If you've made it to adulthood without learning to swim,
don't think it's too late to overcome your fear of water. Thousands
of adults learn to swim each year in the UK. Take inspiration from
real-life stories of people who were in your shoes not so long
ago. Choose weekly lessons or an intensive course; there are
women-only classes and even Learn to Swim holidays!
If you can swim a bit but have no real technique, perhaps you
find it awkward or even downright exhausting. Some lessons on the
basics - floating, strokes, breathing - will help you enjoy your
time in the pool so much more. At the very least swimming can
become your injury-free fitness routine. And if your form
continues to improve you might even discover a side of you
that wants to compete!
Ten weeks ago I was terrified of water over five feet deep.
I was convinced that I was a 'hopeless case'. While I am by no
means completely at ease in ten feet of water, after only ten weeks
of adult swimming lessons I feel that I will definitely master the
skill of swimming and I will actually enjoy water activities.
- Eugenia
Learning to swim is a very personal accomplishment for me.
For forty years I was the kid (and then adult) who missed out on
all kinds of water activities because I didn't know how to swim.
Being the 'odd one out' isn't any fun and I carried that label with
me for an excruciatingly long time. It's not that I never had
lessons, because my parents enrolled me when I was 7 or 8 years
old. But, for reasons still unknown, I wasn't comfortable in the
water and the lessons just didn't take. Finally, in May 2010, I
booked a holiday and decided that I wanted to learn to swim and
enjoy the sea. It wasn't easy but I found a good instructor and
stuck at it. Today I can swim all four strokes and I swim 4-5 times
per week.
- Mandy
Not knowing how to swim was a personal embarrassment for me
for many years. When I turned 40 I decided that I had had
enough of not being able to swim and wanted to enjoy the beaches
and pools where I live with my kids. I swallowed my pride and
signed up to a local Adult swimming lesson. As I walked into the
pool for the first lesson my anxiety was very high, however after
the lesson I walked out with a big smile on my face, as I was
finally confronting this issue. I am now able to swim and enjoy
where I live and I no long have to tell anyone the dreaded words,
'I can't swim'.
- Darren