7 Swim Tips For Adult Beginners

Depending on how you choose to learn to swim, self-taught or instruction from a professional, it can take several days, weeks, months, or even for some, years to learn how to swim.

One of the smartest things you can do is hire an experienced swim instructor. The right swim instructor will not only decrease the learning curve but can get you swimming as quickly as possible in a safe manner.

We highly recommend it.

*Bonus points if you can find a swim instructor to teach you one on one as this will allow you to not only learn faster but get the proper guidance YOU need and not just general group information and lessons.

In the meantime, we’ve put together a list of the 7 helpful swim tips for adult beginners.

Swim Tips For Adult Beginners

Do you feel left out during water activities while on vacation, like scuba diving? Have you had a fear of water that you can’t seem to shake? Did you have a negative/traumatic experience while swimming?

If any of these situations are relatable, know that you’re not alone. Lots of people have to deal with the same struggles and fears when it comes to the water.

The good news is that this doesn’t have to always be the case.

You can learn to properly swim and to keep yourself safe in just about any situation.

Just don’t expect things to change all in one day, but with practice, consistency, and working with a swim instructor we feel you put yourself in the best position to succeed.

Also, if anything makes you uncomfortable or unsafe please AVOID doing them especially if swimming alone.

Here are a few tips to follow for safe learning:

1. Get Warmed Up

Don’t get in the pool and begin swimming lengths before you are warmed up.

Swimming requires the use of lots of large muscle groups – warming up increases body temperature, which reduces the chance for muscle and tendon injuries.

Start your session by doing a few stretches, walking for a few minutes, or even gently swimming or gliding in the water for a few minutes.

2. Get Comfortable In The Water

A great way to get comfortable in the water is to start in the shallow end of the pool.

There, you’ll be able to stand in the water, submerging yourself beneath the surface according to your comfort level.

Growing comfortable is a matter of practice. Here are a few things you can try while in the shallow end:

• Do bobs in the shallow end
• Practice holding your breath while keeping your eyes open (goggles will help)
• Use your arms to move underwater while holding your breath

The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel. It’s also a good idea to talk with the lifeguard or manager at your pool for safety tips.

3. Practice Your Breathing

While in the shallow end you can practice holding your breath while your head is under the surface, knowing you can come up for air at any given time.

Try going on your side and getting some breathing practice.

Breathing is the key to a successful stroke, and the more time you can spend perfecting your technique, the better.

4. Do More Than Freestyle Swim

So far we’ve:
– Warmed up
– Entered the shallow end of the pool
– Gotten comfortable in the water by going below the surface, practicing bobs and moving our arms
– Practiced breathing

In addition to this, we can work on a few other beginner-friendly techniques like floating, kicking while sitting on the edge of the pool with your feet in the water, or kicking while hanging on to the edge of the pool.

Here’s how to do flutter kicks:

This gives you plenty of things to practice while in the water! It also will help build up your coordination in the water helping you become a smooth swimmer in the near future.

In order to become a better and safer swimmer, we recommend pairing with someone who knows what they’re doing.

5. Work With A Swim Instructor San Diego

Peace Of Mind Swimming offers private 1-on-1 swim lessons within San Diego County and the Temecula area.

We’ve made it our mission to increase water competence and decrease drownings in our communities. The knowledge learned from taking adult swim lessons can be passed on to family, friends, and so on.

We’ve worked with people of all ages and skill levels so rest assure you will be in good hands.

Ready to register for private swim lessons?

You can meet the team and register here.

 

6. Be Consistent

Gaining confidence and becoming a skilled swimmer requires sufficient time spent in the water. The more time you spend, the more comfortable you’ll feel and the better swimmer you will become.

Sort of like driving. Merging onto the freeway for the very first time can be nerve-wracking. But with practice and consistency, many eventually are able to merge onto the freeway without giving it a second thought.

If possible, set some time aside for swimming lessons each week. We recommend a minimum of two times a week for swimming lessons.

The more consistent you are, and as time passes, the more skilled and comfortable you will become.

7. Celebrate The Wins (even the small ones)

Swimming is a brilliant way to stay active.

It’s a great form of cardiovascular exercise. Just 30 minutes of weekly swimming can help guard against heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes. Along with the many physical benefits, swimming can also boost the immune system and mental health.

These are in themselves small victories.

It’s OK if you’re not a proficient swimmer, yet. If you’re not comfortable with going completely under the surface, celebrate the fact that you entered the water in the first place.

Remember, it can take many months for someone to learn how to swim.

How Should A Beginner Start Swimming?

As stated before, we can’t recommend finding an experienced swim coach in your area.

This will set you up for the most success.

In the meantime, feel free to try some of our tips from above in a safe manner.

Key takeaways from above:

• Enter the water at your own risk, and stay in the shallow end. (Do not go in deep water and avoid just hanging onto the wall while getting more acquainted).
• Talk to a lifeguard or manager at your pool for safety tips.
• Hire a private swim coach or find a learn-to-swim program in your city that offers in-person lessons.

Did you find our list of swim tips for adult beginners helpful? Do you have any useful tips to add to the list?

Share with us in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you!