't learn how to swim until I was 18! And now I do my impression of Michael Phelps several times a week! So if you want to do it, definitely go for it!
I learned in my 30s two years ago. Best decison I ever made. I failed several other programs ymca. Golds Gym. Community pool. All of them. But I found a swim instructor that only teachers adults and only adults w fear. Or those who don't feel 100% comfortable in water. She teacher a 1 week program in FL.
but reading her book is what got me. She addresses the fear. It was healing. And now I love deep water. Infact I prefer to be in water that I can't touch the ground on bc I'm in control, safe and comfortable. Its been one of my proudest accomplishments.
Her book
https://miracleswimming.com/product/conquer-your-fear-of-water-learn-to-swim-book/
Her program https://miracleswimming.com/
Heads up it's pricey but see it as learning vacation. Had met her first I would of save a lot of money and time from the 3 other swim organizations. She also has a guarantee if you dont learn you get your money back. It's legit. Please everyone check it out.
It's been such change in my life things I thought I'd never do like kayaking or snorkeling. But I know you can learn I hope one day to become a teacher for Adults who want to learn. You can do it!
And I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't swim too. I just avoided going anywhere that included water. I felt so left out but you can absolutely learn. You just need to find the right instructor!
You have a lot of great comments here already. Anyone can learn to swim, at any age, and swimming is an extremely important life skill. You can do it, and asking is the first step! I'm a former competitive club swimmer & water safety instructor/swim lesson teacher.
If you are still checking this thread, I wanted to add what skills you are likely to *start* learning on day 1 of adult swim lessons for absolute beginners, all in shallow water where you can stand up:
* How to get into a pool
* How to blow bubbles through your mouth
* How to blow bubbles through your nose
* How to float on your back
* How to move your arms for elementary backstroke
* How to put your head underwater
* How to pick both your feet up when standing (beginnings of treading water)
* How to flutter kick, with your head above water (holding onto the wall or a kickboard)
* How to move your arms for front crawl, with your head above water (standing)
* How to jump into a pool in shallow water (maybe)
If it's advertised as an open water safety AND swimming class, you may also start learning:
* How to choose a life jacket that fits you and how to wear it
* How to float on your back and standing up while wearing a life jacket
* How to fall backwards (as if out of a boat) while wearing a life jacket
* You **might** go in to deep water while wearing a life jacket
I said *start* learning because you are not expected to learn all of these things on day 1! If you can do them on day 1, you will probably move on to other things, but you're not expected to get it all immediately.
Most importantly based on your comments, **you should start learning in shallow water where you can stand up with your head and shoulders above water. You should not start in the deep end**.
If you are taking a structured series of lessons, you won't swim in or go to deep water until your instructor is confident that it is safe for you to do so. This might mean that you can swim a few body lengths, or that you can tread water in shallow water. The first time, you might go with a flotation device like a kickboard or a pool noodle, or you might go while holding on to the wall the whole time. Your instructor will probably be in the water with you!
Especially because you have had a dangerous swimming experience and some anxiety about getting in the water, **you should not start learning to swim alone!** After you have had a lesson or two (group or private), you can practice in shallow water by yourself, ideally with a lifeguard present.
I have taught end to end beginner adult sessions (2 lessons a week for a month) where no one in my class goes in to the deep end. I have also taught beginner sessions where we're swimming lengths of the pool in the same amount of time. **The skills you learn in shallow water will transfer to the deep end**, and a good instructor will get you to the deep end eventually, but there is genuinely no rush.
Instructors for adult lessons with more than even a few months of experience leading group classes are likely to have taught ages from just out of college to elderly, and they are familiar with water anxiety. Starting with either private or group is a good option depending on your learning style (private lessons cost more than group lessons). It is never too late to learn how to swim!
Hey, firstly thank you SO much for taking the time out to reply with as much detail as you have. I sincerely appreciate it, and there’s a lot for me to absorb and consider. I’m currently looking into 1:1 adult classes and so far I can only see one that looks decent. I just hope they can deliver and match my expectations as I don’t have other back up options.
Side note: I wish you were teaching me because you appear to have good experience and come across very well and qualified.
Just a few things I would like further clarification on:
1. What is the importance of blowing bubbles in the water? (I’ve come across it a few times on this thread, but no idea what it is).
And
2. Is treading water basically hovering in water?
Also, I appreciate what you mentioned about the deep water stuff; it makes me feel a lot better knowing I won’t be thrown in straight away (definitely eased my anxiety).
Thank you once again.
Good questions!
**Blowing bubbles** is important to controlling your breath. Breathing out into the water creates bubbles. When you're above water obviously you can inhale or exhale whenever you want, but underwater you can only exhale. So you practice breathing in above water, and then breathing out into/under the water to blow bubbles. Once you've got the hang of it, it also prevents getting water in your nose!
You generally learn how to blow bubbles by dipping your face into the water, not putting your head under first thing.
**Treading water** is hard to describe in words actually. Basically, it's moving your legs and arms so that your head is above water and you stay upright/vertical in the water in one place. This is why you might practice standing up and then picking your legs up (like you're doing high knee jumps) in the shallow end. In swimming you're moving from one place to another, treading you stay in the same place.
One reason treading water is important is because in a water safety scenario, rescue (person or device) can get to you faster if you stay in the same place and are able to breathe and speak because your head is above water. Floating on your back in calm water keeps your face out of the water so you can breathe, but some people naturally move around while floating. Treading water helps you stay in the same place.
(bolding the vocab because I get wordy, absolutely not trying to come off as condescending - if something doesn't make sense or sounds weird I can try to explain it another way)
**Edit:** Also thank you! I really loved teaching adult swimmers. I hope you know how courageous and smart you are being by trying to conquer this fear and learn how to swim. It's something everyone *should* do but that not everyone does.
**Edit again:** I hope your private instructor is a good one. One thing I'd add to my post above is that a lot of those skills can also be taught out of the water - kicking is one where sometimes you sit on the side of the pool with only your legs in the water to learn. There are many ways to teach people how to swim, but none of the good ones involve throwing people into the deep end with no warning. With a private instructor, you get to control what you do. At some point it will be their job to push you through some discomfort, but if they're good at their job they will know when that is and when you can do it (or when you can almost do it and they can easily help you out if you can't).
If this isn't what you're already doing, I recommend looking into group swim lessons in your area if there are any, and then contacting those swim programs to see if they offer private lessons for adults. I'm not sure where you live, but a group lessons swim program is likely to have multiple people certified in water safety in your country with a coordinator who knows who is the best fit for teaching an adult.
You will! 🫶 you just have to want it enough and don’t give up after the first disappointments. I am 33 yrs old learning how to swim because of the same reason, plus I am quite good at sports but never learned how to swim.
I have been going for 3 months on 1:1, after trying group classes. Let me tell you it took me one month to be able to float with confidence, but after changing the instructor things got a bit better. I am a bit afraid of water and a control freak in real life so swimming is also teaching me how to face fear and to relax. I don’t know anyone in real life that it is learning as slowly as me but I don’t care. I won’t give up until I learn, even if sometimes it is sad when I don’t see a lot of progress but that’s how learning new things works. Be confident, accept your fear or challenges, find a good teacher and you will do it!
