The day of Lesson #1 finally arrived. I sat in my car in the car park a few minutes early mustering all my courage not to drive away. I walked to the counter ever so "calmly" scanning the aquatic centre for anybody I might know – phew none in sight!
I put on my swim class appropriate cossies and came out, swim cap in hand, to see my instructor (Jackie – quietly relieved it was a female) already in the lane in the water waiting for me. I knew I was the only person enrolled in this particular class so at this stage there was nothing else to do but get into the pool. Which I did – ooooh - 29 degrees was a smidge cooler than I had been expecting. What had I been expecting – a spa bath perhaps??? Anyway at this stage I wasn’t hesitant about getting in because at 1metre along the entire length of the pool the water level was well within my comfort zone .
The first thing Jackie did was ask me about my water skills, or lack thereof. A few questions along the lines of:
- Can I swim at all – nope.
- Can I float on my back – I don’t think so.
- Do I put my head under water – only with my eyes closed and holding my nose else water goes up my nose - eeek.
We tested whether I could float on my back– tick! Seems I can. J
After that she pulled out a kick board and showed me how to kick. It was a bit hard to see her technique in the water but I grabbed onto the board and off we went kicking down the pool (me holding onto the kick board trying not to make it or me sink, she walking in the water beside me). I managed to reach the other end without sinking or stopping but I was exhausted and breathless - that was actually hard yakker!!!
It was at this point that I also noticed a man who looked very much like my boss’s husband sitting at the end of the pool with his young boys – OMG it was my boss’s husband. Arrghhh! Did he spot me, is he going to tell my boss, does she ever come during this time, will he recognise me in my cap, bloody bloody this was all going well until now.
Perhaps it was a combination of seeing a familiar face and exhaustion but kicking back down to the other end was very stop / start. My feet kept sinking and I was only going a few metres at a time. When we got to the other end Jackie pulled out some flippers and said using them would let me feel what position my feet need to be in for proper kicking. The flippers were awesome – I was literally gliding down the pool. Unfortunately though when I went back to no flippers for the next lap I felt like I was going nowhere and worse backwards. My kicking seemed worse than the very first lap and my feet and kick board kept sinking after a few metres. Jackie said I was doing quite well for my first go but it was pretty clear this was going to require a good amount of practice (and some googling on good technique).
Jackie then asked me if I would like to try to put my head under water. I said “maybe not today” thinking lady “I haven’t put my head under water for 30 years I am not about to just do it now”! but after one more stop / start kicking lap I thought what the heck, I am here to push my boundaries a little. So I tried, using Jackie’s tip: to avoid getting water up my nose gently exhale out of my nose as it submerges into the water.
Bzzzt! I couldn't do it. I was tense and felt like I was out of breath before I even got close to getting my nose in. This wasn’t going to happen today and was going to be my biggest immediate challenge. I have to say I was a bit disappointed that Jackie didn’t have any exercises or other ways to help me relax me and coax me further into the water. I made a mental note to google when I got home.
So after Lesson #1: yes I can float, yes I am still very reluctant to put my head under water but most importantly yes I will be returning next week for Lesson #2. J
G'day Millie,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say what an awesome start you have made. I have been a swimmer for ever and spend a lot of time teaching kids to swim, particularly in the ocean. I assume you are taking your lessons in a 25m pool. To kick a lap on your very first night is an outstanding achievement. It takes months to get kids to that level, and they don't have the irrational fears that us silly adults bring with us.
My #1 tip for you is to get comfortable underwater. Use goggles so you can look around and see that there is nothing to be afraid of, and even use a nose clip so you don't get the water up your nose. The nose clip will free your hands to use to move around underwater.
Once you feel comfortable, lose the nose clip and practice the breathing technique your teacher told you.
Its pretty simple, if you can get comfortable putting your face in the water, your bum and legs float higher. But as soon as you pull your face out of the water everything sinks.
And of course PRACTICE, PRACTICE PRACTICE !
I hope that helps,
Best wishes
Adam