I'm 26 and can't swim...

In My Humble Opinion
21

I wanted to give an update to what’s been happening. I showed up for my first swim lesson Saturday. He did what I was hoping would happen. Have me swim from end to end, and point out what techniques I was doing wrong, then work on each body part at a time. Since I was comfortable in the water already, we worked on my kicking with a paddle board. I noticed with (more) proper kicking it took a lot less effort to get from end to end.

With proper kicking, other pieces came easier. I was able to turn my head to breath since my body was more balanced, and I didn’t have to consciously think about what to do.

After a few laps with that, we worked on turning my head breath with having a piece of Styrofoam between the legs to focus on the upper body without kicking. After a while I was starting to get the hang of breathing.

Finally, we worked on endurance, doing 2 laps of freestyle, 2 with the kickboard, 2 with just arms, and 2 more freestyle (since I have to swim 8 laps for my swim test). At that point I realized that only after an hour of lessons I improved my swimming ability 100 fold.

I’m still wretchedly horrible, but swimming has a huge learning curve at the beginning, which helped me gain confidence that I’ll be eventually be able to post a topic, “I’m 26 and CAN swim”.

22

I have a similar problem. I once knew how to swim, fairly well I would suppose, being able to do laps and swimming freely in the deep part of the pool (9-10 ft.) with no fear. This was from about age 8 to 14. Then I stopped swimming for quite some time, until I was 21 and had to take a swim test to graduate from college, and which I blew off until May of my senior year. The test consisted of doing two full laps, and I successfully did a full “rehearsal” lap (freestyle) to see if I could still swim. Then, upon immediately doing the real test, I ran out of steam on the return leg of my second lap, and was about to give up when the instructor told me I didn’t have to do a freestyle, I could pass using any swim style including a backfloat/backstroke. Ta-da, I backfloated my way to a diploma.

That was the most winded I have ever been in my life. I was gasping for breath, and felt like I was about to faint. I sat down in a corner of the locker room and felt the world dim around me as I hyperventilated, sucked in breath after desperate breath. I tried to signal my distress to someone else passing by, and found to my alarm that I couldn’t move. I remember thinking, if I pass out on the floor I hope someone else comes by to notice… Boy I’d like to try an oxygen mask, I bet that’s what I need….

After a few long minutes of this, I started to feel better, and after 10 minutes or so I was able to stand up and stagger around. Yikes.

I don’t know if that scary incident has played a factor but now, I basically cannot swim even half a lap (from one end of the pool to the other). I move my arms and legs like I remember I’m supposed to, but I sink. I can’t remember the trick of not sinking.

My wife says it’s mostly due to my body getting a lot more dense since the age of 13 as I grew bone and added muscle. I’m not sure that’s the only factor.

23

I know how to swim, but I signed up for lessons at my local Y about three years ago for a refresher. The single best thing they taught me? Slow down. You’re not going to drown, not in a pool. Just put your feet down if you begin to panic. If you slow down, like seriously way down, and take your time, everything will come together. And you won’t drown. I promise.

My problem was that I knew the strokes, but was so afraid of not being able to breathe that I’d try to do things too fast. As a result, I’d go so fast that I’d get so out of breath that I couldn’t go any further and then *would *put myself at risk. Just slow down, take the breaths you need, and you’ll do fine.

24

Hijack: So where do you go for old lady, er, adult swim lessons? Is the Y pretty much it? I’ve googled in my area and all I see is the Y and I’d prefer not to go there.
I do want to learn to swim though, with all this sailing and snorkeling I’ve been doing I think it would be a good idea. :eek:

25

[QUOTE=amarinth]
Well, in my case, my entire body drops even lower into the water, until it stablizes well below the surface. And if I weren’t really comfortable in water, that would freak me the hell out.

Luckily, I’m not afraid of water.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that’s one thing that keeps popping up in learning-to-swim threads, the posts to the effect that categorically, absolutely, papal-infallibly one WILL float, no prob. Maybe EVENTUALLY one will, but that may not be an “eventually” quick enough to prevent the OMFG I’M SUBMERGED reaction from kicking in among those not comfortable in water (I can be in 1 foot of water and not be able to force myself to hold my head under the surface so that eyes, ears and nose are all immersed more than a couple of seconds).

26

I found out that they offered instructions at my school though clubswim.com. The instructor got back to me in less than 12 hours, and was willing to start lessons within 24 hours of the first email. He is the assistant swim coach at the university (turns out I went to undergrad with him, which is irrelevant), so he knows what he’s doing.

Even better was that they list the prices on there, let you know if they provide the pool, etc so everything is upfront.

If you live out in the middle of nowhere, try contacting the nearest university that has a pool, i’m sure either people on the swim team or the coaches could use the money.

