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So, I lived to write about my first day at swimming lessons. I must admit, I am still having some anxieties just thinking about attending my 2nd day in swim class, knowing that my instructor wouldn't just let me stay in my comfort zone right at the pool gutter for the whole duration of the lessons. Like I said, it's a mental battle for me. A good way to prepare myself is by visualizing what I'll be doing next, but simply thinking about it sets my heart racing lol! There's no escaping the inevitable and I have to eventually let go of one of my safety nets.
Day 2: Treading the Waters
I'm the kind of student who likes a good balance between being supervised and being left on my own to figure things out. So when my instructor went to do something, I practiced floating once, twice and to hell with the gutter, I let go, even pushing away with my finger tips. It's still somewhat scary for me, floating "helpless" but I have a little confidence knowing that at the slightest sign of trouble, I only need to remember to stand up. I still have one safety net left hehehe.
My instructor came back shortly and saw that I was floating considerably farther from the edge (no she didn't jump in the pool to rescue me lol!). When I got up, she told me to walk back a few steps then try to float without assistance from the gutter. I was supposed to tread my way back to the gutter doing scissor movements with my legs, moving them up and down alternately and starting at the middle of the pool. I had to repeat what she said, not because I didn't understand. Fear was creeping up on me as usual, so it's a delaying tactic on my part as I try to gather my wits. But like what I did with pushing away from the edge, how bad could it be going back to the much loved gutter? I did that several times that I feel I should have a star stamped on my arm like a kindergarten kid doing great at school.
The real test for the day is for me to turn my back from the pool edge, kick it with my right leg and tread my way to the other side. I wasn't successful the first try because I couldn't hold my breath any longer and had to stop just a few more strokes to the other side. She just told me to continue until I get to my destination and do that over and over for the rest of the session. Again, she attended to the other students, leaving me to practice. Well, she's not that far away so I could just yell for help if I need to hehehe.
Wow! I am really making progress here. From a complete nerve-wreck when it comes to having my head submerged in water, I'm now just a slightly hesitant floater-treader. Not bad huh? The fear didn't just dissipate in a snap though. It's a conscious effort on my part to actually decide to just do what was asked and to smother the fear.
I enjoyed Day 2 much better because of the freedom and gradual build-up of confidence I felt around the water. It was just a bummer that I had to stop lots of times to rest at the pool side and stretch or try to compress my abdomen. I don't know why I feel abdominal pains but only when I am not swimming. The feeling is like I have done around 50 sit-ups or crunches. It's that painful but once the pain subsides a bit, I tread the waters again.
At some point, the pain worried me because my instructor couldn't enlighten me on that. She just assumed that I was still tensed or maybe it's the leg work that's also working out my core. I only know it's not my nerves acting up. I always like to know what's going on with me so I will also know how to prevent that from recurring on my next session. I found some answers that I will test next time I'm in the pool.
If you've experience upper abdominal tension or cramping when swimming, these links might enlighten you:
- Aerophagia: Swallowing Air While Swimming
- Abdominal Distention After Swimming (read the comment by Star Queen)
In this series:
Wow, nice! you're having swimming lessons! nagswimming lessons din ako before but for the life of me, i still don't know how to swim until now. all i know is to float. huhu. i have an issue with the water kasi muntik na ako malunod before, so i am a bit scared until now. alam mo yun, yung eksena na nagising ka na lang sa shore tapos maraming taong nakatingin then may nagreresuscitate sa'yo. oh my, i almost died! i know it should motivate me to learn how to swim more than it scares me. sigh. maybe next time. :-)
ReplyDeleteScary nga experience mo Van! I had a scare when I was in college. I was descending the pool kasi, and didn't think that I was going down at the deep end. Then someone grabbed hold of me pa, thinking I could swim and we were both flapping our arms lol! Good thing another classmate saw us and had the presence of mind not to grab us but instead pushed us to the side of the pool, otherwise we would have drowned her too.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know that you are able to find time to do this. Sa family namin walang marunong mag swim. Too bad. Good Luck Aileen! Will wait for more of your updates. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember when I took swimming class in college. It was also scary for me because I only swim when the water is not higher than my neck. But in this class, I had to learn to swim in very deep (maybe 6 feet deep) water. I did pass the class though I still don't consider myself an expert swimmer. If only I could go swimming more...