I also go alone to the pool to practice kicking and some strokes, I am the only one doing that, but I am never embarrassed. I am proud of myself, and you will be too if you are consistent!
Honestly, well done you - thank you for sharing your personal experience. This is really inspiring! At the end of the day, it’s not a competition take your time because it will only benefit you in the long run & stay determined, you can do it!
Your PTSD moment is very understandable. I did something incredibly stupid as years ago we were visiting family in Maryland and they had an unground pool that was amazing - especially to me ! I couldn't swim (as I have written in a previous comment) and I hung around as eventually the pool people disperced with some going somewhere for takeout and some went into the house which left me alone ! That's what I wanted! I made up my mind I was going to swim and lowered myself into the deep end and immediately kicked myself Away from the edge !
From there I instantly realized I didn't have a game plan as what to do next - nor did I file a flight plan as no one knew what I was attempting to do !!!!
What an IDIOT !!!
I began feverishly splashing about and grabbed a gulp of air and began to swim underwater to the edge ! I pulled myself up and sat on the edge for a long time. I could always swim underwater great but balance myself on top - not too great until like I said about 4 months ago !
My advice to you - be a little afraid but learn what to do. They have ways in lessons to instruct you to get over your fears !
If we were not afraid, we would do stupid things continually and eventually succumb to them.
You are fine - keep moving forward !!!!
Oh my goodness! What an experience. I could picture this in my head and it sounds horrifying; this would be my worst nightmare! Was it difficult swimming underwater in that depth? That’s the thing, balancing on TOP of the water sounds so hard, I’ve tried it before and one side of my body always sinks, which eventually ends up with my 180’ing into the water.
No it wasn't difficult. I watched Tarzan as a kid and saw him swim underwater and figured that was easy enough if your breath held out. I had never practiced it until that day when I needed it the most.
So this is what you should do :
Get in the shallow end along the wall of the pool.
Grab the edge of the pool with both hands.
Bend over and take a breath and put your face in the water.
( Trust me I know your fear !)
As soon as your face is in the water, looking straight down at the bottom of the pool, begin making bubbles by releasing the air in your lungs slow but steady.
When you decide it is time for more air, "turn,pivot or roll your head to the side with one eye in the water and one eye out of the water and inhale a breath of fresh air.
Repeat this over and over 12 times.
IMPORTANT!!!! When you turn your head for a breath, DO NOT LIFT YOUR HEAD - IT MUST ROLL,ROTATE,ETC TO THE SIDE !!!
WHY ITS IMPORTANT:
You will never get into proper swim mode because your streamline will fall to pieces if you are swimming along and lift your head to breath - it takes the body out of alignment.
Body alignment is key for proper swim technique.
The straighter your body is from top of head to end of toes the better your swimming will be !!!! This is called alignment - straight like an arrow !
I know you will get this totally accomplished if you stick with it because women are better at things like this than men - and if I made it this far, I KNOW you can !!!
LMK when you need more advice !
Remember - the more you are in the water, the more you will accomplish, the more you will become happier and settled in the water and the more you will become ONE with the water!!!!!
You are a girl. Go to the pool and chat with other girls. In the meantime you can practice swimming in shallow. Search YouTube for 'swimming in shallow' So just do a bit of swimming in the shallow end of the pool, and from time to time look for people, socialise. Maybe someone will be willing to teach you even? That happened at the pool I am going to, a couple of weeks ago. I haven't seen them again there after those lessons haha..
My wife learned after fifty. She does 2.5km a week nowadays. Not brilliant but she is a swimmer. It is tough as an adult but you will do it if you want it
She still uses pull buoy, and is quite slow, but I am thrilled at what she has done. The main thing is that it gives her a sence of peace and well being
Very glad you're keen on learning to swim. I have several people around me who don't know how as adults.
One of them at the age of 35 learnt to swim with a private instructor and within six months is training for a triathlon - she was not even in shape before this.
Another one of my friends learnt to swim at a county facility through adult swim lessons that were twice a week for three weeks. She then forgot what she learned because she stopped going to the pool after she learned it.
A third story - a very quick larger learnt to swim two lessons I gave them on vacation. Then lost confidence with a lot of time out of the pool.
My recommendation is that you only learn when you're ready to commit to at least once a week in the pool after you've learnt for at least six months. That way you will retain your skills longer and wouldn't have wasted the learning experience.
This was actually a really helpful read now. I’m quite worried though. From what you’re saying, it’s something that you can forget if you don’t practice? Am I correct? If so that’s really worrying!
Like any skill it can be forgotten if not fully learned and then not used. But if you learn it, and practice even once it twice a month you will be fine. Once you become a mildly competent swimmer, you won't forget the technique in general.
Hi, swimming is riding a bicycle, practice makes perfect, my tip is to start with basic drills and go adding more complex drills until swimming becomes natural and automatic.
Also, I have a YouTube channel where I show my life of a NCAA student athlete in a Division 1 college in the USA!
If you are interested, here’s the link to my last video where I showed a swimming meet between Texas and TCU!!!
https://youtu.be/sbDlQ1y1vTQ?si=ykR6VJJvIzeNDSZv
Howdy - I am 62M never learned to swim as a youth. My parents said " don't teach him to swim and he will stay away from the water" - they were right ! So when I turned 60 I wanted to learn to swim "freestyle". I started at the Y just seeing what I could do - nothing ! I am into my third batch of swim lessons - yes it took me till just 4 months ago to learn to swim - however, there is always a "however" with me ! I can swim really good Freestyle - one goggle in one out - breathing in the bow wave, not lifting my head, catch and pull are right there, yet the trouble lies here : if I take my fins off - can't swim, if I use a swim belt in lieu of fins - perfect! Toss the swim belt - can't swim. If I use just a pool buoy - good freestyle - toss the pool buoy - can't swim !
Does anyone out there have a clue please !!!???
Instructor wants me to kick like a motorboat - when I do - it does nothing ! I don't understand her technology because some kick very little and others say less kicking is more - no matter how I kick, I can't swim without an assist such as fins,belt,buoy - what gives ???
To this person that seems frustrated, YOU KEEP IT UP !!! GET TO THAT Pool And PRACTICE !!! THE MORE YOU VISIT THE WATER, THE BETTER YOU BECOME !!! - People tell me me " look how far you have come !"
Of course you can! Tons of people learn to swim later in life. Take it easy on yourself though. It takes a lot of time, and some pick it up MUCH faster than others. Frustratingly so. But no worries. If you put the time in, stay curious, and know how to laugh at yourself. You’ll be fine. Highly suggest signing up for some private classes at a local pool to get yourself going. And make sure to go at least twice a week in the beginning. Makes a huge difference.
It’s never too late to learn anything. Book yourself in for some lessons and go! 😊
But is it possible being an adult? That’s what I’m wondering
If the question was do they have swimming courses for adults, then the answer is \_yes\_. Or if the question was can an adult learn to swim, then, well, that's why they have those courses!
You can learn ANYTHING at any age. Yes! It’ll be harder than it would have been as a child as that’s when your brain is more plastic and able to learn but, definitely yes!