27

I learned how to swim when I was 20 or so. Actually, it was surprisingly easy. Once I get through basic things like keeping your head submerged (backstroke is good for that), breathing out into water and got rid of reflex of closing eyes with slightest contact with water (swim goggles helped) - everything else was easy and obvious. Good instructor certainly helps, as she/he can see your errors and correct them with proper exercises.

28

In my life I’ve been a swim instructor, lifeguard, I am swiftwater rescue certified and am currently a PADI rescue diver and race in triathlons.

The best advice I was ever given:
SLOW DOWN and take your time perfecting your stroke. If you’re swimming front crawl, and you’re splashing much at all, you’re doing it wrong. There should be a small splash when your arm enters the water in front crawl, but none from your legs and if you’re swimming breast stroke you should have almost no splashes at all. The fastest swimmer I ever saw in a triathlon was a woman who barely made any splashes and took about half as many strokes as I did, yet she consistently beat me in training swims nearly two laps to one.

And second for all the folks saying that learn how well you float first. Most people are positively buoyant and will float naturally on top of the water; some (more men than women) float just at or just below the water line. Once you’ve got this down pat, you will be able to rise and sink in the water just by holding your breath.

And learn to swim in a shallow lap-style pool if you can; that way the most you’ve ever got to do if you get in trouble is stand up.

FWIW - the Padi test says you only have to swim 200m in a pool; it does not specify which stroke; you can do breast stroke if you choose to. And once you’ve started to dive, it’s not that much at all like swimming; your buoyancy is very different and your propulsion all comes from your fins and you don’t kick the same way you do in a pool. And you learn fast to control your breathing and slow the hell down just so you can stay down longer - my nickname was air pig the first dive trip I went on! :slight_smile:

29

[QUOTE=GomiBoy]
Most people are positively buoyant and will float naturally on top of the water; some (more men than women) float just at or just below the water line. Once you’ve got this down pat, you will be able to rise and sink in the water just by holding your breath.
[/quote]
What does this mean? How does “holding your breath” cause you to do anything?

Do you mean “taking a deep breath” causes you to rise, and exhaling causes you to sink?

30

My mother took adult swimming lessons at the tender age of 70. If she can do it, anybody can.

31

[QUOTE=Abirode]
What does this mean? How does “holding your breath” cause you to do anything?

Do you mean “taking a deep breath” causes you to rise, and exhaling causes you to sink?
[/QUOTE]

Sorry - bad explanation on my part, what you said is what I meant - holding your breath means you float; gently exhaling means you sink; inhaling causes you to rise. It’s a neat trick to learn and helps people dispell the fear that they’ll automatically sink when they get in the water. And it’s even more pronounced in salt water, hence why most divers have to take on additional weight to remain neutrally buoyant even with all the extra kit and filling your BC will make you literally shoot to the surface no matter how heavy you are.

32

[QUOTE=GomiBoy]
Sorry - bad explanation on my part, what you said is what I meant - holding your breath means you float; gently exhaling means you sink; inhaling causes you to rise.
[/quote]
Okay, but I’m not sure that you’re recognizing one of the basic problems that adults have when learning to swim: They are anxious, and, when people are anxious they “forget” to breathe. This is even worse when people are worried about inhaling water.

Perhaps the most basic advice should be: Relax, and keep breathing. Not sure, that it’s the most *effective * advice.

I don’t know what “BC” is, and I doubt that anyone who is learning to swim cares about what it is. Likewise, your comments about “perfecting your stroke” and about “the fastest swimmer I ever saw in a triathlon” are not helpful.

I’m assuming that you are trying to help. Perhaps it’s just difficult to articulate what comes naturally when you’re teaching someone to swim.

BTW, you say that you’ve been a swim instructor. Have you taught adults to swim?

33

[QUOTE=Abirode]
Okay, but I’m not sure that you’re recognizing one of the basic problems that adults have when learning to swim: They are anxious, and, when people are anxious they “forget” to breathe. This is even worse when people are worried about inhaling water.
[/quote]

Yes, I am recognizing that - slowing down, focusing on controlling breath, focusing on fundamentals of stroke - all are pretty important in learning how to swim, whether you’re an adult or a kid, and all are important in removing the anxiety of learning to do something that you may be afraid of.

Which was kinda what I was saying - slow down, don’t panic, concentrate on floating first just to know that you can, etc… and it is effective. Getting panicky happens; learning how to manage it is what’s important.

The OP was talking about learning to swim to pass a PADI dive certification swim test to go to Australia; divers use something called a BC, or buoyancy compensator, to have neutral buoyancy when diving; it’s a vest that allows you to add air from your tank to make you go up or release air to go down. If he doesn’t know now, he will later and will definitely care as it’s a fundamental piece of diving kit.