ReplyDeleteWow! Ang galing! congrats Ms. Aileen, I hope to learn how to swim too, maybe in the future. hehehe
ReplyDeleteNow I am inspired to enrol in swimming lessons too! When I was younger, we were never given opportunities to learn how to swim. Now, I do want to swim but feel too old to take lessons. I guess, I should just do it, right?
ReplyDeleteAy hehehe di naman expert tips to. Just sharing my learning experience, and emphasizing that I am that afraid of submerging, so that those who have the same fears will find more courage to give it a try. Pero ang hirap, constant battle with fears talaga. :-)
ReplyDeleteI want to learn that too sis! But eto very basic pa lang ako.
ReplyDeleteSis, no one's too old. Just search it up sa internet, there are people even older than 50 who took the lessons.... At least you won't have regrets later and you can say you tried....it's fun once you take out the fear, at least in my case.
ReplyDeleteNever mind if you're not an expert swimmer sis, so long as you can survive in water if it comes to that. The pool at YWCA if I'm not mistaken, the deepest end is 9 feet....I am eyeing that area always, telling myself, someday, I'll be able to wade on that end without worries.
ReplyDeleteGo sis! It's fun!
ReplyDeleteTagal nga when I came around to finally doing this. Glad may kasama ko with the lessons :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to swim, I really wish I will have enough courage to take swimming lesson like you...will see if I have it next summer time..
ReplyDeleteThat's a great sport dear! That is my sport actually! I learned how to swim in grade 4 and was taught by Chino Trinidad. Since then I have been loving the waters! Now, I'm the one teaching my eldest to swim instead of enrolling him in classes. :)
ReplyDeleteGood to know that you're facing your fears. Swimming is a life-saving skill. I want to learn with my kids one day. :-)
ReplyDeleteIm glad youve had improvements on your lessons! Happy for you sis :)
ReplyDeleteI know how to float na pataob. hehe I dunno how to tread. How many days ba yung swimming lessons?
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it's a life-saving skill. It's best talaga to learn at a young age but then, it's never too late for us adults :-)
ReplyDeleteI know sis! Total body workout eto. Yesterday during my run, with the heat, I could only think of dipping in the pool hehehe. I might also be the one to teach my nephews but I need to be good at it muna :-)
ReplyDelete12 sessions lang kami sis, expected na by the end, I could dive dun at the 9-feet deep end. Nervous when I think about it pero we're taking things at my pace. Me too, I only know how to float face down. Treading the water, you just move your legs up and down alternately, with hands just outstretched above the head....you'll move forward na doing that. Di lang basta floating. :-)
ReplyDeleteI missed swimming. This is the best exercise, almost the entire body is working here.
ReplyDeleteGood progress for you! Hang in there. You'll be doing laps in no time :) - jellybelly
ReplyDeleteHooray to you! Learning talaga has no age limit as long as you find time to do it and the finances, then you're off to learn a new skill. :) Happy for you!
ReplyDeleteYou are so athletic sis. Galing! While me, always in the safe zone, nyahaha! I will try running muna then swimming, a we'll see. Anyway sis, I ma pushing my overdue health plan. I started with a no rice diet, sana kaya ko. Do you have any post here about good alternatives of rice? Thanks much!!!
ReplyDeleteMommy Maye
I always wanted to learn swimming, but can not just muster self confidence yet. Good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it, sis. Ikaw pa. I admire you for your determination. Di ako maka-relate sa abdominal pain na yan. Hehe.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to be athletic but I am not athlete material sis. I just try to do what I can. Oh I don't have posts about rice hehehe...In fact, I never did take that out from my diet. If you can, then just substitute white with brown rice....that is healthier. Abstaining from rice totally has not really helped me, I think. Besides, I need the carbs...
ReplyDeleteSis Kat, am so sorry, the proper term pala is front crawl. Treading is floating in deep water, almost like doggie paddle but a little different. Sorry for the confusion...
ReplyDeleteI tried treading in the water to keep me floating..ang hirap pala...hehehe
ReplyDelete