First Time Adults Swimming – Huh? What?

By admin

Apr

30

Adults SwimmingAdults swimming… just thinking about learning how to swim when we are old can be scary at times.  A lot of the USA swimming teams have been through the same fear the first time but look where they ended up. Swimming is a low impact sport so that means your joints will not be worn down as fast. It is literally weightless so you can start at your own pace.

How do I start? There are numerous groups and classes that provides adult swimming for beginners. Amateur Swimming Association, YMCA, public pools and private classes for adults for example. Before starting, read and follow the standard swimming rules that are set for the specific location you are going to swim at. Start with small goals to keep yourself motivated. People tend to set goals that are so high, they tend to lose hope faster when they barely scratched the service of where they want to be. You can start with 4 lengths (going 4 times from wall to wall) in a row and increase from there. What about improving your swimming technique? The best thing I have learned from improving my technique was to record myself to let other swimmers give me their two cents. This has gotten to be one of the fastest ways I have improved. If you are uncomfortable showing other people your video, you can watch over your tape and simply compare them to the professional swimmers and go on from there. Ask anyone who has been in your situation. Adults swimming for the first time will notice a difference in their overall life.

How to fit in with the swimming community

By admin

Mar

25

No matter where or what you do, there will always be non-written rules that people will know whether you are an insider or an outsider that simply sticks out in the crowd. This is to help understand the difference between non-swimmers, lap swimmers and competitive swimming and the swimming world as a whole. It is not meant to make anyone feel embarassed but to provide helpful tips to guide you to where you want to be.

1) Having your locker key around the ankles – Some places require you to have a locker and that means you would need to carry them with you. Swimmers do not carry the keys with them as they swim. Instead, place them next to your swimming gear that you brought to the pool. If you did not bring any swimming gear, you can attach them to your suit so it does not create a drag that would slow you down or alter your balance.

2) Spitting on your swimming goggles – You have probably seen people spit or lick their goggles in the swimming pool. Why do they do this? To prevent the swimming goggles from fogging. Do not be embarassed from this. It is very common and an easy solution to keep that fog away!

3) Relaxing in the water – Beginner swimmers stand out like a sore thumb with this one. Beginner swimmers tend to believe that they must fight againt the water to get to the other side. A regular swimmer would relax and actually ‘listen’ to the water. Almost like becoming one with it. They are concentrating on their technique while using less energy to get the most distance.

4) Having swimming goggles hanging around your neck – Swimmers never wear them around their neck. It is very hard to take them off. You can place one side of the eye cup or strap under your swimming suit and it should hold fine.

5) Taking a quick shower before going into the swimming pool – Showering before taking a dive into the pool is normal. Most pool operators will recommend you to do this but there is a time when you should not. The only time you see swimmers head into the pool without showering are competitive swimmers. Why? There is a session strictly for stretching and it is not safe if you are doing it while being cold. Also, most swimmers hate the split second moment when the body temperature changes from a nice quick warm shower to cold swimming pool water.

What do you think about this list? Do you do any of these things? Is there anything you would like to add? Scroll down and let us know!

What do I do if I feel like drowning?

By admin

Mar

24

Feel like drowning?

I believe every child should learn how to swim even if they do not plan on swimming in the future. It is a basic survival skill that should be learned to help save their life one day. A lot of kids are fortunate enough to have the resources to learn at an early age but there are some people (like me) who didn’t have the oppurtunity to do so. Instead, it gets a little harder to find a group that you can fit in with that are also looking on how to swim. Thankfully, there are community colleges and local city recreation centers that do provide swimming lessons for all ages. It does not matter wheter you’re 5, 18, 30 or 60, everyone has the chance to learn how to swim. You could even purchase a cheap pool and practice swimming at your own convenience.

When you finally get into the water, most people always ask, “What do I do if I feel like I’m drowning”. Well the secret answer to this is “Don’t Panic”. Easier said than done right? The way to actually stop panicking is by going through a few very simple swimming that will help keep you relaxed while being confident. I am not trying to scare you but the more you panic in the water, the more energy you waste, the harder it will be to stay afloat.

Our body has a natural buoyant if the lungs are filled with air. You will not sink if you take a deep breath of air. Cool right? Since we are taking a deep breath of air, we also need to exhale it. When you exhale, you would end up sinking for a short time. Because of this, we naturally tend to panic and ultimately drown. How can you take air in when you are in the water? When you are on your back as if you were laying on your back to sleep. Make sure to tilt your head a bit backwards to ensure that your body is not completely vertical. This will help your body have a small lift above water.

How much air am I suppose to inhale? As much as you can to just keep you afloat. Taking in too much air will give you a very good float but that means you would need to take a very good exhale which makes you sink a lot faster. Swimming and breathing can be very intimidating but with a little practice, you will be in the water in no time.

Swimming Pool Safety For Your Kids

By admin

Mar

14

Swimming Safety For Kids
Kids are not aware of the danger that may happpen when they’re at the swimming pool. A lot of things can happen but it’s sad to say that kids also have to also know the down side to swimming pools. All it takes is for one kid to slip and fall. One of the most common accidents that happen too. Sounds bad doesn’t it? Some people don’t have the luxury to purchase kid swimming pools but there are cheap pools out there. I’m not referring to low quality standards but one that will save you money. You may also find kid swimming pools on public recreation centers but they’re usually merged into an adult swimming pool.

Do you ever think about a kid slipping into the pool while nobody is watching? Isn’t it scary? It actually happened to me and I was the kid that fell. Luckily my neighbor walked outside to check on me and was able to pull me up on time. It hurts knowing what happened and what could’ve happened and I hope you can avoid this situation. If you have a private pool, you must have strict swimming pool rules with everyone who is living there. Let everyone know what time they can use it, who can go in with whom, take CPR classes, teach them how to utilize the safety equipments and making sure those equipments are within reach and a phone near by incase of an emergency. Using a shepard’s hook or a life belt is commonly used to save someone out of the water.

The first way to prevent a child from dangering themselves is by building a secure swimming fence around the pool. This will help just incase your kids are nearby the pool when you’re not around. Safety should be your first priority. It’ll be very hard to forgive yourself because you’ve put your child in danger and that’s the worst situation you could’ve put yourself in.

If your kids are swimming in a public pool, make sure there is a lifegaurd attended at all times. Ask the staff what their procedures are and swimming rules to see if it meets your expectations. Ultimately, you should teach your kids how to swim. This will knock off 80% of your worries and will help introduce your child into sports.