What’s the key to learning how to swim? What is the secret or actual skill?

[Anonymous]

I had a near drowning at age 5 and was rescued. I’ve since taken classes as a teen and could not coordinate my limbs to pass those.

What is the key to learning to swim and float? Is it moving your hands and feet or legs a certain way?

I’ve signed up for classes again that begin tomorrow. How does one stay afloat? Is it all in breathing in and out?

I remember being told people can swim if they are thrown in as a child but I jumped in over 6ft of water as a child not knowing you needed to hold your breath or how to swim at all and ended up almost dying. None of my family members were or are swimmers fwiw. This will be a first. My father even grew up around lakes but never swam.

[Anonymous]

Wow I’m so sorry that happened to you as a kid. That’s really scary! Do you have any balance issues, btw? Or do you get stressed out in water? Those could be affecting you. I commend you for getting lessons!

Honestly, swimming (staying afloat and being comfortable in calm water, not serious swimming) is like riding a bike. Once you can do it, it’s hard to remember what you had to learn. Generally, people gently paddle with their arms and legs (“doggy paddling”). People are naturally buoyant; it’s panic that often gets people into trouble (and rough water or needing stamina, but assuming you won’t be going to do that soon).

[Anonymous]

Float on your back first. Arch your back slightly. Try to lay your head back, as if on a pillow. The second you pick your head up, you sink.

[Anonymous]

Air in your lungs. If your lungs are full you float. If you push all the air out, you sink.

[Anonymous]

I would start off in the shallow area in like 3ft of water and learn how to doggy paddle and float on your back. Then I'd move to learning strokes and going deeper.

[Anonymous]

Work on just relaxing in the water. To me that is key.

[Anonymous]

The number one rule is don’t panic. Given your history, that’s probably the problem you’re up against. I would recommend you tell the instructor that you had a bad experience and you’re scared at the start so they can work with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow I’m so sorry that happened to you as a kid. That’s really scary! Do you have any balance issues, btw? Or do you get stressed out in water? Those could be affecting you. I commend you for getting lessons!

Honestly, swimming (staying afloat and being comfortable in calm water, not serious swimming) is like riding a bike. Once you can do it, it’s hard to remember what you had to learn. Generally, people gently paddle with their arms and legs (“doggy paddling”). People are naturally buoyant; it’s panic that often gets people into trouble (and rough water or needing stamina, but assuming you won’t be going to do that soon).

To answer a few of your questions - yes, I have some balance issues that I take PT for and see a Neurologist. I am also one of the people who once knew how to ride a bike and forgot over the years. I never rode frequently and when teaching my kids I realized I completely lost the skill altogether . That is another skill that I will have to take on again.

I’ll make sure to tell my instructor about my balance issues.

Thank you everyone for the tips as well!

[Anonymous]

Please keep in mind that you're not meant to float ON top of the water. I used to think I should, and always panicked as I felt my body start to sink down and then would flail about. Once I learned that the top of my body would be level with the top of the water, I didn't panic and could float. Total game changer. Not a great swimmer at all but I could get from Point A to Point B, just ungracefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a near drowning at age 5 and was rescued. I’ve since taken classes as a teen and could not coordinate my limbs to pass those.

What is the key to learning to swim and float? Is it moving your hands and feet or legs a certain way?

I’ve signed up for classes again that begin tomorrow. How does one stay afloat? Is it all in breathing in and out?

I remember being told people can swim if they are thrown in as a child but I jumped in over 6ft of water as a child not knowing you needed to hold your breath or how to swim at all and ended up almost dying. None of my family members were or are swimmers fwiw. This will be a first. My father even grew up around lakes but never swam.

I appreciate your question because I am similar. This inspires me to not give up on trying to learn to swim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Air in your lungs. If your lungs are full you float. If you push all the air out, you sink.

+1 The key is to relax and let the water do the work for you

Harder done than said, for sure but that's really the key. I didn't learn to swim until I was 24

[Anonymous]

Are you black? When I was in boot camp all the brothers looked like they were being electrocuted in the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please keep in mind that you're not meant to float ON top of the water. I used to think I should, and always panicked as I felt my body start to sink down and then would flail about. Once I learned that the top of my body would be level with the top of the water, I didn't panic and could float. Total game changer. Not a great swimmer at all but I could get from Point A to Point B, just ungracefully.

+1

[Anonymous]

As others have said, the key is being comfortable in the water, relaxed, and understanding your natural buoyancy. I've helped several people at water fitness classes who didn't know how to swim just get more comfortable in the water. I would suggest doing this before trying swim lessons again.

Go to a quiet pool (no kids splashing around you) and walk along the edge to a depth around your armpits (or as deep as you are comfortable to start with). Then slowly sink down like you are going to sit in a chair until your chin is near the water. You can hold the edge if you want. Let your legs relax so that they are still touching the bottom but not supporting your weight. Then let go of the wall and relax your arms a little. Now you are ready to just putter and play a little. You can move your hands back and forth under the water to keep your balance and you can "walk" on your tip toes. Start with different positions and motions for your arms. You can keep the loose sitting position and pull with both arms in a breastroke. or you can tilt forward more (still legs loose near bottom) and doggie paddle to move around. There is no need to do anything that "looks like" swimming right away.

You can also start practicing kicking by holding the wall and flutter kicking. Once you are comfortable moving around while floating upright, then try using a kickboard to support your upper body and flutter kicking with it. If that feels too unstable, hold the kickboard close to your chest while floating mostly upright, tilt sideways a little and peddle your legs like you are riding a bicycle. Your upper leg will pull you around in a circle (it's fun!) You can work on all of this in water where you can stand up and touch so that you know you are in control. I wouldn't try formal swimming lessons until you are comfortable on your own first.

[Anonymous]

I know how to swim. However, I don't like putting my head under the water so when I want to exercise in a pool I swim "laps" the short way (width) of the pool in the 3 ft. I use my arms to pull the water behind me, kick my legs as rhythmically as I can and keep my head out of the water. I can stand up at any point, but I don't until I get to the wall. Try that. It's swimming but it feels safe like you're not going to drown. Eventually if you can do it in 3 ft you can do it in deeper water.