Has anyone learned to swim as an adult?

[chilliesandspices]

If so, what was your experience? How long did it take? Did you manage to find group lessons or have to go 1:1?

I had twice weekly 1:1 lessons and was able to swim by lesson 3.

My dad did.
He never learnt because he was seriously ill as a child but got embarrassed when we could both swim better than him.
He took weekly adult lessons for a while but picked up the basics quickly and taught himself by going swimming several times a week and practising.
He loves it now.
I think from what I've read, going swimming as often as possible over a short period is more helpful than once a week.

I did 1:1 lessons for about a year and a short intensive course. I haven't kept it up though so although I am much more confident in the water I still wouldn't say I can swim properly.

Thanks all. This gives me some hope. I've been struggling to find group lessons for the last 4 years. I was avoiding 1:1 because of awkwardness of being in a pool with regular swimmers but maybe 1:1 is the way to go afterall.

My husband and I did group lessons together when we were 24 years old, I think it was once a week for 8 weeks or something like that. He took to it really well and is an amazing swimmer now. I didn't pick it up so easily and I can just about manage one lap in the pool and I'm uncomfortable staying in the deep end for more than a few minutes.

Yes I did. I never learned as a child, I couldn't even doggy paddle. There was a PT at a gym I was a member of who also did swimming lessons so I paid him for some 1:1 sessions. He had me doing a doggy paddle in the first lesson and something resembling breast stroke by about the third. I think we had about eight sessions in total and by the end I could do a decent breast stroke, back stroke and a passable front crawl although the my technique for the latter still left lots to be desired. I was well capable of swimming laps on my own. He was a great teacher.

I did some group sessions for improvers a few years later but didn't really enjoy them as they did a lot of back stroke which I really dislike, and insisted we HAD to breathe every second stroke for crawl which I hated.

You really need to be practising as much as possible between sessions as well if possible.

Yes I did. I had 1:1 lessons for a year. I was a complete non swimmer to start and couldn't even use two floats to kick my legs up behind me for a while.

I still have water phobia when I am near to and of course out of my depth but I can swim a bit in a shallow pool 😂. My best stroke is front crawl but I struggle with breathing side to side. Basically, I'm much better than I was but I'd still consider myself a non- swimmer, even though I could do a few widths.

I'm a regular swimmer, and there's an adult beginners class at the same time as one of my regular women only slots.

Just to reassure you that I think the ladies doing that are awesome. Swimmers tend to be evangelical about it, so the more people who find a love for it the better.

I'd hate for you to be awkward in the pool just because I was there too - Id be sending the opposite vibes.

Good luck!

I had adult swimming lessons both in a group and 1 on 1 and while I would class myself that I can swim I absolutely can’t go out my depth. I think the fear of deep water is too ingrained in me

@Honaloulou thank you, that really does make me feel better. A big part of my worry was people who have grown up swimming thinking it was weird that I never learned. I guess if you're still regularly swimming in a pool it's because you enjoy it so you'd be more enthusiastic for newbies than most people.

There's no fear of water on my side. I've happily taken a pool noodle and snorkelled well out of my depth. My DH is a strong swimmer so I go with him but haven't needed help so far. I find floating is easier in deep water where I have no temptation to put my feet down and obviously with a mask I don't need to worry about getting my head out of the water to breathe. The struggle is turning that into a swim without a mask and successfully getting my head out of water. The few times I've tried I start sinking but get too embarrassed to persist. DH can't help with that because he learnt to swim at a young age so can't really explain or offer tips. It's just an automatic thing he does.

I started learning on my 35th birthday and 18 months later I completed a 17.5km sea swim. It was hard work, but I needed a scary goal to force me to go to the pool and train.

Bloody hell I don't think I'll ever be fit enough to swim that far but I'm so impressed!

Thank you all for the encouragement. I started searching harder for lessons and found a couple who offer lessons once a week at the pool in a local girls school. It's a really good set up. One half is beginners and improvers. The other half is for confident swimmers who want to improve their technique. They run the beginners session like six 1:1s so we're all at different stages but get a technique to practice and the husband moves between us to give feedback while the wife coaches the confident swimmers.

I've finished lesson three. I was a bit worried that I'd never get there after my first lesson but I've left each lesson having conquered a new skill. I'm a long way from being a swimmer but I'm really enjoying it and look forward to the day I can go to a pool by myself and swim in a lane.