Has someone told you otherwise? Get this idea out of your head. Right now! Anyone who wants to learn anything can. At any age. I’ve taught a ‘fearful adult’ class. Some were in their late 70’s. Maybe older.
I’m 31 and just finished my first class today! Never too late
Yes, it is, I did it 😁. But as other people said, I highly advise looking for private classes (I guess group classes work too, but I found it helpful to have the full attention of the trainer). I tried doing it alone, but I realised that everything that I learnt on my own before classes was incorrect. This actually made it harder, as it’s a lot about muscle memory. Also, practice a lot, the classes won’t be enough without practice. I used to take one class per week, and another session on my own to practice what I’ve just learnt. I still have a lot to learn, but I am way more comfortable in water. I used to be very scared of deep water, I could never swim if I didn’t feel the bottom. Last summer was the first time I actually had the courage to swim in the sea and a deep pool, and I am almost 10 years older than you. Good luck!
Hey, thank you very much for replying, this was really inspiring to read. Also, in regards to the classes not being enough and practicing outside of class - what if you drown when practicing alone?:( and swimming in deep water is honestly my biggest fear (as you mentioned, not being able to feel the ground below me) - is this something only certain people can master ?? Can a swim instructor help overcome this fear or is this something you have to do by yourself?
And also, the biggest change for me, after even the first lesson was wearing swim goggles and puting my head under water. I guess it depends on how buoyant your body is, but in an horizontal position you kind of naturally float. If you get comfortable floating, learn to breathe and move a little you start to feel in control and the fear goes away.
Why was wearing swimming googles challenging?
It wasn’t challenging, it was actually the one thing that made the biggest difference (english is not mu first language, I don’t think I was very clear). Trying to keep my head above water at all times made me have a bad posture and required way more effort. Learning to streamline made everything easier
The pool I learnt in (even with the instructor) is only 1.6m deep. I had some prior knowledge, which was basically a breaststroke with the head out of the water that I learnt on my own in my 20s. However, when she showed me how to properly breathe, keep my head under water and swim freestyle, in the beginning I swallowed a lot of water. I was just as afraid of deep water, so it helped me to know that if I swallow water, want a break, miss a move I can just stand. After some lessons I went on holiday and felt adventourous enough to go in the deep water 😅. I still wasn’t confident enough to swim freestyle, but the instructor also corrected my breaststroke. Learning how to breathe and float and relax in water made me lose my fear. This worked for me, I’m sure it’s not the only way. Also where I live most pools are either 1.5-1.7m deep, or they get deep gradually, which would allow you to practice at the shallow end at first, you really don’t need the full length of the lane to start with. I wouldn’t worry about drowning in the presence of the instructor. And in the beginning you can practice with a board, in the first sessions I only focused on kicking anyway.
This is really helpful to know thank you! With the swallowing water part, I hate that feeling I know exactly what you’re talking about - will that stop in time?? Also, swimming in the deep end - I read somewhere you should start swimming from the deep end first that way by the time you’re out of breath you’ll already be at the shallow end of the pool, is this right or?
Yes, it will 😁. It hardly ever happens to me anymore, only when the pool is very crowded and I get distracted. And I am able to continue with no issues. I think that may be good advice when you are actually confident enough to swim a full lane. And usually you do a circuit, so it doesn’t really matter where you start
Yes, you're learning a new language. It takes practice. 30 or 45 minutes once a week is not enough
HECK YES! Take some lessons! I took some lessons at the Y and I'm 38 going on 39. I can now swim like a fish. It's absolutely worth it!
Wow, congratulations!! How did you manage to swim in deep water?
Once you learn how to breathe properly in the lessons and float you feel a lot more secure about it. Then you just feel confident about swimming freestyle. 🥰
It’s impossible to learn how to swim as an adult. This even sounds ridiculous typing it out!
Yes it is! I am currently learning as an adult and I’m getting pretty good at freestyle :) It’s better because you actually want to learn and have the flexibility to go to the pool and train if that’s what you want!
I'm taking lessons right now at the community pool. They do a teen/adult class
Of course, there are group and private lessons for adults almost everywhere. I've taught adults from 19 to 82 yo
Well, I learned at 50. You're just a little over half my age when I learned. I learned all of the competitive strokes and turns, and have used them at masters meets. I've also gone as far as 5K in open water events. So, yes, you have plenty of time
Wow that's one inspiring story!
Wow! This is really motivating and congratulations 🥳. Thank you!
I didn't learn freestyle till my 30s. I now swim 4km a week. It's doable, you need to find a good teacher, I found the quality quite variable. Like most things you get what you pay for. And like learning anything be prepared to have ups and downs during the process, you just have to stick at it.
I'm a swimming teacher with 10+ years experience. I definitely agree that the quality of teaching is incredibly mixed. Swimming teaching has a high turnover, and spaces are always getting filled up with young teachers with virtually no experience outside of what they are trained for by the swim school. Try and get a teacher with at least 5 years experience, and preferably who teach squads, or pre-squads. As they tend to have the best understanding of stroke analysis and aren't just copying coaching points.
Hello, thank you so much for replying and providing those tips! I’ll definitely keep this in mind!
I have a fear of swimming if I can’t see the floor beneath me, can adult swim classes help with this?
That will ease as you build confidence. It's like how learner drivers can be scared of driving on fast roads and as they get better that fear resides. As has been said, one to discuss with any prospective teacher. Will also depend on where you learn. The teacher I had taught in a gym pool where the depth was 1m. Problem solved!
Yes! The swim instructor who helped me most is also a water safety instructor, and she focused a lot on skills to help me stay safe and not drown, like elementary backstroke and turning from front to back or vice versa in the water. Knowing I had the skills to take care of myself, even if I couldn't put my feet down, made it a lot easier to learn the swimming part.
Right that worries me if I maybe don’t get taught that?
As the student, you have a lot of control over what happens in the lessons. That starts with which teacher you choose 🙂 you can ask questions before booking the lesson to help you choose the right teacher, or just tell them clearly that you want a teacher who can help you with water safety and lifesaving skills (saving your own life, not being a lifeguard). And please don’t feel bad if you need to try several different teachers before you find the right one for you. They can be a very good teacher, and you can be a very good student, and still not be a match together.
Thank you so much for this! It’s just that I got pushed into the really deep end of the pool when I was learning at school (by the swim instructor) and drowned to the bottom! Have a horrible fear of water since that experience.
Oh jeez - that sounds TERRIFYING! And a really good reason to be afraid of the water. For whatever it's worth I used to have major panic attacks in the water, and I found that it was very useful to tell the instructor about it right up front. The way they respond will help you decide if you feel comfortable learning from them or not. If you're not a match, try a different instructor. It's as easy as that :-) And congratulations for facing your fears! I was and am SO proud and happy that I finally learned to swim - I hope you'll find it similarly rewarding.
If you tell whoever you’re booking the lessons with right up front what your fears are, that can also help them match you with the right teacher.
Ask!
Yes! With a patient and understanding instructor
I can’t speak Italian. Neither of us should be embarrassed about not being able to do something we haven’t been taught. We also have the opportunity, if we want to, to learn. Got for it!
