Tell me I'm not a dork -- signing up for private swim lessons

[Nestof3]

I can swim to live -- stay afloat, swim to good off, but I want to be able to swim to exercise.

 

Now to find a bathing suit.

[SJ.]

If you're a dork then I am too!  Last spring i took a series of private swim lessons, prior to lessons I could only float but now I can back stroke, breast stroke, and swim free style.  Unfortunately I am not good at any of them yet but maybe one day :)

[Pegasus]

You are not a dork. You are my hero!  I'd love to follow your lead but I'm too cowardly.  I was terrified of deep water as a child and never learned to swim very well.

 

Pegasus

[Stayseeliz]

I was actually thinking about this recently. My kids are on swim team and I've been thinking about swimming too for exercise

I was thinking about having them teach me.

[Mrs Mungo]

I know tons of adults who have hired a swim coach to help them, mostly runners who wanted  to do triathlons, but weren't good enough swimmers.

[marbel]

Totally not a dork.  Brave and wise is more like it.

 

I never liked swimming and am afraid of deep water.  My husband and kids are not.  So glad they took after their dad and not me in that regard.  I did sign up once for swimming lessons, in a group, while pregnant. What a dumb time to do that.  I couldn't breathe well.  That was over 16 years ago... have never been back. 

[Rosie_0801]

There's nothing dorky about learning something you want to learn.

[catz]

I know lots of adults who've done this too - many aspiring triathletes. I've done a few triathlons and I've always wished I had the time. I've heard it can make a HUGE difference. Good luck! :)

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

I hope it's not dorky to take swim lessons.  I took them a few years back so that I could do laps for exercise.

 

Make sure you get a good swimming cap!

[mamaraby]

Not the slightest bit dorky and not any different than a Couch to 5K class or a yoga class. I say good for you for taking steps to make what you want to do happen! :0)

[Renthead Mommy]

I am actually a very good swimmer.  However I learned to swim in our lake, so while I can swim, I don't have that "I was on a pool swim team" as a kid. I have hard time with the face down, turn, breathe as you move a certain arm.  I realized that when I had four months to myself and got a spring season pass to the town pool.  After water aerobics I'd try and swim laps.  It just wasn't working and I'd end up jogging instead.  I really, really wanted to take lessons so I could learn to swim for exercise, but we were PCSing soon adn didn't have time.  I am going to join the Y this fall so my son can actually get some more lessons and actual swim time adn I was thinking of doing this again then.  

[BigMamaBird]

I don't think you're a dork at all, I actually think it's pretty cool.  You're never too old to learn something new.

[zoobie]

I want to do that too. We're building a pool and I hope to find someone to come here and teach me and the older kids real, proficient strokes.

[Nestof3]

Thanks, ladies! I loathe wearing a swim suit, and I'm so uncoordinated. I'm nervous. But, I've heard over and over that its gentle on the joints and great exercise. So, I'm going to try and do it. :)

[Cinder]

:thumbup1:  Good for you pursuing swim lessons! As to gentle on the joints, swimming was the only activity my dad could tolerate after his 2 back surgeries when even sitting for any length of time was painful.

[Twigs]

That is fantastic! Keep us posted on how it goes.

[KrissiK]

You are absolutely not a dork. Good for you. I hate swimming.

[Laura Corin]

I took swimming lessons in my thirties.  I could swim but only two strokes and not efficiently.  The teacher ripped apart my strokes and gave me better ones, plus got my crawl/freestyle going.  It was definitely worthwhile.

 

L

[xixstar]

Sounds great. I am wanting to do the same thing soon, learn better swimming for exercise purposes.

[Night Elf]

I think it sounds like fun actually.

[Tress]

I think it's awesome! (I really should do it too, but I'm too afraid...)

[HSinNH]

I think it's great!!

[Harriet Vane]

You go, girl!  :thumbup1:

[Soror]

I did this several years back. Sad to say I didn't learn anything though and then the teacher wasn't around, it was a weird dynamic. I've thought before about triathlons but my swimming really stinks. Good luck to you!

[Ottakee]

Good for you.  I have thought about it but I have only gotten as far as water aerobics and havent' done that in quite a while now either.

[Hikin' Mama]

Definitely not a dork! I've thought of doing the same thing because my form is horrible. My son, who was 16 at the time and had had lessons as a kid, had a family friend go with him to the pool to give him pointers on form when he was training for a triathalon. Later when he was at the pool by himself swimming laps, a 70-year-old lady started giving him pointers on how to improve his form for faster swimming. He said it was humbling. :)

 

I think it's awesome that you are doing this!

[Spryte]

How cool! What great role model for your kids!

 

You want to learn something new... Do it!

 

High five!

[Kim in Appalachia]

I know adults who take swim lessons.  My dh would love to take them.  He does tri's and would like to improve his swim.

 

As for a suit, make sure you either get a poly or an endurance fabric.  Dolphin uglies have good coverage, and Speedo makes a great Endurance suit.  

 

Enjoy yourself!  Swimming is great exercise.

[ElizabethB]

Cool!

 

Rollerblading or roller skating are also easy on the joints and good exercise.