All I was trying to point out was that a fast stroke was NOT required and I took it as read that relaxation and technique was much more important than strength or fitness in what I said.

it is difficult to articulate, sure, and perhaps I was not doing it so well. But we’re agreeing with each other on the most important points - control your breathing, learn the stroke, relax, slow everything down, learn the basics of buoyancy, etc…

Yes, although that was not my expertise - I usually taught children at the YMCA, so I take your point.

34

[QUOTE=GomiBoy]
But we’re agreeing with each other on the most important points - control your breathing, learn the stroke, relax, slow everything down, learn the basics of buoyancy, etc…
[/quote]
Yup. Thanks. :slight_smile:

Now, transferring that knowledge into actual swimming …

35

[QUOTE=Abirode]
Yup. Thanks. :slight_smile:

Now, transferring that knowledge into actual swimming …
[/QUOTE]

Make it a mantra you run through in your head whenever you get excited or panicky in the water which does happen when you’re learning - I will float, relax, I will float, slow down, I will float… and then focus on the fundamentals and don’t let yourself get in a rush. Speed is not essential to be a good swimmer - technique and control are.

I think it’s much harder for adults than children, but it’s just about confidence and understanding of risk - kids don’t realize they can die, and adults do realize it and that fear makes gaining water confidence harder. Realize you WILL float naturally and then make sure you do! :slight_smile:

36

[QUOTE=Abirode]
Yes, I can float on my back, but I think you’ve identified one of the issues: I’m not relaxed enough to trust my natural buoyancy when my eyes get close to the water’s surface, ***and * ** when I know that I can’t stand up to keep my mouth above water.

Relax … relax … relax … :eek:

Thanks for your help.
[/QUOTE]

Come to think of it, learning how to backfloat well was the tipping point for me as a kid- the point where I stopped being afraid to go into deep water, and when getting my face submerged stopped being a bit deal- after that, I always knew I could roll over and be OK.

Can you work on learning to really, really trust the backfloat? I say this because I’m not a particularly strong swimmer (years with very little opportunity) but I can float and tread water for hours- if I’m swimming or treading and I get scared or tired, I just bring my feet up and backfloat, rather than trying to bring them down to stand. I have no idea if what I do is proper form or anything, but I start from a “treading water” position and bring my feet up toward the surface, then take a big breath while shoving my lower torso and hips upward. I correct a bit by moving my hands around, and I’m all set- easy breathing!

Also, I think floating on your back is a great way to practice breathing evenly, and you can watch how you raise and lower your body through lung power alone. It’s really very cool. Maybe try it in a safe environment for like 15 or 20 minutes at a time until it becomes your safety zone, right up there with having your feet on the ground? (I’m not a swim instructor, BTW, just giving ideas for how to feel safe beyond having a spotter or shallow water.)

Ooh- one more thing- sometimes I like to tip my face back while I’m floating so that my eyes, forehead and scalp are under water but my nose and mouth are still exposed- perhaps I’m just nuts (plus I like being under water) but this may be a lower stakes way to address the “eyes underwater” thing- you’re just a slight neck movement away from having your whole head above water, and you can keep breathing steadily the whole time.

37

[QUOTE=GuanoLad]
I … have never learned to swim.

…

But it’s not been an issue for me, I just keep away from situations where drowning may be a likelihood, and it is apolicy that has served me well.
[/QUOTE]

Ditto.

And science is full of bull – my body if far denser than water :smiley:

Semi-seriously – I have sunk to the bottom of swimming pools twice. If I truly floated, how’d that happen? Throw a chunk of wood into a pool – it doesn’t sink to the bottom.

38

In the USN, they don’t bother teaching swimming-it is of no use to you if you fall off a ship a sea. Rather, learn how to float-it is much easier.
There was a tragdy here a few years ago-a young man (19 went to the beach with his friends. he didn’t know how to swim, and allowed himself to think he did-and wound up dead-so sad.
had he been able to float, he would be alive today.

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[QUOTE=bordelond]

Semi-seriously – I have sunk to the bottom of swimming pools twice.
[/QUOTE]

Missed the Edit window:

I wanted to add that one of these sinking episodes was to the bottom of a 4-foot pool when I was 16. I was 6’1", and eventually was able to stand up. But I remember spending a good 5 to 10 breathless seconds crawling around on the pool’s bottom surface, with no kind of buoyancy kicking in. What was that?

40

[QUOTE=bordelond]
Missed the Edit window:

I wanted to add that one of these sinking episodes was to the bottom of a 4-foot pool when I was 16. I was 6’1", and eventually was able to stand up. But I remember spending a good 5 to 10 breathless seconds crawling around on the pool’s bottom surface, with no kind of buoyancy kicking in. What was that?
[/QUOTE]

Are you very skinny? or did your lungs get full of water?