5 Great Tips To Learning How To Swim As An Adult

 

Did you know that most adults living in America can perform the five core swimming skills?

 

Unfortunately, statistics show that many other adults living in the US actually don’t know how to swim at all. With that said, what does it take in learning how to swim as an adult?

 

1. Accept Your Fear Of Swimming

 

When learning how to swim as an adult, there is a good chance you’ve built up a fear of swimming over the years. The good news is that it is not too late to learn how to swim, even as an adult.

 

You may be scared because of a traumatic experience as a child or perhaps you have an irrational fear of drowning. Whatever the reason, just accept that this fear exists, and you have to accept it.

 

Once you accept your fear of swimming, and understand that it’s something you can overcome with time and practice, you’ll be less likely to quit.

 

2. Use The Proper Equipment

 

When learning how to swim as an adult, it’s important that you have the right equipment available to learn to swim. Goggles are one the most important pieces of equipment you will need.

 

Goggles will allow you to become comfortable putting your face in the water which is important to truly learn how to swim well.

 

Pool noodles, kick boards and other flotation devices can also come in handy during your swimming lessons. 

 

Our private mobile swim instructors usually come prepared with these tools for you to use.

 

 

3. Putting Your Face In The

 Water

 

This can be the most difficult step in learning how to swim, but it is a necessary step. You have to put your face in the water.

 

Swimming with your face out of the water will make it much more difficult for you to swim efficiently.

 

The sooner you get more comfortable with your face being in the water, the easier and faster it will be to move forward with your swim lessons. Although it can be frightening at first, it is well worth it.

 

If submersion is uncomfortable for you, try the steps below which will explain how breath control works:

 

• Dip your chin into the water and leave it there while you breathe in through your mouth and out through mouth and nose. Observe how your breath ruffles the surface. Continue for 30 seconds or more until this feels almost meditative.

 

• Next, lightly touch your nose and lips to the surface and practice inhaling through the small space at the corners of your mouth. In the mirror, notice the “blotting” created where your nose and lips touch the water. Play at this with a spirit of curiosity for about a minute or until you feel almost “bored” with it.

 

• With goggles on, lower your face into the water, keeping your mouth open but without exhaling (see right). Notice how natural air pressure keeps water from entering your nostrils or mouth.

 

• As you lift your face, notice how you can inhale easily, even with water dripping around your mouth and nose. In this and subsequent exercises, try to inhale with the tip of your nose still touching the water.

 

• Repeat as above, but this time bubble gently from your nose. Watch in the mirror, trying to keep your bubbles small and quiet. The smaller and quieter they are, the longer you’ll be able to sustain one exhale, before lifting to inhale again. Repeat this but bubbling only from your mouth.

 

• When you can do each of the above in a calm and contained manner, advance to “rhythmic breathing.” Lower your face and bubble out for a count of four or five-one-thousand. Lift and inhale for a count of one-one-thousand.

 

• Lower and repeat. For an interesting challenge, alternate between mouth bubbles on one exhale and nose bubbles on the next. Your goal is to inhale with the tip of your nose—and perhaps even your nostrils—still in the water and your mouth barely clearing it. Repeat until you develop a relaxed and seamless rhythm.

 

4. Sign-up For Swimming Lessons

 

You may have tried many different techniques yourself in your own pool at a public pool in your area but are still having difficulty grasping the techniques. 

 

Have you thought about signing up for private swimming lessons?

 

With professional help by your side instructing you, you can cut the learning curve in half and learn alot faster with a swimming instructor guiding you through the different techniques and ways of doing things. 

 

No need to feel embarrassed, like stated before, you will be shocked by the amount of adults who do not know how to swim. Learning to swim is too important of a skill to not know.

 

 

 

 

5. Practice Makes Perfect!

 

Without practicing how to swim, you will not be able to learn in a quick manner and enjoy activities that involve water. Like any other skill, you must practice as frequently as you can.

 

If you decide to take private swimming lessons, we suggest taking lessons a minimum of 2 times per week. This way you will retain more knowledge that you learned during your lessons.