According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, 25% of adults in this country can’t swim. Furthermore, another 20-25% are fearful and/or unsafe in deep water, even in pools. That’s almost half the adult population! So why is it that most adult non-swimmers feel like they are the only ones. Mostly because they have no idea how many millions of adults share their “little secret”. The embarrassment they feel coupled with fearful and/or frustrating experiences they have had with water & inadequate training methods have left them convinced that they will never learn to swim.
Meanwhile, many of these same people have or see their children & grandchildren swimming like fish while they avoid joining them, not only for fear of the water itself but for fear of being “found out” & publically embarrassed by their lack of ability. So they stand by watching what seems like the rest of the world having a great time, sometimes in the very pools they own themselves. They miss out on the fun & what is arguably one of the best exercises around.
All this is completely unnecessary with proper teaching methods & conditions. Though there are many great swim programs out there, they often lack the understanding of the barriers that adults face that most children do not. Though there is much focus on the physical issues & “learning strokes”, the real barriers tend to be psychological, especially those caused by many years of negative experiences, including with traditional swim lessons. For example:
- Outdoor Pools don't offer any privacy.
- Water temperatures below 92 Degrees prevent muscles, already tightened by fear, to relax.
- Instructors lacking Compassion/Patience/Experience & overemphasizing the
importance of strokes, often cause adults to give up. - Weeks between lessons slow the process of Water Familiarization & delay progress.
Klaus Bolle is the founder of Bolle Adult Swim School. He has used his Bolle Method to teach over 30,000 adults to swim. You can contact him at 602-323-4116, bolleswimschool@yahoo.com or at http://www.bolleswimschool.com/
