Can you teach yourself how to swim?

explicit4u

explicit4u

explicit4u

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Long story short, I’m a horrible swimmer and always have been. I won’t drown in the deep end of a pool, but I’ve never gone in the open sea or somewhere I couldn’t comfortably push off the bottom cause I’m such a weak swimmer.

After a few holidays watching my friends all swim out to sea while I waded by the beach, I want to learn how to swim and be confident in open water.

The main issue I’ve run into is the lack of classes for adult swimmers. Both my local pools offer classes but they’re restricted to young kids and pensioners. The only option seems to be a one to one tutor but they’re crazy expensive and I don’t have the disposable at the moment to justify it.

Previous feedback from actual instructors/strong swimmers say my technique and breathing are all wrong. I’m also one of those who struggle to float no matter what I do, which adds to the fear of open water.

So I was wondering is it possible to learn how to swim on your own? Is it something I could learn from a YouTube instructor? I’ve got a pool less than 10mins away, so I can get the practise in but is it worthless without being led by an instructor?

If it helps, I’m an ex long distance runner so my lung capacity is decent, I just can’t reliably get a breath and keep myself going when in water.
 
Even if you could self teach, it would generally be something you pick up just from being in the water a hella lot from a young age, like living right by open water etc. You are most likely to make the best progress with actual dedicated lessons with a proper feedback loop. I would just get proper lessons and be done with it.
 
Have you talked to the staff at the local pool? I find it hard to believe there isn't a session during the week that's not suitable for you.

It sounds like you need a bit of tuition first. Once you've got the basics, practice is going to be your best bet, to build your confidence up.
 
Most people that drown, do so because they panic. Confidence is everything in the outside world. Building up confidence in a protected place is important. It's actually very like learning to drive a car. You aren't so much learning how to drive, you are learning how to be safe so you can venture in to the outside world and learn for real without killing yoursef.
 
Swimming is about breathing and confidence. I would personally try joining a local gym which has at least a 20m pool but one can you can stand up in (not like the older deep council pools or olympic 50m pools)
Then find a time when its not so busy and practice in the slow lane just pushing off the wall with your head in the water and practice holding your breath with your head in the water. You can always stand up so unless you suddenly faint, the risk of drowning is minimal
This will be a start to realising the water isnt too scary, then you can try pushing off and breathing on one side (even if you're not swimming / moving your arms or legs)
 
You can get swimming aids, like a small snug life jacket with long pockets filled with polystyrene rods. As your confidence grows the rods can be removed one by one.
Probably an air type version available for novice swimmers.
 
As above, i'm surprised there aren't any adult based swimming lessons.

Obviously i don't have much to go on other than "London" but a quick google should find something local to you

Adults

We offer adult swimming lessons at London Aquatics Centre in East London. Our iconic venue boasts state-of-the-art pool facilities. Book today!
www.londonaquaticscentre.org www.londonaquaticscentre.org
www.ymcaclub.co.uk

Adult Swimming Lessons - Central YMCA Club

We have swimming lessons in London for everyone, from absolute beginners, to competent swimmers who are looking to improve their technique.
www.ymcaclub.co.uk www.ymcaclub.co.uk
www.better.org.uk

Adult Swimming Lessons Near Me | Better

Looking to start adult swimming lessons? Find out more about our intensive and swimming beginner classes for adults here at Better.
www.better.org.uk www.better.org.uk

Otherwise, just a gym with a local pool, and maybe just keep using the slow lane, and maybe asking whoever is on duty to give some tips during quiet periods.

I'm similar, in that i'm rubbish at swimming. Whenever i'm on holiday i think i'll try and do certain amount of laps, but in 8m pools it gets boring because you're constantly turning, and then in the sea i just never have the fitness to do more than 100m or so.
 
Yes it is possible to greatly improve your swimming on your own, but please don't go out into open water on your own until you're confident.

I was taken to swimming lessons as a child before starting swimming lessons at school, and I was still a very weak swimmer until 2 years ago when I signed up for a triathlon.

I started doing lane swimming at the local pool, and watched "improve your swimming" videos on YouTube, focusing on one area per session.

