Adults who have not learned to swim throughout their lives are prone to believing that they will never be able to swim again. However, this is just a myth, as with the right training and dedication, you can be swimming in no time.
To answer the above question, there is no magical length of time required for you to become adept at swimming. It all depends on the person and the other factors involved. Due to this, the learning time can vary. But on average, 20 to 25 hours of swimming lessons can get you doing complete laps. Some people might take less, others more.
Let’s dive into all you need to know about swimming as an adult.
What are some tips that you can try while learning to swim as an adult?
Tread in the shallow areas to begin. Most people have a fear of water. This is a natural phenomenon. However, one technique to overcome this fear is by dipping in the shallow section of the pool.
You will be able to submerge yourself in the water while still being able to get back up when you want to. You also get to become acquainted with your aquatic surroundings, giving you the sensation of being suspended.
Use Goggles
You will find that using goggles makes it easier to swim underwater. They prevent water from getting into your eyes. This comes with the added bonus of making you see clearly underwater, so swimming becomes more enjoyable.
Stay in the water a lot.
One thing that can improve your proficiency and confidence as a swimmer is spending time in the water. It is not rocket science to prove that when you spend time in the pool, you end up being more comfortable and getting familiar with the pool environment.
Let your face have it.
Let’s face it (pun intended), it can create some anxiety when you have your face submerged in the water. However, the more often you do it, the less irksome it becomes for you.
Every swimming style apart from the backstroke requires you to have your face in the water for an extended period of time.
How do you breathe when swimming?
Swimming is a peculiar sport, especially when it comes to timing your breathing. You can’t forget the fact that your head will be inside the water for a significant period of time; hence, you have to time your breathing properly.
When you want to breathe, you have to turn your head to the side so that one of your eyes is above the water line. You must adjust your line of sight such that it is focused on the water surface instead of lifting your head to try to look up.
Avoid holding your breath while in the water.
The technique to use is to quickly inhale, and then when you go under, you exhale completely. This method makes it easier for you to avoid exhaling and inhaling when your head goes above the surface of the water, as opposed to holding your breath.
Extend your opposite arm while you breathe.
For proper support while breathing, extend the opposite arm to the side where you are breathing from. For example, if you are breathing from your left side, then extend your right arm. This gives you proper support and makes breathing easier.
Why do I sink when I swim?
First and foremost, let’s take a trip to our science class. The reason why people sink while swimming is because of the closeness in density between the human body and the water. However, this is not all. Poor swimming technique is also to blame with regards to sinking while swimming. It could cause the legs to drag the rest of the body down.
The fact that this happens doesn’t necessarily make you a swimmer, but it’s an indicator that you are inexperienced and probably not grounded in the proper techniques that will make you float with ease.
You can compare swimming to riding a bike, and just as if you are ignorant of proper balancing techniques while riding a bike, the same applies to swimming.
So invest your time and put in more effort to perfect the swimming techniques that will keep you from sinking when you don’t intend to.
How can I swim without fear?
Below are some tips that you can put into practice to overcome your fear of swimming.
Practice some breathing techniques: anxiety is one of the root causes of fear while swimming. Before a swimming session, carry out some breathing exercises to help alleviate the tension and anxiety. You can do some deep breathing by taking a deep breath lasting up to 5 seconds.
Create a positive image: Creating positive imagery in your mind can also help you overcome your fear of swimming.Get your mind to work by imagining yourself swimming comfortably and proficiently while having the time of your life.
You can also imagine other swimmers swimming confidently and without fear while a lifeguard watches on. The essence of all these mental gymnastics is to remove that mental block before diving into the pool. It will boost your confidence in your own abilities, and you will realize that you will be less fidgety when you get in the pool.
Remove any thoughts of sinking. Weightlessness is a common sensation when swimming in a pool. This can make you freak out, and you begin to think that you are going to sink. One thing that you can use to overcome this fear is to remember that the water has a buoyancy factor that can keep you afloat. All you need to do is just relax your lips, and then naturally you will float.
Start your journey in the shallow section; there’s no shame in starting your swimming even in a baby pool. The main goal is to boost your confidence in the pool. You can wade in the water just to get the feel of it. You can move to even greater depths once you are confident enough.
Hire a skilled personal instructor: the importance of having your own personal swimming instructor cannot be overstated. If you have a personal coach who understands your fear of the water, it will be easier to overcome that fear with someone by your side while you are being coached on basic swimming techniques.
Can you get in shape by just swimming?
Swimming is a great exercise for keeping fit. It involves using multiple sets of muscles and, hence, improving your overall fitness.
It can help you shed some weight while burning calories and helping tone your muscles for a fitter and more athletic look.
Swimming is good enough even in the absence of any other forms of exercise.
Swimming is great for shaping the body, even without any other type of exercise.
What should you do if you fall into deep water?
If you were to ever fall into the water, you are not supposed to panic, but following these steps will greatly help you and pull you out of danger.
Hold your breath for the first few seconds after falling into water. When you exhale, don’t release all the air at once. This will make you heavier, and the water will cause you to sink even deeper.
Don’t kick-jump inside the water, as motions like that can be counterproductive. If you do that, half of your body will come up and cause an increase in weight, so when you return, you will sink even deeper.
When you have held your breath successfully, do a paddle or scissors kick. The aim is to mimic your movements as though you were walking on land.
Cup your hands and push the water downward with your arms while doing so. This will cause you to go up; remember to do this together with the scissors kick movement.
If you can’t do the step above, just arch your back while you continually do the scissor kick movement until help comes.
Note that the scissors-kick movement is what pushes you up.
What is the first skill that every swimmer should learn?
The most important skill that every swimmer should learn is being comfortable in the water.
You must be able to submerge your face and ears in water without inhaling or swallowing it, whether you are facing up or down.
Once you have mastered this, you can begin letting the other parts of your body float in the water.
