I can swim backstroke

It's been a long time since I posted about my lessons.  I think I felt a bit fed up that it was all taking so long, but as time has gone by things have improved bit by bit.

It was probably sometime in August that I had a small breakthrough.  I'd had a break for a couple of weeks with a cold and then had a substitute teacher for two weeks who was pretty scary. As she didn't know us she didn't know about my fears which was actually probably a good thing.  She really pushed us all and to my surprise found that I could float on my back, move my legs and so some sculling.  I didn't do it for too long - probably about 15 metres, but it was progress.

Then things levelled out again for a few weeks - until about three weeks ago I suddenly found I was able to do a push and glide without excessive anxiety.  To be honest I just couldn't do it before then - it was like when you go to do something and then just bottle out at the last moment.  My breathing had been all over the place - but then suddenly it just all changed.

I'd managed a bit of back stroke a couple of weeks ago - but it was more like a windmill - did about 20 metres, but arms not going in the right place, and breathing very fast and just not relaxed.

Last night however was the best.  We had a normal class - practicing submerging, breathing, pushing and gliding and a little front crawl (not very good at crawl - can only do a few strokes and have not mastered rolling to the side to take a breath) - then we did some backstroke exercises using one float.  This means you hold the float over your knees and then swim taking it in turns with each arm to do the stroke.  Finally the teacher said to let the float go and see how you get on.  It was magic.  I could swim.  I finished the 25 metres, then took a short break to curb my excitement - then did it again.  It felt wonderful.  I wasn't out of breath much, I felt relaxed and even better I wanted to do more.  So I did - another two 25 metres with a short break and then one more with a short break in the middle.

It would be lovely if I could post a picture of me swimming, but don't have any.  You will just have to imagine it.  Instead to brighten this post up I've added a photo of some of my inspirations - yes I know they are Humboldt penguins, but when I saw them on holiday recently it just made me think - perhaps I can relax and swim just like them.

Practice

My confidence is still growing, but is much slower than I'd anticipated so am feeling a bit frustrated.

One good thing has been gradually getting better at breathing out under water.  I can submerge further down now while holding onto the edge of the pool and feel much more relaxed doing this.  Can also breathe out for longer meaning I can glide a bit further with one out breath, but am still reliant on a float.  We also did some back stroke this week - with the noodle float to help - suddenly I found albeit for a short time I was actually moving through the water!  It was very exciting!  There is a point where you look up at the roof and see a piece of bunting go past - it is a bit like crossing a finishing line.  Ha - that'll be the day!  I do have dreams of swimming strongly and confidently down a lane one day...

We had a substitute teacher the other week - was a bit nerve wracking wondering how it would work out, but she was just as encouraging as my usual teacher and urged me to try and get some practice in between classes so I can maintain my confidence levels.  By the time I get to the end of class I am usually much more relaxed - the difficulty is then sustaining that over the week.

So anyway I turned up half an hour early for class this week to get some practice in, to be frustrated by being told that I couldn't take a float into the pool during the swim for all session.  This just doesn't make sense - it wasn't that busy, and how am I meant to practice otherwise?  I'm just not confident enough to go without a float just yet.  I felt so embarrassed and self conscious.  There was nothing else to do but sit in the water at the side.   I also got rather contradictory information from different lifeguards, but the teacher gave me the OK that if he is around he is happy for me borrow one of the ones he uses for lessons so I'll try and do that next week.   I had thought about signing up for more frequent lessons, but it is really nice being part of the same group all the time, and although I do feel as though I'm bottom of the class I don't really mind.  I have never ever got this far in any swimming lessons before, so as far as I am concerned this is real progress!

Lesson 4: slowly gaining confidence

Before the lesson

What I've come to realise is that it is going to take time to learn to swim.  As with many things confidence can fluctuate.  This week I think my confidence has grown a little bit.  For example arriving 10 minutes early to practice getting my face wet and breathing under water before class.  I also found I was able to stay with my face under water for longer than last week, and managed to glide with a float for a good 7-10 metres while breathing out.  Was able to exhale slower and longer which was somehow quite relaxing.

I've not yet managed to go without a float even though two weeks ago I managed it briefly.  But am almost there.  I did try to float on my front without any support, but got a bit panicky and decided not to push myself too far.   I think I will get there eventually, just not sure exactly when.

Lesson 3: goggles

Progress this week was a bit limited.  The exercises we did were quite challenging and I've not quite got the confidence to just go for it and try and glide or swim a little without a float.  The frustrating thing is as soon as I'm on the way home I want to be back in there having a go.  I think it will be small steps, so will try not to get too disheartened at not moving forward much.

However this week I did use my goggles.  I bought them last week but felt a bit self conscious so they stayed on the side hidden in the towel.  But this week it was goggle time. They are a bit of a pain when you are out of the water and you have to keep moving them up off the eyes, but they did make a big difference to my confidence in breathing under water.  They helped me keep my eyes open - until then I'd not really realised I'd been keeping them shut.  This reduced the panicky feeling and after a while of practicing it got easier to glide looking at the lovely clear water and watching the stream of bubbles coming first out of my mouth and then out of my nose.

