30 January 2016

A Swimming Lesson

Today I joined my daughter at her gym, not for anything energetic, I'm way past all that treading the mill, lifting the weights, all that intense cardio stuff, I much prefer walking or cycling nowadays.
No today was a nice relaxing day in the pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. My daughter gets guest passes so today was one of those visits.
There was a little effort expected on my part though, I had asked my daughter to help teach me the proper breathing technique for swimming the breast stroke, the only kind of swimming I can do.
I learnt to swim at school but it was very basic, just staying afloat really. We learnt at the outdoor pool in Peterborough where I was born and bred. A bus collected us from school once a week. After changing into our costumes we all lined up at the shallow end and if we didn't jump in of our own accord the teacher pushed us in!!! Can you imagine doing that now!!!.....
Lessons consisted mainly of doing the correct arm movements whilst keeping one leg on the bottom of the pool. Eventually I gained the courage to lift the leg and I swam.
After drying off and applying a liberal coating of talcum powder we then enjoyed a mug of steaming hot bovril, thus ensuring we returned to school warm and invigorated. I can't remember what we did about drying our hair though, mine was long then and took a while to dry naturally.
I'm not a confident swimmer but I do enjoy it as long as I'm close to the edge of the pool, or not in the deep end. But because I was never really taught properly I hold my head at an awkward angle in order to breathe, and after a while my neck aches. 
So suitably equipped with goggles we started. It wasn't disastrous but neither was it a huge success, I couldn't co-ordinate arm movements, head up breathing in, head under water breathing out, all in a few seconds! I also had difficulty with water in my nose. So I need lots of practice, and a nose clip. 
After a few lengths we spent the rest of the time relaxing in the jacuzzi, steam room and my favourite - the sauna. After lunch we finished the day with some retail therapy. Daughter bought a pair of trainers, I bought plasters and chocolate!

How is your swimming technique?

16 comments:

  1. That brought back memories. I also learned to swim (exceedingly poorly) in similarly uninspiring lessons. I'm not at all jealous of those younger than me, but I would have liked to have been inspired by more modern swimming pools than the outdoor tub that I was supposed to learn in.

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    1. Hello John, yes it was all very basic then. My grandson loved being in the water from when he was just a baby. He dives and jumps off the top diving board now!!

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  2. I was raised in the deep south, schools did not offer swimming lessons. My mother employed her own method of sink or swim. In a brackish creek, no less. The water is very dark and she sort of tossed my 4 year old self in and hoped for the best. I sunk like a rock and when they pulled me out I proclaimed to the world that my mother had drowned me. I learned to swim when I was 21 and hugely pregnant with my twins. I would never be able to save someone, but I can get myself out of the deep. I only swim in water I can see through!

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    1. Hi Kathy, thank you for your comments, you made me laugh, but I bet you were terrified. Well done learning to swim whilst pregnant.

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  3. Polly, I can't remember the last time I had a swim. My mother didn't know how to swim and was very afraid of the water. She made sure I had swimming lessons when I was 6 years old. I'm a pretty good swimmer, just don't have anywhere to swim. When I lived in So California with my late husband and son we owned a home with a pool in the backyard. That's where we spent most of our free time. Swimming is great exercise as we age. Easy on the body. I hope you can continue and find joy in it. xo ~ Nancy

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    1. Hello Nancy, it's nice to hear from you. A pool in the garden wouldn't get used here in the UK, the temp. would have to be in the high 30's before I would use it! It is good gentle exercise, and because of my age I can get a good discount deal at the leisure centre in town, so I'm going to practice the breathing and start going regularly again x

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  4. I learned to swim as a kid, yet I wouldn't consider myself a strong swimmer. I know what I'm supposed to do, I just don't do it all very precisely! But, it is good exercise, and I wish we had a pool in the backyard. Wherever we move to next, I do hope it has access to a pool. Thanks so much for visiting my blog earlier today!

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    1. Hello Amy, it's nice to hear from you, thank you for your comments.

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  5. You sound like the same kind of swimmer as me! (And gym member) :)


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    1. lol, I suspect there might be lots of us about! :-)

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  6. I love swimming although my technique isn't that great. I thoroughly approve of the chocolate though. I popped by because I came across a blog I think you'd love, you can find it here :http://josje-bouwt.blogspot.co.uk/ This lady does amazing things with her dolls house! x

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    1. Hi Sarah, I have visited this blog before but forgot to save it in my favourites! thank you for the thought and the link, I've saved it now :-) It is a beautiful site, she is brilliant x

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  7. I have fond memories of swimming with my father when I was younger. I was never a strong swimmer either and for years could only swim the breast stroke under the water. To this day my front crawl is a mess of flailing arms and frantic splashing. Nonetheless, going swimming with my dad was something I always looked forward to. It can be a really great bonding experience.

    Bernice Cunningham @ Guardian Industries

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    1. I remember swimming in a river with my mum and dad and a crowd of their friends and children. It was always a fun day but I never stayed in for long, and stayed close to the edge!

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  8. My kids swim on the swim team at their school. They are both confident swimmers, but my daughter is sick of it and wants to quit. My son, however, is very competitive, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him stick with this through college. I, however, can merely doggy paddle. I suppose I should get my kids to teach me!

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    1. I think they would be excellent teachers!

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