On day 6, we decided to come to class a couple of hours earlier. We were hoping we would be allowed to practice before our actual class. We sat by the sides of the pool for a while as we watched more advanced swimmers dive, tread, do laps on the deep end of the pool. On the shallow end, there were about 10 kids having lessons with our instructor and it was the first time we saw her actually in the pool. Alright, I am now at peace knowing she can actually swim lol!
After about 20 minutes of watching the pool scene, Ma'am Bel, our instructor spotted us and told us to get dressed and jump in the pool while she's still there. She was going to teach us something before she gets out of the water. Uh-oh, my heart was doing flip-flops but we hurried on to get changed.
Once in the pool, she announced that this time we have to learn how to do back floating, or the opposite of the front crawl. If there was a camera and you zoom it on my face, you'll never fail to see the terror in my eyes. Of course, with my goggles on and mustering the poker face in front of everyone else, I look like any student ready to learn something new. My insides tell me otherwise.
Anyway, when she told me to hold the gutter and tuck my knees up with my feet resting on the tiles just below where my hand was clutching the gutter, I did just that. Although, I'm not sure how willing I am to kick and let go of the gutter. I was unsure of how I would stand up if I sink in that position. Good thing that Ma'am Bel was holding the back of my head, coaxing me to relax, make my body straighter. Finally, I was floating but with her hand still holding my head. She told me to flutter kick and then slowly, she let go of my head....and slowly I began to sink. And there you have me flailing my arms again as I struggle to be upright.
When I finally managed to stand up and not drown myself in shallow waters, she told me how to do it properly. Okay, I have to make a big blunder before being told there's a more dignified way of doing things hahaha! After that, she left us on our own to practice.
Once in the pool, she announced that this time we have to learn how to do back floating, or the opposite of the front crawl. If there was a camera and you zoom it on my face, you'll never fail to see the terror in my eyes. Of course, with my goggles on and mustering the poker face in front of everyone else, I look like any student ready to learn something new. My insides tell me otherwise.
Anyway, when she told me to hold the gutter and tuck my knees up with my feet resting on the tiles just below where my hand was clutching the gutter, I did just that. Although, I'm not sure how willing I am to kick and let go of the gutter. I was unsure of how I would stand up if I sink in that position. Good thing that Ma'am Bel was holding the back of my head, coaxing me to relax, make my body straighter. Finally, I was floating but with her hand still holding my head. She told me to flutter kick and then slowly, she let go of my head....and slowly I began to sink. And there you have me flailing my arms again as I struggle to be upright.
When I finally managed to stand up and not drown myself in shallow waters, she told me how to do it properly. Okay, I have to make a big blunder before being told there's a more dignified way of doing things hahaha! After that, she left us on our own to practice.
During the time I was learning to do the front crawl and even the breaststroke, I was blaming my belly for making me sink, after all, that is the center of gravity. Now that I am doing the back floating, I am blaming my butt for making me sink. I had to do several attempts before I finally floated properly. The key is proper body alignment, and again to relax. When I was sinking, it was because my back was curved. I had to visualize like I'm lying in bed. It was a struggle knowing it's not a solid bed and there's water sloshing at the sides of my face, threatening to engulf me. At some point, my instructor told me I could breathe while doing that. Silly me, I was so used to holding my breath that I must have forgotten my nose and mouth were still above the waterline.
If I found breaststroke and frog kick relaxing, back floating is even more relaxing once I learned to do it properly. I even attempted to do the hand movements that you can see on the video above. I managed 4 strokes before I sank. Even then, I am no longer afraid to do this and after a while, I don't even need to kick the side of the pool or hold on to the gutter first. I can actually float anywhere on the pool.
Alright! I think I deserve a star stamped on the back of my hand for a good job, huh?
Alright! I think I deserve a star stamped on the back of my hand for a good job, huh?
Also in this series:
