I spent my entire life avoiding water involved situations, I did not go to the public pool, beach, lake etc. I missed out on so much growing up because of my inability to swim. It was not until I decided to take my child to swim lessons that I thought, why can’t I go too?? I enrolled in a local swim school which was new to the Hurstville area called Bluefit swimming. I was so anxious and nervous about the lessons, but when it came down to it, it was all in my mind! I have been there for a month, and i’m no Ian Thorpe, but I am learning the basics. The staff make the whole experience so much easier, they didn’t make me feel stupid for waiting until this point in my life to learn to swim. Now I will be able to do the things I was never able to do with my child. 2 years ago

I am planning a big tropical vacation in 2011 and realized not being able to swim was going to prevent me from doing everything I wanted to do.

When I was a child, I too had swim lessons, but I was always scared and the instructors never helped me get over that fear. So, as time went on, I missed out on swimming-related activities because I didn’t know how.

Due to my upcoming trip, I finally questioned why I couldn’t learn as an adult (I’m 40 years old). I started lessons in September and just completed my first 14 week session. I now know the backstroke, freestyle, how to back float and have started swimming under water. I have plans to keep taking lessons for at least 6 more months.

You have to work hard to learn the skills and get over your fears, but it is so worth it! I plan to be a regular swimmer now for the rest of my life. It’s a great skill to know and great exercise.

If you’ve been thinking about doing this, go for it! Just find the right instructor and then never give up. And practice hard. Swimming is awesome! :) 2 years ago

I had swim classes as a child. Being Australian it was part of the summer term curriculum. Every year I’d fear it, I remember the bus pulling up out side the pool and I’d have butterflies in my stomach.I just felt ill. All of the teachers were natural swimmers, but not natural teachers. Over the years I remember being thrown into the pool and told to float (I sank), and being yelled which only added to my fear. I have a certificate from a swimming class I took when I was about 7 that says I can sit on the bottom of the pool but not float. It says it all.
At 30 I thought this is ridiculous, so I signed up for adult swim classes. Luckily I was the only one in the class and I would recommend to anyone who has the fear to sign up for individual classes. It made such a difference.
Now I don’t know if teaching methods have changed, or if this teacher was different or my attitude was different, but the experience was brillant. She was patient and understanding. She was kind. She was caring. And she taught me to swim. I learnt that I wasnt breathing – I was going through the motions but not actually taking a breath, which is why I couldn’t maintain any speed. I found it was okay to be a beginner as you had to start somewhere – I was no longer embarrassed, she made me feel proud that at 30 I took this brave step. And I learned to swim. I don’t think I’ll be an olympic contender (yet!) but I did learn some core skills and more importantly had fun.
I now love swimming and am working on improving my skills and speed. One day (soon) I will be in the fast lane doing laps with everyone else. But I’ll never forget how awful a fear of the water is, so won’t speed past those who are struggling on the side.
Don’t let this hold you back. Its a great skill to have, go take some lessons today! 2 years ago

Over the past two weeks I learned how to tread water and I became better at breathing in freestyle. I am looking forward to the next class that will focus on stroke development. 3 years ago

I am still having trouble breathing in freestyle. I think I should just practice more and then I should get it under control. 3 years ago

I am now 40% done with this swimming class. I still cannot breath and do the freestyle at the same time. However, I can do the breastroke and backstroke with no problem. 3 years ago

I have finished the first week and I am 20% through the complete session. So, far I have not learned too much just rotary breathing and basic freestyle. I am really excited to be learning how to swim. 3 years ago

Class starts on June 22nd. I am so pumped and scared. 3 years ago

My 3 yr old loves her swimming classes. My husband pushed me to take Swim lessons. Except getting into water with my daughter for her toddler class and wading in the pool, I’ve no previous experience. I’ll be 33 (on May 18th)! I started my lessons, felt absolutely Pathetic – my sinking feet and all. But today in my 3rd class, I learned kicking. And I think I can do it…

It was a long way from choosing a swim suit which covers my things and waist and arms pits etc to actually travelling a yard in the pool. I hope I can swim by july and get in shape for the summer. 4 years ago

I will be 37 years old and I can’t swim. I did take a class and learned how to float and swim across the length of a pool. – that was nearly 10 years ago and I have not been back in a pool (except just dipping). I am sick of the embarrassment and now that I have a 2 year old daughter who is enthusiastic to swim I am determined to learn again. I don’t won’t her to be embarrassed of her daddy.
I called to make an appointment today and am awaiting a call from the instructor. This will be a gift to my wife and daughter this year – that’s my motivation. 4 years ago

My husband and children can swim, but I can’t. I have taken 3 swimming classes over the past 9 years, but have never completed one. I am extremely afraid of water, so much that I can’t even put my face under the shower head when taking a bath.

