How often to have swimming lessons?

bouicca21

I have just learned to swim. Only half a length, but hey that's more than I've been able to do for 60+ years. I am currently having lessons once a week. Would it be crazy/damaging to take a second set of lessons? All the teachers at the pool seem to teach the same way, so I doubt there would be a conflict of advice. It's not just technique I need to learn, it's building up stamina and confidence, and I am still reluctant to go to the pool on my own since I don't want to go out of my depth - yet.

tanith

I can't see how it could be anything but helpful the more you practice the better you'll get.. can you not just add another lesson a week to what you are already doing?
Otherwise maybe go along with a friend who is more confidant as building stamina is really in your own hands.

BusPass_2

If you can swim half a length, you can swim.


Are more lessons really needed? Just get in there and add a few metres each time you go, If you go twice a week you'll be swimming lengths within a couple of weeks.


I retired, started just like you, and now do 80 lengths (2k) most days.


You've got the basics all you need is the confidence and the only way you are going to get that is by pushing off and swimming!

FBaby

I have been able to swim from the age of 6 but just the front breast, just could not do the crawl. I decided in my 40s to tackle this. At first, I couldn't do one length and just couldn't imagine being able to do 10 let alone 50. I had one lesson and my instructor said it was all about practicing, ideally 3 times a week, so I did, and after three more sessions could do 2, then the next session did 4, then two more sessions later did 10, and then that was it, the next one I had done 40 (1K). I found that once I had found my rythm, doing 10 or 50 didn't make that much difference.

Whether you feel safer doing more lessons or whether you can try to go alone and just add a bit of distance is up to you, but keep going, you'll get there.

McKneff

Once you can swim, no matter how far, you can swim.


Just build up the time that you spend swimming. You really don't need to fork money out.

bouicca21

With some trepidation, I'll take the advice and just go. I'm not confident enough to get out of my depth (I'm still prone to panic) but part of the pool is roped off for 'general' rather than lane swimming so I suppose I can practice there without upsetting too many good swimmers.

I'll be happy to swim a length - because once I've done that I can do 2, and then 3 ...

thx1138

Most public pools are half length, that is, twenty five meters, which is half the Olympic distance. So sixty four lengths is a mile. I like thinking in those terms because you can work your way up to greater and greater distances.

I recall once many years ago meeting a man in his sixties who looked incredibly healthy. I asked him how he did it and he said, 'Simple, I swim one mile every single day, seven days a week!'

zaax

Don't forget get you need some think time, to work out how you are going to get to your goal. Could it be an extra stroke a week, or a half length a month. How are you going to turn - water will get in your eyes. Are you going to keep your eye open underwater?

zaax

thx1138 wrote: »

Most public pools are half length, that is, twenty five meters, which is half the Olympic distance. So sixty four lengths is a mile. I like thinking in those terms because you can work your way up to greater and greater distances.

I recall once many years ago meeting a man in his sixties who looked incredibly healthy. I asked him how he did it and he said, 'Simple, I swim one mile every single day, seven days a week!'

That's the trick; being regular.

SeduLOUs

Is there a baby pool you could use to give you a confidence boost or never being 'out of our depth'? I agree with others that once you can swim, you can swim, so it's just more practice you need rather than more lessons.

bouicca21

The baby pool would be perfect for practice - 20 metres so jolly near a length, and I'd feel safe, plus it's a lot warmer. Unfortunately it is in constant use for children's swimming lessons and aqua aerobics classes. There is just one spot described as a family splash session so I'll go along and hope it isn't too crowded.

I am so looking forward to being able to swim a mile!