Nayola

It’s been about a year since I last logged anything about learning to swim. In my last entry I was somewhat frustrated and needing a break. Well, since that time I stuck with it, took my time, and finally accomplished my goal. I CAN SWIM! Yay, me.

I think what helped me the most was when I finally stopped worrying about what other people thought and stopped being so self-conscious, silly, and hard on myself. I started having an attitude of “Have fun. Don’t be in such a hurry. Do what feels comfortable. Relax.” Then before you know it, things started really coming together for me.

Anyway, I just want to let everyone know that if I can do it, ANYONE can. And whether it takes you 10 weeks or 3 years, whether you are 18 or 80, that’s okay. If you want to learn how to swim, eventually you will too. Stick with it. Have fun. And know that I am rooting for you :-)

I’ve decided to take a break from swimming lessons for awhile. Since my last entry, I went to the pool on my own just to get some practice in, and I felt really tense. I was not really relaxed at all. I felt kind of like I had taken a step backwards!!

I think I’ve been trying too hard and it’s beginning to feel like a job. Swimming is supposed to be fun, right?

Anyway, I told my instructor that I needed a break. I will still go to the pool, but I think I will just try to goof around and get back to the basics by myself for awhile. I need to try to just enjoy the “feeling” of the water. I need to be 100% comfortable floating on my back, front, side, whatever!!! I need to stop rushing myself and just try to learn at a slower pace.

I was all pumped and excited to get started. I have been doing so well that I thought surely today would be more of the same.

Well, it didn’t quite turn out that way. I just wasn’t really “in the groove,” so to speak. My side breathing/resuming swimming underwater coordination just really sucked. Also, my arm strokes felt awkward, and I kept getting tired kind of fast. I blame it on the fact that I had a terrible case of insomnia last night and got very little sleep. Oh, well, there will be good days and bad days. Hopefully, WAY more good than bad.

One thing that I did accomplish was I was able to swim sideways all the way across the pool a couple times with my head out of the water. I had to use the flippers, though, but it still felt pretty cool to go from end to end nonstop. Now if I could only master my balancing on my side while coming up for air and then resuming swimming underwater.

I really need to work on my body rotation and also trying to become more relaxed. These uptight muscles of mine aren’t exactly making me streamlined ;-)

Until next time…