where can i get the best free step-by-step information for an older adult to learn to swim?

Question

I do not understand the breathing thing at all, and I have some fear of the water if my head goes in the water. It's much harder for an adult to learn to swim, but there must be some specific steps to learn and practice, as I want to learn how to swim well regardless of how hard it may be.

Answer 1

I'm sure if you google "Learn to swim", you'll find a bunch of online sites that will give you tips and pointers. A lot of the other people here already looked up some sites for you. Unfortunately, I believe that simply listing a site does not answer the question, so here goes nothing.

Here's a quick step by step.

Underwater Bobs

First, you MUST learn how to get your head in the water and be comfortable with it. You can simply do this by holding on to the edge of the pool (in shallow water) and submerging your head for 3 seconds while blowing bubbles underwater. Then you repeat about 20 times or so. This is a fundamental building block in swimming because it stresses that you exhale when your face is underwater. This exercise is called the underwater bob. When we do this with kids, we have them push themselves all the way out of the water (as if they are getting out of the water) to build up some arm strength, but in your case, all you should worry about is your head.

Beginner Stroke

After you feel more comfortable with that, start actually doing some swimming. Your arms should reach as far forward as they can one at a time (do not worry about your arms getting out of the water yet, just do a nice long doggy paddle). Your head should be submerged and blowing bubbles while under. When you need to breathe, simply lift your head straight but KEEP THE ARMS MOVING AND REACHING FAR while you do it. Your legs should be doing a small, fast, alternating flutter kick. This whole thing is called Beginner Stroke.

Back Float

This is hard to do actually for some people, especially those with a lot of muscle. Do this one in shallow water as well. It's all about the mechanics and position of the body. The key is to keep your head back and looking straight up at either the ceiling or the sky. If your head is back, it will make it 928356235976 times easier for the rest of your body to float. It's all about balance, if your head is up, something else will fall, like your butt, and then you'll be vertical in the water, and that is not good for floating! In the back float, you also want your arms spread out and your legs together.

Front Float

Same body position as a back float but you're on your belly, head submerged. Hold your breath for this one and see how long you can hold it. (Hint: You feel out of breath underwater not necessarily because you're out of air, but there's too much carbon dioxide in your lungs. Exhale a little bit if your lungs feel like they are going to explode.

Jellyfish Float

Same as front float but you curl up in the fetal position.

Kicking

Do this on a kickboard, with your hands on the top of it and your arms straight. The flutterkick is the alternating kick with pointed toes which is small yet fast. You should not worry about how big the splash you make, but the water should almost look like it's boiling. The breaststroke kick is where you start with your legs straight and toes pointed. Then, you flex your feet and bring them back to your butt together and then thrust with your feet then coming apart, but your knees should still be close together.

These are the very rudimentary skills you will need in order to even "get your feet wet" (horrible play on words). Learning the beginner stroke will be the gateway to learn the more advanced front crawl stroke. A good back float will be the gateway to learning strokes like the backstroke and the elementary backstroke. The kicks are also a major player in progressing.

However, getting some online tips will not necessarily diminish your fear of the water (which is ultimately keeping you from swimming as a whole). The best way to learn how to swim is in the presence of an experienced teacher in an adult swim class. That way, you'll have the piece of mind of swimming under someone that actually knows what they are talking about and that feeling of safety. Yes, it's not free, but you'd be surprised to see that you're not the only one that never learned how to swim. I have taught a few of the classes and you won't learn as quickly as the younger kids, but you should be able to pick it up, get over the fear, and swim for fun!

The YMCA and other pools that do Red Cross swimming lessons should all have adult Learn to Swim programs.

Answer 2

According to the experts, it is never too late to learn to swim properly provided you find the right teacher and setting. Ideally, the pool should be warm, quiet and shallow and teaching should be on an individual basis or in very small groups, with the instructor in the water. Choose a teacher who has been personally recommended, or ask to watch a lesson in progress, so you can assess whether the approach suits you. Choose someone with an Amateur Swimming Association qualification.

Sure ways to conquer your fear of water

Do:

accept your fear, be patient: and recognise that it may take time to overcome it

learn how to exhale slowly, steadily and confidently into the water
practise submerging your face in a basin or a bath

buy a good pair of goggles

practise floating with your face down, your arms alongside your body and lower than your shoulders, with legs straight


Don't:

suck in air before you start to swim. It is a recipe for hyperventilation and anxiety

hold your nose before you put your face in the water. If you breathe out through your mouth, your nose will automatically seal and no water will go up it

grimace. If you screw up your face, it is much 'harder to breathe out

constrict or tense your body. You will not float as well

Answer 3

I didn't learn till later in life either. There are adult swimming lessons at most local pools and everyone's in the same situation so it's okay.

Answer 4

Can you blow bubbles under water? If you can't work on that cuz if you're gonna swim you got to know that and to keep your head down.

Answer 5

Jump in the deep end that was how i learnt.Just make sure some one is there if it does n't work, And make sure you don't panic!
Just do what comes naturally (not panicing)

Answer 6

take an adult private swim lesson!

Answer 7

http://www.conquerfear.com/brochureweb.pdf