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AIBU?

to pay for swimming lessons?

34 replies

paddleduck · 21/07/2014 10:36

For myself Blush

I taught myself to swim around 6 year's ago. I used to have a fear of water and breathing problems. . Asthma as a kid which evolved into panic attacks the minute I felt my breathing was somehow impaired.. so being near the water or in, being out of breath or in enclosed spaces.. too hot etc. Turtle necks are a no go Sad


Anyway. . 6 year's on and I can breaststroke a mile and go a few times a month. . In fact I really love it.

I have in the last few years been able to use middle lanes, instead of being too scared and having to stay near the edge at all times. I feel I've come along way and honestly enjoy the water. But I still have anxiety over being splashed and cannot swim longer than 45mims- 1 hr max because my neck and back gets sooo sore from the tension of constantly keeping my head above water and not changing techniques. I would in no way consider myself a strong swimmer.

I feel incredibly embarrassed and when I confided in my mother she literally laughed in my face, but I want to pay for some private one on one lessons so I can learn to swim properly and overcome these fears (i hope) in a safe environment and with proper guidance. I feel so cross that she laughed at me.. its her fault I have reached adulthood without this life skill (i have had my children enjoying water from a very early age and want them to be competent swimmers) ..and now feel so utterly embarrassed I'm not sure I can pluck the courage to book them.. will they think I'm utterly ridiculous? ?


This has turned into a rather long post.. sorry!

OP posts:
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Andrewofgg · 21/07/2014 10:38

If they are professional at what they do they will not laugh. Go for it and good luck.

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TheOneWithTheHair · 21/07/2014 10:40

YANBU and your mum was mean. I know a lot of adults who book 1 to1 lessons for so many different reasons.

I think you should go for it. The teacher wouldn't bat an eyelid.

I also want to say, I think you are amazing to have come so far by yourself. You should be bloody proud of yourself!

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Chrysanthemum5 · 21/07/2014 10:40

I'd say go for it. I almost drowned twice as a child in our local river, and I am very scared of water. I can swim a bit, but I won't go out of my depth, and I never go underwater.

I've managed to hide it from the DCs and they love swimming, but as they get older it's more obvious that I don't join in. So, I'm considering having some lessons to overcome my fear.

I've spoken to the DCs swimming instructor, and she tells they do lessons for adults so I'm working on building up my courage to book some.

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thenightsky · 21/07/2014 10:40

I was in exactly the same position as you - self-taught, swimming with head out of water, getting painful neck etc.

Adult lessons were amazing and worth every penny. I now glide along with my face in the water and my neck lovely and straight (wearing goggles). I can do a bit of breaststroke (although I do still struggle with getting the breathing right on that one) and my backstroke is good enough to do a few lengths too.

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 21/07/2014 10:41

YANBU go for it!

Of course http won't think you're ridiculous. My mil is in her 50s and does swim training. My DH has sw
C

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 21/07/2014 10:41

Swum competitively for years (was what I was trying to say).

Just because you're an adult it makes no difference!

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thenightsky · 21/07/2014 10:42

Sorry... i meant front crawl where my breathing is not great.

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Pobblewhohasnotoes · 21/07/2014 10:42

Apologies for the typos. I'm not sure what happened. And as for why 'http' is there??

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nothingtodotoday · 21/07/2014 10:42

My daughter is a swimming teacher and has taught many people with the same issues as you. She said they are lovely pupils who are great to teach and usually progress well...go for it?

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Pagwatch · 21/07/2014 10:43

Most swimming pools provide adult classes. It's not at all unusual.

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paddleduck · 21/07/2014 10:51

There's one too many utterly ' s in my op haha!

Thank you for replying- is it really common for adults to do this then? ????I've never come across anyone else who has taken lessons in adult years and feel a bit of a twat.

Also concerned I will look like a water version of phoebe (from friends) running.

OP posts:
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Lonecatwithkitten · 21/07/2014 10:54

You should be really proud of yourself having got so far alone and any swimming teacher will be really impressed with what you have achieved.
They will delighted to teach someone who is so focused.

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MrsWombat · 21/07/2014 10:55

A friend of mine has recently done this, and I am considering it for myself. Only thing stopping me at the moment is pregnancy! I can swim a width badly after swimming lessons in year 6 at school. My six year old has just got his certificate for 10 metres so is over taking me!

Go for it!

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GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 21/07/2014 10:56

There are group adult beginner and intermediate lessons at my local sports centre so there obviously is a need for this. Private lessons would help the teacher focus on exactly what you want to achieve which seems to be better technique in different strokes which is not a basic skill by any means.

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Whowouldfardelsbear · 21/07/2014 10:59

I'm having swimming lessons at the moment. I have been able to 'swim' since i was 5, but never really learned proper techniques and never developed the stamina to swim long distances.

I want to be able to take myself off down the pool and swim for a good amount of time and distance and exercise, so i am having lessons to learn proper free style etc.

love my lessons (i am in a group with 2 other adults) and it is a great excuse for getting out the house for an evening.

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pointythings · 21/07/2014 11:05

Of course YANBU, it is so lovely to be able to swim properly with your face in the water. I learned to do crawl properly by watching the DDs' lessons, but would definitely have considered adult lessons otherwise - go for it.

Your mum is mean and probably jealous that you will end up a good swimmer.

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Pooka · 21/07/2014 11:09

My dh had lessons recently to learn proper technique for a triathlon. He can cycle and run ok, but while he could swim, he didn't have good technique. I know several people who train adults and some friends who have then progressed to deep water training for open swimming.

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catinbootz · 21/07/2014 11:09

YANBU

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NatashaBee · 21/07/2014 11:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Leveret · 21/07/2014 11:15

Great idea. Technique is all important in swimming and can definitely be learned at any age.
Good luck - you will love it!

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ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp · 21/07/2014 11:25

I know several adults who had never learned/could only swim a little who took lessons to be able to keep up with their kids! There are adult classes several times a week at my local pool for groups and they also do private 1-1s too, so very common. The teachers should be understanding and helpful and if not, try another one!

I also know a couple of competent swimmers who go for technique lessons regularly to improve their times, and am thinking of doing this myself after the hols. My mum only learned to swim in her 30s as she had never had the opportunity till then and that was back in the 1970s so adult lessons have been around for a while.

I so admire you for doing this by yourself. I really hope you are proud of yourself, you should be. Your mum was ignorant at best, a hurtful cow at worst, ignore! Swimming is brilliant exercise, me time and relaxing all in one. Go for it!

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Boleh · 21/07/2014 11:27

I teach scuba diving and to pass the course you have to be able to swim 200m without a significant break. Several of my adult students have taken private swimming lessons to achieve this, mainly people who could swim but had such poor technique they were exhausted after 100m. Not at all unusual in my opinion!

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Thenapoleonofcrime · 21/07/2014 11:28

I would absolutely go for this. I also was taught to swim without putting my face in the water and I used to get a headache/migraine all the time for the strain on my neck. Later in life, someone showed me how to go underwater, I bought some goggles and I never looked back, you can swim for much longer and it's much more relaxing. Never too late to change.

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MrsMoon76 · 21/07/2014 11:30

My husband and I both took private swimming lessons last year. I was the same as you and needed to improve my technique and DH couldn't swim at all and was very nervous. I have now been able to show my dad what he was doing wrong (same as me).

Your mum is quite nasty to have laughed. Can she swim? Mine can't and is now taking lessons too.

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kinkyfuckery · 21/07/2014 11:32

Not at all unreasonable. Our local pool are advertising adult lessons just now. I'm thinking about it, for similar reasons to yours. I can swim in an emergency but would really love to learn how to swim properly.

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