When I first started I was out of breath after 2 lengths of front crawl, and had to take rests.

Fast forward to now and I've done 2 triathlons and I absolutely love swimming, particularly open water. I've been going 3 times per week since spring and do about 1.2km (2 laps if the lake).

The main thing is becoming comfortable in the water, and to do this you need to spend time in the pool. 99.9% of a non swimmers life is spend out of the water, and it's a very different place. The longer you spend in the pool practising, the more comfortable you become.

Just get your trunks and go. The good thing about being a weak swimmer is that you'll see really big gains in performance as you improve. It's a great motivator and I'm so glad I discovered the joy of swimming in my 40s because I can, hopefully, take my swimming into older age.
 
bainbridge said:
Yes it is possible to greatly improve your swimming on your own, but please don't go out into open water on your own until you're confident.

I was taken to swimming lessons as a child before starting swimming lessons at school, and I was still a very weak swimmer until 2 years ago when I signed up for a triathlon.

I started doing lane swimming at the local pool, and watched "improve your swimming" videos on YouTube, focusing on one area per session.

When I first started I was out of breath after 2 lengths of front crawl, and had to take rests.

Fast forward to now and I've done 2 triathlons and I absolutely love swimming, particularly open water. I've been going 3 times per week since spring and do about 1.2km (2 laps if the lake).

The main thing is becoming comfortable in the water, and to do this you need to spend time in the pool. 99.9% of a non swimmers life is spend out of the water, and it's a very different place. The longer you spend in the pool practising, the more comfortable you become.

Just get your trunks and go. The good thing about being a weak swimmer is that you'll see really big gains in performance as you improve. It's a great motivator and I'm so glad I discovered the joy of swimming in my 40s because I can, hopefully, take my swimming into older age.
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This is a major part of it, I’m a very anxious pension and I struggle to breathe just sitting still so not being able the breathe in water is a major deterrent for me.

I’m smart enough to sit on the beach or boat while near open water, but I have no actually fear of the water which is why I want to overcome my lack of confidence out there.
Martynt74 said:
As above, i'm surprised there aren't any adult based swimming lessons.

Obviously i don't have much to go on other than "London" but a quick google should find something local to you

Adults

We offer adult swimming lessons at London Aquatics Centre in East London. Our iconic venue boasts state-of-the-art pool facilities. Book today!
www.londonaquaticscentre.org www.londonaquaticscentre.org
www.ymcaclub.co.uk

Adult Swimming Lessons - Central YMCA Club

We have swimming lessons in London for everyone, from absolute beginners, to competent swimmers who are looking to improve their technique.
www.ymcaclub.co.uk www.ymcaclub.co.uk
www.better.org.uk

Adult Swimming Lessons Near Me | Better

Looking to start adult swimming lessons? Find out more about our intensive and swimming beginner classes for adults here at Better.
www.better.org.uk www.better.org.uk

Otherwise, just a gym with a local pool, and maybe just keep using the slow lane, and maybe asking whoever is on duty to give some tips during quiet periods.

I'm similar, in that i'm rubbish at swimming. Whenever i'm on holiday i think i'll try and do certain amount of laps, but in 8m pools it gets boring because you're constantly turning, and then in the sea i just never have the fitness to do more than 100m or so.
Click to expand...
It seems my better gym (Kentish town) have started offering adult lessons, hopefully some of these align with my free time.
Guest2 said:
Swimming is about breathing and confidence. I would personally try joining a local gym which has at least a 20m pool but one can you can stand up in (not like the older deep council pools or olympic 50m pools)
Then find a time when its not so busy and practice in the slow lane just pushing off the wall with your head in the water and practice holding your breath with your head in the water. You can always stand up so unless you suddenly faint, the risk of drowning is minimal
This will be a start to realising the water isnt too scary, then you can try pushing off and breathing on one side (even if you're not swimming / moving your arms or legs)
Click to expand...
as above, not scared of the water, I love being in it. But my lack of reliable breathing is what gets to me.