Lesson 2: the new swimming costume

What has not been mentioned was the wardrobe malfunction that happened in my first class.  When the noodle float was positioned in front of me it unfortunately pushed down the top of my old and rather saggy swim suit purchased probably about 20 years ago, with the result that the life guard had a bit of an unexpected surprise...so this week I purchased a rather snazzy Zoggs swim suit from John Lewis to ensure everything stayed where it should.  There is nothing worse (apart from worrying about taking in a lungful of water) than worrying about whether your bits and bobs are on show.

So anyway - the second lesson.  What a night!  I was very nervous, but once I got in the pool I felt a lot better.  It was incredibly hot in the changing room area, and what with having the odd hot flush this afternoon I had started worrying about how I would cope with a flush in the pool.  There was no need to worry though as the water was very pleasant and the flushes stayed away.

This week I was separated off again and also had my own life guard keeping an eye on me for the beginning of class.  He stood there encouraging me while I practiced floating on my back using the noodle float and then standing up.   I was slightly anxious about the long metal pole he was holding.  It reminded me a bit of the hook the teacher had when I first went to swimming lessons in the horrible outdoor pool in Reigate circa 1974.  I wondered how the pole might be put to use and under what circumstances, but luckily I didn't get to find out.

We did some more putting our faces in the water then breathing out, and then some gliding (me with two floats).  But something good happened this evening.  It must be something about a desire to progress even if you are not quite sure what will happen.  I got a bit fed up with the two floats so got rid of one, and found it was rather nice....the teacher looked over and said he reckoned in a few minutes I would be without a float at all, and five minutes later that's what happened.  I managed to 'swim' about 3 metres towards the side of the pool - well it was more of a very splashy doggy paddle, but at least I got the feet up AND got my face wet.  It was so exciting I wanted to shout out!!  The final exercise was floating on the back with no support...this is actually pretty great and relaxing, although I think that is mainly as it keeps the face out of the water, so as long as next week I can improve the self righting bit, it will be even better.  To be told you are a natural floater is pretty wonderful for someone who has NEVER floated unsupported on their back before - I just hope I can maintain these exciting new skills next week. 

I have nothing but praise for our teacher.  There is just about the right level of encouragement which makes me feel confident, safe, and wanting to keep going.

Lesson 1: breathing out under the water, gliding and floating

I thought I'd better do a post about last weeks class before it all gets forgotten.

It was my first class.  There are about 12 people there - all appear to be much younger than me (I am 50), but all really friendly.  My fear must have been pretty evident as within about 3 minutes of me getting in the pool the teacher separated me off with a float and gave me some simple exercises to do while as far as I was concerned the rest of the class just got on with swimming, getting their heads under water and to me looking really confident.  But actually this was great.  I was just happy doing my thing and taking my time. 

The class is very structured, and that suits me just fine.  I don't remember the classes 15 years ago being like that - am sure they were a bit of a free for all - with people splashing around and no organisation.

In these classes the first exercises involve breathing in, and then putting the head/face under the face and breathing out through your mouth and if you can the nose so you blow bubbles for as long as you can.  This was quite a revelation.  I don't think anyone has told me about breathing out like this, and certainly until now I've spent most of the time trying not to get my face wet and focusing on getting my feet off the ground instead.  But although this sounded and seemed quite scary, somehow I got some confidence and managed to do it.  OK maybe not as much as the others in the group or for so long, but I had a go.

We also did some floating on the front and on the back, but I had to use the noodle float for this and then some gliding.  By the end of the first class I just about managed to go without the float for a second or two - but was not quite ready to go it alone.

Time to learn to swim....again

This year I will learn to swim.  I will overcome my fears of getting my face wet, putting my head under water, not being able to put my feet on the floor of the pool, and I will enjoy it.  Well I hope so.

I have to write these things down as I have to be able to remind myself why I am going to put myself through the experience of lessons again in 2014.

Ever since New Year when I went to my GP with a painful knee following taking up Zumba and doing too much I have heard time and time again, why don't you take up swimming?  The simple answer is I can't swim.  I have had various people attempt to teach me over the last 40 odd years, but I've never got far.  I did manage to swim a tiny bit once, a long time ago, but it was only a few strokes and since I was holding my breath pretty much most of the time, and panicked when I couldn't feel the floor of the pool it wasn't really what I could count as a success.  I also got terrible neck and back pain while trying desperately not to get my face wet.  I think the last time I tried to learn it was at Newham Leisure Centre about 15 years ago.  I don't remember much teaching going on, but lots of people splashing and getting in each others way.  The taste of chlorine was horrible, and the arrival of a nasty cold easily became the reason (excuse) to miss class and then, well, I just didn't bother to go back.

So I have signed up to swimming classes at the London Aquatics Centre.  To be honest I'm not really sure how many classes I've signed up to.  I guess I will just keep going until I can swim.  This blog is my attempt to document my progress.  I really really want to learn to swim.