One in five French people cannot swim ten meters (Public health France). Whether we have never learned (which is frequent among seniors), that we have forgotten because too little practice, or fear, especially in the ocean and its waves, all the reasons not (or more) knowing how to swim can be overcome with the support of a trusted professional, a little practice and a boost of confidence. This summer, we throw our apprehensions into the water!
1-Get help
We can certainly ask a loved one, but knowing how to swim does not mean knowing how to teach! The ideal therefore remains tolearn with an MNS (lifeguard) patient and reassuring and who will adapt to your needs and your level. All of them offer small group lessons in municipal swimming pools or on the beaches. Some even give private lessons if you prefer to be alone.
2-Start in calm water
Especially if you feel a little scared by the waves and rollers of the ocean, not very reassuring to learn, we opt for swimming pool lessons, in a peaceful lake or set on times when the sea is oil (at certain tide times). On the beaches, there are often small pools of seawater dedicated to learning.
3-Gain confidence
Before learning the movements, we must gain confidence: with the MSN, present in the water by our side, we will first stay where we have foot, understand the environment, learn to float and turn around in the water. water for surfing, a position that is both resting and safe. This mastered, we often already feel much more reassured.
4-Learn the gestures
Once in confidence, we start the propulsion movements (with board or fry to float and break down arms and legs if necessary). Today, we start rather with the front crawl and the back crawl, for the sake of balance and efficient propulsion. The breaststroke (more complicated because more technical) can be offered simultaneously. We will therefore have to learn to breathe: to blow in the water, to breathe in the open air. It is only then that we will coordinate movements and breathing.
5-Be patient!
Depending on your basics, apprehensions and progress, it will take more or less sessions to know how to swim well. Persevere, because as soon as the anxiety is lifted, everything seems easier and more pleasant. Once the lessons have been taken, you keep your skills and progress, swimming every day during your vacation, and going to the pool as often as possible the rest of the year.
Good reasons to take up swimming
- Maintain your heart and body
Swimming is the perfect endurance sport: moderate rhythm, muscular work of the whole body, but also excellent training of the heart which becomes more efficient and of the respiratory system, whose capacities improve.
- Draw yourself a mermaid silhouette
Practiced regularly, swimming muscles and slims: shoulders and back more muscular, arms refined and drawn, legs more shapely … And as the water “carries”, you feel comfortable even with a few extra pounds, without straining excessively his joints (unlike a land sport).
- Relax
When you feel comfortable in the water, swimming brings real physical relaxation, especially since the water has a pleasant massaging effect. You come out calm, your body and mind relaxed.
- Improve blood circulation
Tendency to heavy legs? Swimming is the ideal sport, working the legs and improving venous return. Lying on the beach or at the edge of a swimming pool, the trio of immobility + heat + sun is harmful and promotes venous dilation, which exacerbates the problem. Swimming is then all the more beneficial.
- Gain Confidence
When you do not know how to swim or no longer, it is difficult to supervise your children at the beach or the swimming pool (even less to bathe with them, especially since you often communicate your fear to them), nor to accept a boat trip, an introduction to kayaking, sailing or paddle boarding: we are often blocked by the fear of falling and drowning. So many distractions that we deprive ourselves of. Knowing how to swim, even without being a champion, allows you to feel safe and regain confidence and assurance.
A panicked fear of water?
Having witnessed a drowning, having experienced a great fear, panicking at the idea of entering the water: these traumas which are the result of a phobia can be overcome. There are courses and courses targeted to gently get out of “aquaphobia”: progressive, in very small groups, they accompany everyone at their own pace, to learn to feel at ease, to put their head under water, go where you don’t have a foot … and come to terms with the pleasures of water. Inquire at the municipal swimming pool.
Thanks to Elsa Dabet, lifeguard and aquatic sports coach on the Basque Coast (Tonique-ondine. Com)