[Murmer]

After your lessons you should find out if they have a masters swim team its great for fitness swimming.

[Mom-ninja.]

Yeah for you! Lands End has nice suits. Also Athleta has suits that are actually for athletes who swim laps ie. functional focused and not fashion focused.

 

Good luck.

 

I'm working up the courage to some day take swim lessons.

[Stayseeliz]

I saw these today http://www.swimoutlet.com/Swimming_Videos_s/1274.htm for anyone interested in learning technique!

[chaya]

I can swim to live -- stay afloat, swim to good off, but I want to be able to swim to exercise.

 

Now to find a bathing suit.

 

I think you're awesome!!

 

I've been wanting to do that for years but I'm too embarassed.

[gingersmom]

I love swimming laps!

 

I just got prescription googles today and can't wait to use them. Finally I will be able to see in the pool. 

 

I would not recommend a Lands End bathing suit though for lap swimming. Mine disintegrated from the chlorine. 

 

Check out www.swimoutlet.com and look for chlorine resistant bathing suits. They will last much longer. 

[Stayseeliz]

I went to the pool tonight with my two big kids and they worked me hard. It was so much fun!

[Stayseeliz]

Okay, so we went to the pool during open swim today. We get there and half of the college swim team is practicing. Talk about intimidating. But I donned my cap and goggles and walked by four lanes full of uber fit swimmers and swam my pathetic laps. They were probably wondering why "granny" was swimming today. :)

[JennyD]

Good for you!  My mother-in-law never learned to swim and finally took private lessons about 10 years ago, in her early 60s.  She still doesn't like being in water over her head but she has a lovely stroke and now swims laps 3x a week.  

 

I swam competitively in college and still swim at least several times a week for exercise.  Swimming just makes me so happy.  I would actually love to take a few lessons to fix a few problems with my freestyle and maybe begin to address my horrible backstroke, but I can't quite justify the cost.  Someday.

 

Swimoutlet.com has a great selection of suits.  The Speedo Endurance fabric is not the sleekest, but that stuff wears like iron.  

 

Good luck!  Have fun!

 

 

[lluv]

So GLAD to read this thread! I've been trying to decide if I'm finally going to learn how to swim this year or not!  I'm embarrassed and scared (bad childhood experiences), but this thread has encouraged me!

[Pretty in Pink]

I can swim to live -- stay afloat, swim to good off, but I want to be able to swim to exercise.

 

Now to find a bathing suit.

 

Maybe a little bit dorky but I say good for you! I need to do the same. I do believe I would drown if I ever had to go in after one of my children. I'm afraid to go in the pool where I can't stand up. <blushes>

[Alice]

I can swim to live -- stay afloat, swim to good off, but I want to be able to swim to exercise.

 

Now to find a bathing suit.

 

I think it’s great! I was just reading an article (can’t remember where so can’t link it) about how some evidence suggests that learning new skills helps prevent dementia. It was saying that everyone knows about doing crosswords but that becomes not so great if you are really good at crosswords. It’s more about challenging your mind and body to learn new things. 

[Garga]

My swimsuit is a pair of swimming shorts and a regular swimsuit top that ties around the neck.  Next year, I'm getting a rash guard top.  I burn too easily and am tired of the amount of skin I have to cover with sunblock.  It takes me a full 15 minutes to slather it on myself and rub it in so it doesn't wash off. I use a shot-glass full or I burn.  My arms hurt so bad from having to twist around to apply the sunblock my own back.  Enough!

 

My point is that you're not a nerd for the lessons, and if you look hard enough you can find a swimsuit that you are comfortable in.  I found the swim shorts at Sears.  This isn't about modesty.  It's just that I don't like exposing the lumps on my upper thighs or worrying about extremely close shaves or about burned backs and shoulders.  I wear the shorts and (next year) the rash guard for practical reasons.  Then, when I'm swimming I'm focused entirely on the swimming and not what I'm wearing.

 

 

[Mom2Es]

I don't even like getting my face wet in the shower.  When my face gets wet, my first instinct is to panic and take a deep breath...which I'm guessing would not be the thing to do if I were to fall in a lake.  So I overcompensate for that instinct when I do try to swim by holding my breath for all I'm worth (have you ever tried to do cardio while holding your breath?  Terrible idea).

 

So, no; you are not a dork.  I'm jealous, actually.

[In The Great White North]

 

 

I saw these today http://www.swimoutle...deos_s/1274.htm for anyone interested in learning technique!

 

They have a website too.

 

http://www.goswim.tv/

[higginszoo]

If you're a dork, then our Y is full of them.  Anytime I go there in the morning (anytime between 5 am and 9 am), there is usually an adult having a private lesson.  Most of them, like you, are looking for some stroke refinement/instruction.  There are a few where the teacher acts more like an athletic trainer and some who are just learning the basics (some of whom are uncomfortable in the water).  Not dorky at all though, at any level.  I'm already facing osteoperosis, and swimming is one of the few regular exercises I'm permitted -- yet I HAVE to exercise to maintain/hopefully improve what bone mass I have.