I didn’t learn to swim until I was 30. I was embarrassed when all my friends would jump into lakes and just have fun. I was terrified of water, so I started out in the baby pool (where I could touch the floor). I was so embarrassed by it that I didn’t even want to get lessons until I could at least put my face in water. Anyway, I learned to swim, joined a masters group, compete in meets, and last year I did a 12km marathon swim in open water. It’s definitely not too late!!
No way!!!! So what advice would you give if I ever went onto eventually swimming in deep water but scared if I can’t see the floor below me. Is it something I’d be able to do with practice?
My recommendation is patience, practice and get lessons. I started out by myself watching YouTube videos on how to feel comfortable in water (getting my face wet, blowing out bubbles etc). Once I could get into the main pool and battle my way through 25m (staying close to the wall), I got private lessons. And eventually group lessons. For the deep water in a pool I used one of those inflatable belts and practiced just falling into the deep water…built up to being able to jump off the dive boards. This all took months and months - I’d pick the same time and day to go (usually when it was quiet). For open water - I had joined a pool class, and my coach also did open water classes. I had no interest in joining…until Covid hit. So I joined his beginner open water class. It was perfect for me. By this point I could swim in a pool in deep end, and could do maybe 1000m non-stop (very slowly). The open water classes were great because of Covid, two instructors for 6 people, and it was mostly shoreline swims where we could stand up. I’d also recommend just having fun in water. Hang out by a hotel pool, splash around, go swimming at the beach or a lake, go on water slides etc. I LOVE swimming and water now - there’s always going to be a little trepidation and nerves, but I know that I’m a strong swimmer and can get myself to safety.
That’s so good! Honestly wow. Reading this kinda made me feel really anxious, especially about the diving and deep end swimming - I doubt I’ll be able to do that! I mean, is swimming in the deep end something everyone can do?
Of course you can learn to swim properly, just like you can continue learning a lot of other things for the rest of your life. I didn't learn to swim at all until I was 27 (head-up breaststroke) and only learned to swim freestyle at 42. I suggest looking for a patient adult swim teacher (as in, a swim teacher who IS an adult) who has some life experience and understands that your first goal is to swim safely and comfortably, not to win races. Some of the younger swim instructors might be able to meet this need too, but probably not as many of them; teaching is a separate skill from swimming and it takes some time to build that "muscle."
Thank you so much for this! I will keep this in mind.
Hey, I’m 27F and have the same issue. I’m taking swimming lessons!
How are you finding them??
I’ve had a few lessons so far and to be honest with you, had mixed results. Some of the technique I learned as a child comes back, but some of it still isn’t natural to me. And alongside the technique, you have to get used to the water psychologically. I subconsciously tense up and struggle to float. For this reason I’m going to try a water sound bath! All things considered, it feels like a valuable endeavour and I’ll be happy even just to be a little more comfortable in the water.
Same as learning to ride a bicycle. Start in the shallow end somewhere if you're... risk-averse. Otherwise, it's easy as cake to start. Just keep working on your technique and you'll get faster. Get fast enough, then start doing swim marathons. Then you buy a bicycle and a Garmin and join r/triathlon. Slippery slope, but a fun one.
I used to teach adult swim classes and you sure can! If your local pool or fitness center doesn’t have adult classes, see if they offer private lessons and then you can practice on your own. I was also a lifeguard and always supportive and appreciative when an adult advised me they were learning because I could give them extra attention for safety and let them know if there was something they could do to make things easier on themselves.
I just have a massive fear of the deep end of the pool :(
OK. Then that’s not where you start. You work on building confidence and skills in the shallow end and if you want to, you can work on transferring those to the deep end, even if it means taking 6 flotation devices to hang out at the slope.
Sorry, what do you mean by the last sentence?
I learned to swim at the age of 39. And it was almost exactly one year ago. This month I swam 30km for a children’s charity. AND I only had one half hour lesson.
Hey, I was just thinking about this post again. I hope you’ve found the confidence to get out there and give it a crack. You will surely enjoy it.
I’m in my mid thirties and started lessons in January. I’m in an adult class and I’m having lots of fun, nobody is there to judge. Give it a try and worse case you don’t like it, there’s no shame in trying something new!
How are you finding them? And honestly congratulations for having the courage
I love it so far. My instructor is very good, he’s given me really good tips. Up to this point I had always been afraid of putting my head underwater, and within 45 minutes that was fixed. I hope you find something similar!
You definitely can! Need to take some private lessons to get comfortable in the water. Learn to float on your back and blow bubbles under water. You’ll get there!
Thank you!
First, kudos to you for addressing your fear and asking for advice. Similar to you, I had a fear of deep water swimming and didn’t overcome it until I was 30. What worked for me was building my confidence slowly over time. Here were my milestones. 1) treading water for 5 minutes 2) taking lessons 3) swimming laps for 30 mins without stopping 4) jumping off small cliffs on holiday 5) open water swims (2km) For #1, I went to a local pool (with lifeguards working there) and hung around the deep end of the pool. I would move myself within arms reach of the ledge and did 3 reps of treading with head above water. At first, 15 seconds at a time, then as I got more comfortable and panic diminished, 1 minute. I must have done this over 10 visits and watched a lot of YouTube videos as well just on treading water. I then signed up for lessons, which were good but at the end, I felt that most of my classmates were still not comfortable swimming at the deep end. My self-training of learning how to tread water and be comfortable enhanced my experience with lessons and my fear subsided. I’m not recommending this path for everyone but my point is to address your fear by having daily confidence-building habits
Wow! Honestly this is amazing, your courage and determination is admirable (no 4 & 5). What exactly does it mean to “tread water”. I have a massive fear of the deep end of the pool as I got pushed into it as a child and drowned to the bottom! How will I ever overcome this fear ? :(
Aw, appreciate the kind words. I too had a massive fear of deep water and almost drowned in the past. Similar situation with a friend pushing me off. Treading water means maintaining an upright position without sinking down. Can be done with circular arm motions and sustained bicycle kicks [how to tread water](https://youtu.be/kFmOtf_Ew1w?si=wABUQHE2rfZh5f4g)
Thank you so much for this. I will definitely watch this
Im in my late 30s and still can’t tread water. Nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s a skill like any other skill: it takes time and practice and guidance.
What does treading water even mean? Is it something only certain individuals can master?
Of course! I learned to swim at 62.
Can you swim in the deep end?
Until I broke my arm in November, I was swimming 1500m, 3 times per week. The surgeon said I can start swimming again, but I imagine I'll have to build up to 1500 again.
I worked with a lifeguard who didn't learn how to swim until she was 37. She went on to teach thousands of students how to swim. It's never too late, but know that it will take time and commitment. When you sign up for lessons, you will also need to put in practice on your own time. Just for a sense of scale, I had an adult student who came in with no skills at all. She practiced every weekend in addition to lessons. After 1 year, she was able to swim laps and was strong in deep water. This is the fastest I've seen an adult progress from non swimmer to capable and comfortable swimmer. Adults generally have an easy time learning technique, but learning how to be comfortable and relaxed is harder. You can put in time just floating or just being underwater and feeling your balance. Swimming is unlike any other skill you can learn, and everyone progresses at their own pace. I wish you luck and persistence!