At best I’m comfortable doing back stroke, but anything where I need to come up for air is currently a no go.

flea.rider said:
my dad taught me how to swim ..took me to derby baths in blackpool ..walked me half way up the side and said rdy ?? then threw me in .. it really was a case of sink or swim
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That’s funny because I went to those kind of swim classes but my parent couldn’t swim and refused to let me be chucked in like that.
 
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explicit4u said:
as above, not scared of the water, I love being in it. But my lack of reliable breathing is what gets to me.

At best I’m comfortable doing back stroke, but anything where I need to come up for air is currently a no go.
Click to expand...
You really need to practice keeping your head in the water. I was watching a swim lesson yesterday and he help shouting “head down” when teaching someone basics of front crawl.

You simply cannot swim (properly) with your head always out the water.

So, head and body under water, push off the wall and go forward for as long as possible in one breath then come up. Then try pushing off, stay underwater for a bit then take a breath and go back underwater
 
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flea.rider said:
my dad taught me how to swim ..took me to derby baths in blackpool ..walked me half way up the side and said rdy ?? then threw me in .. it really was a case of sink or swim
Click to expand...
Oh wow i remember going there as a kid,didn't it have salt water in the pool? First pool in UK with Olympic facilities as i remember.
 
Guest2 said:
You really need to practice keeping your head in the water. I was watching a swim lesson yesterday and he help shouting “head down” when teaching someone basics of front crawl.

You simply cannot swim (properly) with your head always out the water.

So, head and body under water, push off the wall and go forward for as long as possible in one breath then come up. Then try pushing off, stay underwater for a bit then take a breath and go back underwater
Click to expand...
crawl/breast you should always be breathing out , or in, and thread comments about holding breathe are incorrect,
once you've got it, its metronomic and feels no different to breathing out of water, if crawling, leisurely, can usually sing as you go, or close your eyes.
(saw an excerpt of gogglebox - some recent tv programme where contestants are doing doing deep dives , showing them nearly drowning .. I am intrigued to see how they were instructed)

keep commenting to our local better pool folks I'd pay to have someone film me whilst swimming have lessons/pool-timt where it is permitted, it's easy'ish to see others mistakes, but , less so, your own .
(take along your iphone with a tripod?)

Our better pools has 50min session limit now post-covid, so there is little time to play around, and improve, crowded at start too, so sprinting some lengths is difficult.
Not enough time to really chat with other folks for their comments on your style, you spend 50mins watching the other people swim so after 50mins you know,
 
The other 2 things to help you would be getting some fins and I dont know what they are called but effectively its a peice of plastic with 2 straps behind them.

The fins will train your ankles into being more flexible, they also help you maintain speed and keep your hips high, which in turn keeps you level and moving to focus on your arm/hand technique.

The hand paddle things teach you how to move water with your hands in the correct way for your stroke as if you dont have the right angle then you hand will just slip through the water where as when correct you will really feel that you are pushing against the water.
 
Slightly off the wall suggestion, but what really improved my confidence with regular swimming was doing scuba and snorkeling classes. Confidence in swimming will come naturally if you're enjoying yourself and realising that your ability to float is something you can control from within.
 
skyripper said:
Slightly off the wall suggestion, but what really improved my confidence with regular swimming was doing scuba and snorkeling classes. Confidence in swimming will come naturally if you're enjoying yourself and realising that your ability to float is something you can control from within.
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Is this a thing in the UK?

I’d be willing to pay for lessons in this if there was somewhere in London or within commuting distance between London on the weekends. I would love to go snorkelling on holiday.
Guest2 said:
You really need to practice keeping your head in the water. I was watching a swim lesson yesterday and he help shouting “head down” when teaching someone basics of front crawl.

You simply cannot swim (properly) with your head always out the water.

So, head and body under water, push off the wall and go forward for as long as possible in one breath then come up. Then try pushing off, stay underwater for a bit then take a breath and go back underwater
Click to expand...
That’s part of what gets me. I’ve got lung capacity so I can do almost a full length in a pool holding a breath but I know this isn’t gonna translate into open water.

Getting a breath after a good length is such a problem for me. It’s all or nothing, either a long hold or up and down like I’m drowning. I’m hoping the lessons will improve this.
 
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