Can you teach yourself how to swim?

[explicit4u]

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.

 

[explicit4u]

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

It seems my better gym (Kentish town) have started offering adult lessons, hopefully some of these align with my free time.

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)

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.

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

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.

 

[explicit4u]

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.

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.

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

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.

 

[explicit4u]

@explicit4u How are you getting on with your swimming, any improvement?

Only had a couple of sessions before getting COVID for the 3rd time in less than a year which has put a stop to my sessions.

Instructor did flag up and recommend some tricep weight workouts as my strokes were poor. Also pointed out that I was anaerobic swimming as I suspected. I’ll be working on it with her when I return. I can swim fast but I was recommended to swim slower and work on my breathing and lifting my head up more often.

I’ll report back when I rejoin the sessions.