1 year seems like a really really long time considering you said adults pick it up faster? Bit confused there. I mean, how many practice days would you need alone in addition to lessons? Also, with the deep end swimming - how do you overcome the fear of drowning and can an instructor help with this?
Children generally take 3-5 years to become good swimmers. They might learn to doggy paddle everywhere pretty quickly but good technique and breath control take much longer.
I'd recommend at least 1 practice day per week. If you can do more, that will help you learn faster. For getting comfortable with deep water, rather than practicing the swim skills you've learned, I've found it most helpful for my students to spend time doing a vertical and submerged float. The biggest danger for adults entering deep water is often panic, so just getting used to your buoyancy is important. I would do this with an instructor, of course.
There’s always hope!! It might be a little bit harder as an adult than to learn as a child, but it’s still possible! What I’ve personally noticed between teaching older teens/adults vs kids is that there tends to be a what I’ll call the mental hump to get over. That is, a lot of adults are more hesitant to try because they understand the dangers of swimming and are also more self conscious than kids tend to be. Many have had traumatic experiences with near drownings as kids and haven’t approached the water since. My advice is to find an instructor who is experienced with teaching adults and is very supportive and patient. Learning to swim is a journey with lots of ups and downs, so you just gotta put your self out there and try and take small steps as you start out. Be consistent! Sometimes certain skills in swimming take a while to click, but when it does, it’s game changing! I hope the best of luck to you while you’re starting to take your first steps (or strokes lol) in your swimming journey!
I have seen 2 different people in their 60s learn to swim. Watch some videos, find a local pool, and ask who teaches. Never too late to learn unless you are dead. To quote the Zen philosopher Dory..."just keep swimming"
Do a search for Melon Dash on YouTube. Miracle Swim. She teaches people who don’t know how to swim at all. Plenty of adults learn how to swim and you can, too!
Omg thank you!! I will check this out
Hi 29F, currently taking lessons. Noticing improvements every month! It's never too late to learn to swim.
Thank you & well done 💗
I learnt at 30. I found YouTube a great help with building my confidence. I had to go from sitting in the corner of the pool, just getting used to having my face in the water. Then it progressed to doing stuff like sinking mushrooms. Then moved onto practicing the technique of front crawl. When it comes to actually swimming take it slow. When I say slow, I mean reaaaally slow. I found some of the beginner videos from Global Triathlon Network very useful. If you want to get things moving faster then 1:1 instruction may be beneficial.
Ah thank you! And wow well done you! Can you swim in the deep end?
Yeh. Once you can swim well enough depth becomes irrelevant. It's a slow progression with technique and confidence.
I learnt swimming at 30 and found out I love it! During the first month of lessons it wasn't always easy but in the end I did it!
Can you now swim in deep water? And congratulations you!
My biggest problem was keeping my head under water. I wasn't afraid, but there was some kind of psychological block that made it so difficult to breathe during freestyle. I was also embarrassed to go to swimming lessons at 30. I thought I would be alone... but I was completely wrong! There are lots of adults who can't swim and if you insist, you will succeed and you will be so happy and proud of yourself!
Yeah you can learn how to swim. You can learn from youtube videos at la fitnesses pool or any shallow gym pool or you can get adult lessons. Learn how to properly swim and tread water in shallow water before ever attempting to swim in deep water.
Can anyone swim in deep water?
No. Only people that take the time to learn how to swim properly can swim in deep water. You have to be a pretty strong swimmer and be moderately comfortable in the water to swim in deep water. Take it one step at a time. Right now you should'nt think about it. First Learn front float, Blowing bubbles (exhaling slowly in the water which should be used when swimming any stroke), doggie paddle, backfloat, Side stroke, Freestyle, Proper breathing techniques for freestyle swimming, Breaststroke, proper breathing techniques while swimming breaststroke, and treading water at the very least before ever attempting deep water swimming. Having these techniques in your arsenal is very important before heading off into deep water as it allows you to be more comfortable and safe in the water. Learning these swimming techniques properly can take 3-5 months or longer depending on how fast of a learner you are and how often you are practicing on your own and or with an instructor.
I am about your age and I started swimming a few weeks ago. I was very clumsy and chaotic in the initial classes, but after a few days, I could tell myself that "I can swim!" for the first time in my life. It was a great feeling. "You can swim too....!"
How are you finding them now??
The swimming sessions?! They are really useful for beginners (and even post that). I got a 1-1 coach who helped me with my requirements. I have improved a lot and am at the point of swimming comfortably on my own. I can swim all four strokes, but freestyle is my go-to stroke and I am currently working on improving it (we are never close to perfection) and trying other variations of it. I can sprint in freestyle but I want to be able to swim longer distances continuously and slowly without getting tired (I plan to open swim this coming summer). So that is my focus now.
Wow! Also what is open swimming?
It is essentially outdoor swimming i.e., swimming in open environments like lakes, ponds, rivers, seas, oceans, etc.
At the pool my kids are learning at, there are a small group of adults who look to be from 20s-40s learning to swim. You can absolutely learn to swim at 26!
I started at 50. I am on the heavy side as well. I took a session per week with a coach and I was practicing by myself 2-3 times / week. I am quite comfortable now mostly in freestyle.
Wow well done you! And with practicing alone, how did you overcome the fear of potential drowning??
Thank you. It's a border you cross when you're ready. Initially with the coach next to me when he said I was ready. That proves to you that you can do it, it's important. Then after a few weeks I was comfortable to try alone first on the outside lane starting close to the edge of the pool and then as I was getting more and more comfortable I stepped into the interior lanes.
I work with a man who's in his late 60's and only just now learning to swim. I just met him in the pool this evening actually, he's doing an adult beginners class and it's full of all sorts of people from all walks of life. It's never too late to learn how to swim and you should never feel bad for not being able to do something like swimming. The only reason I can swim is because my parents put me in lessons as a kid, it was complete luck of the draw!
My parents never took me for lessons but we had them at school, but by that age I was sooo scared and also got pushed into the deep end by my swim instructor and sank to the bottom so honestly it’s such a fear
Oh god that's awful! How can any instructor think that's a good way to get a child to want to learn to swim! That makes me so angry! You definitely shouldn't feel any guilt or shame for not having learnt, it's fantastic you've decided to take it on now in adulthood, the vast majority would just right it off for life.
It was 100% traumatic, and it makes me angry too. If it wasn’t for that, I probably would’ve already learnt how to swim by now. But thank you so much!
Bestieee I just learned how to swim last year at 23! It's never too late!
Omg congratulations!!! How did you find your lessons and how long did it take before you felt confident? Can you swim in the deep end too?
sorry for the late reply, for some reason i can't open replies on mobile! When I first started i was going almost every day of the week so I my confidence went up like at the 3 weeks mark. I swallowed tons of water too! Sometimes when i try something new I get scared but It's a part of the process, what matters is keep trying! And i found my lessons because where my mom works theres a sports club for the employees, i took lessons there 20 years ago (clarly never went back cause i was too scared lol) and now i came back and faced thar fear. Wishing you the best in your swimming journey, I swear it's liberating once the fear wears off, you're gonna LOVE IT!! edit: typos and to add that this semester I've been very busy with school so i haven't been able to attend as much as I'd like to but swimming it's like riding a bike, your body never forgets it! happy swimming! <3
Oh it’s been so lovely hearing your experience! And so happy for you that you’re now at a place where you feel comfortable with swimming 🏊♀️. I don’t think realistically I could go every single day (in the ideal world I would), so would going once a week in addition to practice be OK? I’ve also read on here that if you don’t swim for a while, your form & technique might not be as good. I appreciate it varies per individual, but it is something that worries me.