I just signed up for PRIVATE lessons, because my New Year’s Resolution is to conquer this fear and finally swim. We live in Florida and there is sooo much I am missing out on with my family because of my fear.

Wish me success. Will update when I’m a swimmer. 4 years ago

i rang up the aquatic centre and they start private classes at the end of january. I’m actually looking forward to it..

I can swim but I definitely know nothing about stroke, technique or breathing. So I’m gonna fix that : ) 4 years ago

I HAVE RESIGNED MYSELF TO SIGNING UP FOR A CLASS THAT STARTS 7/10/06, EVEN THOUGH I AM VERY SCARED – I AM NERVOUS BECAUSE I AM 32 YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD TWO KIDS AND REALLY DONT WANT A 15 OR 16 YEAR OLD TEACHING THE “OLD LADY” HOW TO SWIM. FOR MY PARNETS, MY SISTER AND I LEARNIGN HOW TO SWIM WASNT A BIG PRIORITY. I HAVE ALWAYS ENVISIONED THAT IF I DID LEARNT HAT I WOULD SPEND ALL MY FREE TIME SWIMMING. I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF IT. I HAVE TO TRY OR I’LL REGRET IT FOREVER. 6 years ago

I took an adult swim class at the Y and it was great, i took two more after that. The teacher went nice and slow and allowed everyone to go at their own rate. I now have a decent front crawl, back crawl, elementary back and side stroke. 7 years ago

I did this! Again, actually. When I was a kid, I didn’t like getting my face in the water. I took a swimming class when I was 7 or 8 and I hated it. The instructor managed to scare me more than teach me, and I came away from it convinced that swimming wasn’t for me.

When I was in 8th grade, we had a swimming class as part of PE course, but the school was not prepared for dealing with a prepubescent adolescent that not only didn’t know how to swim, but had a real aversion to swimming. So I never swam. Before global warming, it never got that hot in Seattle – so not knowing how to swim never really was a handicap. I still fooled around on boats, kayaks and canoes (and it’s a good thing I never fell in).

When I was 22 or 23, I found myself living in Olympia, WA during a legislative session and decided it was time to learn to swim. I signed up for an evening swim class. It sucked – but I didn’t quit – and when it was over – I could basically dog paddle across the length of the pool. I finished the class and basically never swam again.

10 years later, I just finished another adult swim class. This one was better (though I’m still not a very good swimmer). On the first day the teacher (who I think is about 16 years old) told me to put my face in the water. I said “I can’t”. But I then spent the next 15 minutes doing it, dunking myself, spitting a lot – and then it was over. Next week I swam across the pool doing a crawl (but holding my breath). A few weeks later I learned the breast stroke. I still haven’t really learned how to take a breath, but I have learned to relax and enjoy the experience of being underwater. Goggles helped. And I think I’ve figured out how to not get water up my nose.

Next task, learning to take a breath and not going so long without swimming. Hopefully swimming will become part of my life. I don’t want my kids to avoid swimming the way I have, and it would be a lot of fun if we could all share in the fun.

On the scale of hard things I’ve done in my life (from 1 being eating ice cream and 10 being a root canal on my front tooth) I’d say overcoming my fear of water is about a 7 or 8 – and I still have a ways to go. But it has definitely been worth doing. 7 years ago

I signed up today for a swimming lesson. Starts at the end of June and runs through August. My 4 year old daughter will be taking her lesson at the same time, so the plan is to get there early in the morning, Sophie and I can get used to the pool, have our separate lessons, and then swim a bit together. I’m hoping Sophie’s fearlessness rubs off on me and by the end of the summer we are both better swimmers. 7 years ago

I found a class I can take later this summer! 8 years ago