How I did it: I took a 6-class program at a local college, for every Saturday morning. In my first class, I had trouble just learning to breathe air out of my nose underwater! Now, I can swim freestyle, swim backwards, backstroke, float, tread water, switch from freestyle to back stroke, switch from backstroke to freestyle, touch the floor of a 5ft end with my hands, do handstands in the water, sink and do a somersault underwater! My teacher didn't really teach much like some other teachers we observed in the pool, so I mostly learned on my own and watched how others swim and copied them. In fact, I would swim around the pool asking all the life guards on different shifts for tips and pointers HAHA. I want to learn to swim on just one side, the dolphin-kick glide thing..., and dive. I'm sure after I learned to swim to the bottom and quickly come up, I think I can manage a dive/jump into the deep end. Just have to practice! :) The Earth's surface is 71% water, so why not learn to move through this medium? And enjoy!

Lessons & tips: -When you are done practicing with kick boards, try this. First, practice floating on you back and then bring your knees into your chest to make you turn upright and use your hands to push water down as you move up. Once you are comfortable, you can practice swimming and then come to an upright position. Then, you can learn treading water.
-When swimming free style, choose one side you want to breathe out of (I breathe on my right). As you are kicking, your right arm is bent at the elbow when it comes out the water and you turn your body to the side so that you look at the sky toward your right shoulder and breathe in through your mouth. You should be able to have 3 seconds of smooth air time for you to breathe on your side if you are swimming relaxed.
-Swimming to the bottom: flap your hands up at your sides to push water up and you go down as you breathe out through your nose. As you sink deeper (keep breathing air out), move your head down toward the floor and pull water toward you with your hands, like saying, "Come here, floor!" (palms facing you) Then touch the floor. :) Then turn your head up toward the surface and push down on the water with your hands- you will shoot up to the surface and out like a popped wine cork. I love doing handstands in the water!
-Make sure you wear good sunblock. Swimming cap and goggles are very convenient in protecting your hair and eyes from chlorine water.

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Aug 19, 11:30AM PDT | 5 comments | 26 cheers