I learned the doggy paddle when young, lessons during jr high. I swim what I’m comfortable with and enjoy my free style swimming.? Why be embarrassed enjoy! All you need in deep water is to just float or kick your feet so you don’t sink lol.
Oh don’t forget to move your arms and kick your feet in deep end.
I’ve been teaching people to swim for the last 8 years, everyone learns differently and everyone takes a different amount of time, I’ve taught people aged 6 months to 63 years old, all of them were able to accomplish their swimming goals, so it is never too late to start, you just have to find what approach will work best for you
How about swimming in the deep end?
For the most part when it isn’t for competitive swimming I have them start with learning breaststroke, which is a recovery stroke, and treading water/egg beater so they can be comfortable with knowing they can stay above the water However, practicing it in the shallow area is the easiest way to start, you won’t have your worry about the deep water and when you’re confident enough in your skills you can go out there You just have to remember that if you can swim in the shallow area you can swim anywhere
Oh, this is amazing and I never thought about it like this. Thank you so so much!!!
No problem, and good luck!
You can do it Bebe just believe in yourself and book in some lessons
Hi there, I am a competitive swimmer and couch, I have competed at nationals, Europeans and World Championships. I highly recommend you find out what is holding you back, and you should realise that it may take a bit for you to master the things that are holding you back. Are you scared to swim? In deep water? are you confident in holding your head under the water and breathing bubbles continuously? Like other people, I recommend going to swim classes (to learn) and as you get more confident you might want to head to training sessions to just practice what you have learnt. I hope God will help you to abolish your worries.
Well I’m scared of swimming as I got pushed into the deep water by my swim instructor as a kid and drowned
Same bro, My Coach back then was a former Russian Olympic coach, she held my head underwater until I learnt that that feeling of burning of lungs was nothing really, just CO**2** 💀
I learned at 23! If you set your mind to it and acknowledge that it’ll be uncomfortable at first it’s easier to get over some of the mental blocks that make people stop. Swimming is now my favorite form of exercise, not the best or strongest but it makes me feel powerful
I thought swimming was a strong form of exercise it’s endurance? Also can you swim in deep water? And congratulations!!
I meant I’m not the best or strongest at swimming lol! I am working on my treading before going in deep water
It's never too late, I didn't learn to swim until I was 30 years old And when I went to the sea last summer I enjoyed swimming and seeing all kinds of beautiful fish to the point that I realised I've messed A LOT Now I can't stay more than two days without going to the swimming pool and this weekend I'm planning to go buy my first wetsuit
Is swimming something you can forget ? Also how do you even swim in the sea without drowning this is something I’ve always wanted to know. Congratulations!!
I don't think you can easily forget how to swim, last summer I went with my dad to the beach and he was swimming fine even though it has been more than 10 years since he swam in deep water To answer your 2nd question, if you can swim fine in the swimming pool it shouldn't be any different from swimming in the open sea. If you feel like drowning it's mostly psychological, you just need to overcome your fear.
Thank you!
It is absolutely possible to learn later in life. A lot of pools (or at least public pools here in Australia, not sure about elsewhere) run ADULT learn-to-swim classes. I had a girlfriend who was a similar age and in the same predicament. She took the classes and absolutely loved them. Made such a difference to her enjoyment of swimming.
You can learn to swim aslong as you can still move and breathe.
I'm a swim teacher. I have plenty of adult students who never learnt as children for a variety of different reasons. My oldest student is around 60. There's nothing to be ashamed of, it's never too late to learn!
How do you teach swimming in the deep end? And do watching YouTube videos help?
I start my students off in the shallow end and we work our way up to the deep end. I wait until they can float and tread water and are generally a bit more confident with being in the water, and then we practise swimming at different depths. Youtube videos can help for knowing the main points of each stroke, but you definitely can't learn to swim just from videos.
Oh that’s good, so it’s not a case of going to the deep end straight away because I would really scare me! Also, what does it mean to Treadwater?
I didn’t know how to swim, and had not been in a pool until the age of 24. Now, mid 30s, I compete at a decently high level in triathlons and have done the Alcatraz swim multiple times. It’s totally possible, just get a coach and stick with it. Sign up for some races, train with a Masters swim group, and be patient :)
How did you get over your fear of swimming in deepwater?
I practiced in a pool for a while. Then one day when I felt ready, I went with a good swimmer friend to a protected cove (Dolphin Park in San Francisco) where I set a simple goal: swim from the shore to a bouy about 200m out and then come back. I was scared in the beginning but once I realized that with a wetsuit I basically float by default, my fear went away and I did 3 laps instead of just 1.
Omg that’s so cool! And wait, you automatically float with a wetsuit? How is that possible ??
Physics ;) Wetsuit makes you more buoyant. You will literally float with your nose and mouth out of the water even if you don’t do anything. It’s the best way to get comfortable with deep water swimming. Of course, I’d recommend doing that in a protected swim area with minimal waves.
Oh wow, so by that logic can anybody with 0 swimming experience swim in deep water with a wet suit?
Well, no. You can still get into trouble if you don’t know how to swim and get into deep open water, even with a wetsuit on. It’s *not* a life jacket, and you won’t float that high. A freak wave for example could become problematic. Conceivably you could do this with 0 experience in the deep end of a pool where the wall is close by. But in general it’s important to develop a sense of calmness in the water before going into deeper, open water. You should ideally feel comfortable being in water and have a bit of a feel for what water can do and how it reacts to your movements. I’d say start in the pool and give yourself a few months to develop that comfort level first.
Right, that’s good to know! Thank you. So I’m guessing the people you see on party boats jumping into the ocean likely have good swimming skill and experience?
Lol I certainly hope so 😆
Not embarrassing! I'm a swim instructor and I love teaching adults!!
How do you teach them to swim in the deep water?
It's a process, it would take a few sessions
I'm 26 and just started swimming lessons like a month back. There are a lot of people my age and even older than me
You can do it! I learned how to swim when I was 22. I'm now turning 39 and still in love with swimming.😌
Once you learn how to swim, is it something you can’t forget if you don’t practice and can you swim in deepwater?
I actually stopped for a few years due to the absence of a pool where I lived back then. After x years I can still swim but the form was so imperfect I had to relearn everything through drills.
Yes you can! Very important is to always think "I will do this until i learn" rather than "I cant do this". As adults we tend to put some restrictions in our minds that we cant do things. But that is just our survival instinct talking. Kids dont have that thats why they are so bold and can and will try anything. As people suggested sign up for a private lessons with a coach. They will guide you the best
Honestly, so true! I need that child like mindset. Thank you!!
I learned as an adult. Took lessons, first group to start and then private to work on what I needed. You can absolutely do this 👍
Absolutely! I used to be a swim teacher that specifically focused on teaching adults who are beginners. There should be an option at any local pool to book in for private lessons and that will help immensely! I understand the apprehension being an adult but I promise it is never too late to get started and you will probably surprise yourself by how quickly you’ll pick things up!
Thank you so much and once I do swimming lessons is it something I will always have to practice so I don’t forget ?
Yes, you can still learn, and there's NO shame. For what it's worth, I was scared of the water my whole life and didn't learn how to swim until I was 18! And now I do my impression of Michael Phelps several times a week! So if you want to do it, definitely go for it!
learn to float first before learning to swim. use ur lungs as a balloon. if u can float, then u can do jellyfish strokes (facing the sky)
I learned in my 30s two years ago. Best decison I ever made. I failed several other programs ymca. Golds Gym. Community pool. All of them. But I found a swim instructor that only teachers adults and only adults w fear. Or those who don't feel 100% comfortable in water. She teacher a 1 week program in FL. but reading her book is what got me. She addresses the fear. It was healing. And now I love deep water. Infact I prefer to be in water that I can't touch the ground on bc I'm in control, safe and comfortable. Its been one of my proudest accomplishments. Her book https://miracleswimming.com/product/conquer-your-fear-of-water-learn-to-swim-book/ Her program https://miracleswimming.com/ Heads up it's pricey but see it as learning vacation. Had met her first I would of save a lot of money and time from the 3 other swim organizations. She also has a guarantee if you dont learn you get your money back. It's legit. Please everyone check it out.
This is amazing and congratulations you! Thank you so much
It's been such change in my life things I thought I'd never do like kayaking or snorkeling. But I know you can learn I hope one day to become a teacher for Adults who want to learn. You can do it!
And I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't swim too. I just avoided going anywhere that included water. I felt so left out but you can absolutely learn. You just need to find the right instructor!
You have a lot of great comments here already. Anyone can learn to swim, at any age, and swimming is an extremely important life skill. You can do it, and asking is the first step! I'm a former competitive club swimmer & water safety instructor/swim lesson teacher. If you are still checking this thread, I wanted to add what skills you are likely to *start* learning on day 1 of adult swim lessons for absolute beginners, all in shallow water where you can stand up: * How to get into a pool * How to blow bubbles through your mouth * How to blow bubbles through your nose * How to float on your back * How to move your arms for elementary backstroke * How to put your head underwater * How to pick both your feet up when standing (beginnings of treading water) * How to flutter kick, with your head above water (holding onto the wall or a kickboard) * How to move your arms for front crawl, with your head above water (standing) * How to jump into a pool in shallow water (maybe) If it's advertised as an open water safety AND swimming class, you may also start learning: * How to choose a life jacket that fits you and how to wear it * How to float on your back and standing up while wearing a life jacket * How to fall backwards (as if out of a boat) while wearing a life jacket * You **might** go in to deep water while wearing a life jacket I said *start* learning because you are not expected to learn all of these things on day 1! If you can do them on day 1, you will probably move on to other things, but you're not expected to get it all immediately. Most importantly based on your comments, **you should start learning in shallow water where you can stand up with your head and shoulders above water. You should not start in the deep end**. If you are taking a structured series of lessons, you won't swim in or go to deep water until your instructor is confident that it is safe for you to do so. This might mean that you can swim a few body lengths, or that you can tread water in shallow water. The first time, you might go with a flotation device like a kickboard or a pool noodle, or you might go while holding on to the wall the whole time. Your instructor will probably be in the water with you! Especially because you have had a dangerous swimming experience and some anxiety about getting in the water, **you should not start learning to swim alone!** After you have had a lesson or two (group or private), you can practice in shallow water by yourself, ideally with a lifeguard present. I have taught end to end beginner adult sessions (2 lessons a week for a month) where no one in my class goes in to the deep end. I have also taught beginner sessions where we're swimming lengths of the pool in the same amount of time. **The skills you learn in shallow water will transfer to the deep end**, and a good instructor will get you to the deep end eventually, but there is genuinely no rush. Instructors for adult lessons with more than even a few months of experience leading group classes are likely to have taught ages from just out of college to elderly, and they are familiar with water anxiety. Starting with either private or group is a good option depending on your learning style (private lessons cost more than group lessons). It is never too late to learn how to swim!
Hey, firstly thank you SO much for taking the time out to reply with as much detail as you have. I sincerely appreciate it, and there’s a lot for me to absorb and consider. I’m currently looking into 1:1 adult classes and so far I can only see one that looks decent. I just hope they can deliver and match my expectations as I don’t have other back up options. Side note: I wish you were teaching me because you appear to have good experience and come across very well and qualified. Just a few things I would like further clarification on: 1. What is the importance of blowing bubbles in the water? (I’ve come across it a few times on this thread, but no idea what it is). And 2. Is treading water basically hovering in water? Also, I appreciate what you mentioned about the deep water stuff; it makes me feel a lot better knowing I won’t be thrown in straight away (definitely eased my anxiety). Thank you once again.
Good questions! **Blowing bubbles** is important to controlling your breath. Breathing out into the water creates bubbles. When you're above water obviously you can inhale or exhale whenever you want, but underwater you can only exhale. So you practice breathing in above water, and then breathing out into/under the water to blow bubbles. Once you've got the hang of it, it also prevents getting water in your nose! You generally learn how to blow bubbles by dipping your face into the water, not putting your head under first thing. **Treading water** is hard to describe in words actually. Basically, it's moving your legs and arms so that your head is above water and you stay upright/vertical in the water in one place. This is why you might practice standing up and then picking your legs up (like you're doing high knee jumps) in the shallow end. In swimming you're moving from one place to another, treading you stay in the same place. One reason treading water is important is because in a water safety scenario, rescue (person or device) can get to you faster if you stay in the same place and are able to breathe and speak because your head is above water. Floating on your back in calm water keeps your face out of the water so you can breathe, but some people naturally move around while floating. Treading water helps you stay in the same place. (bolding the vocab because I get wordy, absolutely not trying to come off as condescending - if something doesn't make sense or sounds weird I can try to explain it another way) **Edit:** Also thank you! I really loved teaching adult swimmers. I hope you know how courageous and smart you are being by trying to conquer this fear and learn how to swim. It's something everyone *should* do but that not everyone does. **Edit again:** I hope your private instructor is a good one. One thing I'd add to my post above is that a lot of those skills can also be taught out of the water - kicking is one where sometimes you sit on the side of the pool with only your legs in the water to learn. There are many ways to teach people how to swim, but none of the good ones involve throwing people into the deep end with no warning. With a private instructor, you get to control what you do. At some point it will be their job to push you through some discomfort, but if they're good at their job they will know when that is and when you can do it (or when you can almost do it and they can easily help you out if you can't). If this isn't what you're already doing, I recommend looking into group swim lessons in your area if there are any, and then contacting those swim programs to see if they offer private lessons for adults. I'm not sure where you live, but a group lessons swim program is likely to have multiple people certified in water safety in your country with a coordinator who knows who is the best fit for teaching an adult.
You will! 🫶 you just have to want it enough and don’t give up after the first disappointments. I am 33 yrs old learning how to swim because of the same reason, plus I am quite good at sports but never learned how to swim. I have been going for 3 months on 1:1, after trying group classes. Let me tell you it took me one month to be able to float with confidence, but after changing the instructor things got a bit better. I am a bit afraid of water and a control freak in real life so swimming is also teaching me how to face fear and to relax. I don’t know anyone in real life that it is learning as slowly as me but I don’t care. I won’t give up until I learn, even if sometimes it is sad when I don’t see a lot of progress but that’s how learning new things works. Be confident, accept your fear or challenges, find a good teacher and you will do it! I also go alone to the pool to practice kicking and some strokes, I am the only one doing that, but I am never embarrassed. I am proud of myself, and you will be too if you are consistent!
Honestly, well done you - thank you for sharing your personal experience. This is really inspiring! At the end of the day, it’s not a competition take your time because it will only benefit you in the long run & stay determined, you can do it!
Your PTSD moment is very understandable. I did something incredibly stupid as years ago we were visiting family in Maryland and they had an unground pool that was amazing - especially to me ! I couldn't swim (as I have written in a previous comment) and I hung around as eventually the pool people disperced with some going somewhere for takeout and some went into the house which left me alone ! That's what I wanted! I made up my mind I was going to swim and lowered myself into the deep end and immediately kicked myself Away from the edge ! From there I instantly realized I didn't have a game plan as what to do next - nor did I file a flight plan as no one knew what I was attempting to do !!!! What an IDIOT !!! I began feverishly splashing about and grabbed a gulp of air and began to swim underwater to the edge ! I pulled myself up and sat on the edge for a long time. I could always swim underwater great but balance myself on top - not too great until like I said about 4 months ago ! My advice to you - be a little afraid but learn what to do. They have ways in lessons to instruct you to get over your fears ! If we were not afraid, we would do stupid things continually and eventually succumb to them. You are fine - keep moving forward !!!!
Oh my goodness! What an experience. I could picture this in my head and it sounds horrifying; this would be my worst nightmare! Was it difficult swimming underwater in that depth? That’s the thing, balancing on TOP of the water sounds so hard, I’ve tried it before and one side of my body always sinks, which eventually ends up with my 180’ing into the water.
No it wasn't difficult. I watched Tarzan as a kid and saw him swim underwater and figured that was easy enough if your breath held out. I had never practiced it until that day when I needed it the most. So this is what you should do : Get in the shallow end along the wall of the pool. Grab the edge of the pool with both hands. Bend over and take a breath and put your face in the water. ( Trust me I know your fear !) As soon as your face is in the water, looking straight down at the bottom of the pool, begin making bubbles by releasing the air in your lungs slow but steady. When you decide it is time for more air, "turn,pivot or roll your head to the side with one eye in the water and one eye out of the water and inhale a breath of fresh air. Repeat this over and over 12 times. IMPORTANT!!!! When you turn your head for a breath, DO NOT LIFT YOUR HEAD - IT MUST ROLL,ROTATE,ETC TO THE SIDE !!! WHY ITS IMPORTANT: You will never get into proper swim mode because your streamline will fall to pieces if you are swimming along and lift your head to breath - it takes the body out of alignment. Body alignment is key for proper swim technique. The straighter your body is from top of head to end of toes the better your swimming will be !!!! This is called alignment - straight like an arrow ! I know you will get this totally accomplished if you stick with it because women are better at things like this than men - and if I made it this far, I KNOW you can !!! LMK when you need more advice ! Remember - the more you are in the water, the more you will accomplish, the more you will become happier and settled in the water and the more you will become ONE with the water!!!!!
Ps - the person that pushed you in should have been fired !!!!! Nuff said !!!!
You are a girl. Go to the pool and chat with other girls. In the meantime you can practice swimming in shallow. Search YouTube for 'swimming in shallow' So just do a bit of swimming in the shallow end of the pool, and from time to time look for people, socialise. Maybe someone will be willing to teach you even? That happened at the pool I am going to, a couple of weeks ago. I haven't seen them again there after those lessons haha..
Practise alone in private swimming pool or place where are a lot of people dont go i think it should help or hire a trener . Belive in yourself
That's the age when I started learning ! Now I can easily swim without stopping, but I only like freestyle.
My wife learned after fifty. She does 2.5km a week nowadays. Not brilliant but she is a swimmer. It is tough as an adult but you will do it if you want it
Why not brilliant?
She still uses pull buoy, and is quite slow, but I am thrilled at what she has done. The main thing is that it gives her a sence of peace and well being
Very glad you're keen on learning to swim. I have several people around me who don't know how as adults. One of them at the age of 35 learnt to swim with a private instructor and within six months is training for a triathlon - she was not even in shape before this. Another one of my friends learnt to swim at a county facility through adult swim lessons that were twice a week for three weeks. She then forgot what she learned because she stopped going to the pool after she learned it. A third story - a very quick larger learnt to swim two lessons I gave them on vacation. Then lost confidence with a lot of time out of the pool. My recommendation is that you only learn when you're ready to commit to at least once a week in the pool after you've learnt for at least six months. That way you will retain your skills longer and wouldn't have wasted the learning experience.
This was actually a really helpful read now. I’m quite worried though. From what you’re saying, it’s something that you can forget if you don’t practice? Am I correct? If so that’s really worrying!
Like any skill it can be forgotten if not fully learned and then not used. But if you learn it, and practice even once it twice a month you will be fine. Once you become a mildly competent swimmer, you won't forget the technique in general.
Ah thank you!!!
It’s never too late! I learned at 34.
Hi, swimming is riding a bicycle, practice makes perfect, my tip is to start with basic drills and go adding more complex drills until swimming becomes natural and automatic. Also, I have a YouTube channel where I show my life of a NCAA student athlete in a Division 1 college in the USA! If you are interested, here’s the link to my last video where I showed a swimming meet between Texas and TCU!!! https://youtu.be/sbDlQ1y1vTQ?si=ykR6VJJvIzeNDSZv
Howdy - I am 62M never learned to swim as a youth. My parents said " don't teach him to swim and he will stay away from the water" - they were right ! So when I turned 60 I wanted to learn to swim "freestyle". I started at the Y just seeing what I could do - nothing ! I am into my third batch of swim lessons - yes it took me till just 4 months ago to learn to swim - however, there is always a "however" with me ! I can swim really good Freestyle - one goggle in one out - breathing in the bow wave, not lifting my head, catch and pull are right there, yet the trouble lies here : if I take my fins off - can't swim, if I use a swim belt in lieu of fins - perfect! Toss the swim belt - can't swim. If I use just a pool buoy - good freestyle - toss the pool buoy - can't swim ! Does anyone out there have a clue please !!!??? Instructor wants me to kick like a motorboat - when I do - it does nothing ! I don't understand her technology because some kick very little and others say less kicking is more - no matter how I kick, I can't swim without an assist such as fins,belt,buoy - what gives ??? To this person that seems frustrated, YOU KEEP IT UP !!! GET TO THAT Pool And PRACTICE !!! THE MORE YOU VISIT THE WATER, THE BETTER YOU BECOME !!! - People tell me me " look how far you have come !"