Is it too late for me to learn how to swim?

[CowboyAndIndian]

Ok, I never learned to swim. Not many swimming pools around where I grew up.

I am 56 now, wonder if it is too late?

Has anyone learned to swim this late?

I am not afraid of the water, so so I have something going for me.

Any suggestions on where to learn.
I am worried I will go to a pool and find out that 3 year olds are my classmates ;-)

[Sibley]

No, it is not too late to learn to swim. I'd check with local community pools, etc for adult swimming classes. You can do it though!

[2Birds1Stone]

After 28 years of not knowing how to swim, I learned over the past few months and actually did a 1/2 mile open water swim for a sprint triathlon 3 weeks ago.

I HIGHLY recommend "Total Immersion", google Tim Ferriss swimming. He does a nice review of it. Completely changes my approach to swimming and made me so much more efficient and less afraid of the water.

[nereo]

Ok, I never learned to swim. Not many swimming pools around where I grew up.

I am 56 now, wonder if it is too late?

Has anyone learned to swim this late?

Absolutely not.  I taught someone about your age once how to swim - he moved from overseas into a home that had a pool, and wanted to swim with his grand-daughter.  Took a few weeks but he was swimming laps before too long.  likewise, each year we hold an intro adult swim course, and plenty adults come through who have never been in water deeper than their bathtub before.  Without fail every single one of them manages to swim across the deep-end by then of the class.

Your body is mostly water and fairly close to neutrally buoyant.  We all know how to control our breathing already.  All there is to learn is not to panic and how to move our body in an aquatic environment.

[CowboyAndIndian]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

Sibley, I'm checking out the adult classes.

2Birds, glad to know that you do not have to learn as a child. Will check out Tim Ferris.

Nereo, good to hear that. Will look out for an adult class.

[Kris]

Never too late!  As a bonus, you might even enjoy swimming as an efficient calorie burner when you get the hang of it.

Exactly.  It's arguably the very best form of exercise for people as they age. 

[CowboyAndIndian]

Exactly.  It's arguably the very best form of exercise for people as they age.

You calling me old, Kris ;-)

Yup, low impact and great exercise. That is why I was thinking of it.

[Carless]

I actually used to teach adult swim classes.  There are a lot of people who were pushed (sometimes literally) into swimming before they were ready and never learned as children.  Those courses were some of my favourites, I really liked the students.  I highly recommend taking them if they're available.  In Canada they used to come in three levels, the first of which was basically 'get used to the water and float'.  Are you comfortable moving in the water?  If not I recommend going to free swim and becoming comfortable 1. standing in the shallow end 2. splashing water over yourself 3. putting your face in (close your mouth and blow out through your nose).  Once you've got that down, try floating on your front holding onto the pool's edge and then a flutterboard.

Some of my students spent several weeks just doing that before they were really ready to start learning swimming techniques, so if you get to that point you can probably easily get through the first level on your first try.

good luck!

[CowboyAndIndian]

I actually used to teach adult swim classes.  There are a lot of people who were pushed (sometimes literally) into swimming before they were ready and never learned as children.  Those courses were some of my favourites, I really liked the students.  I highly recommend taking them if they're available.  In Canada they used to come in three levels, the first of which was basically 'get used to the water and float'.  Are you comfortable moving in the water?  If not I recommend going to free swim and becoming comfortable 1. standing in the shallow end 2. splashing water over yourself 3. putting your face in (close your mouth and blow out through your nose).  Once you've got that down, try floating on your front holding onto the pool's edge and then a flutterboard.

Some of my students spent several weeks just doing that before they were really ready to start learning swimming techniques, so if you get to that point you can probably easily get through the first level on your first try.

good luck!

Thanks Carless, I am comfortable in the water. It is just the mechanics of swimming I need to get.

Mr. Tummy Mustache, thanks for the encouragement.

Have started looking for classes/instructor.

[CowboyAndIndian]

Quick update.

Thanks to the encouragement of fellow Mustachians, I have signed up for  lessons.

First lesson is on December 2nd.

Little worried that I will be out of my depth (pun intended) ....

[FrozenAssets]

Good for you!

I learned this year at 34.  I signed up for a triathlon, and forced myself to finally learn how to put my face in the water and swim. Now I LOVE it! 

[CowboyAndIndian]

I learned this year at 34.  I signed up for a triathlon, and forced myself to finally learn how to put my face in the water and swim. Now I LOVE it!

Thanks FrozenAssets. Wow, impressive to go from learning to a triathlon!!! Hats off!!

[CowboyAndIndian]

After 28 years of not knowing how to swim, I learned over the past few months and actually did a 1/2 mile open water swim for a sprint triathlon 3 weeks ago.

I HIGHLY recommend "Total Immersion", google Tim Ferriss swimming. He does a nice review of it. Completely changes my approach to swimming and made me so much more efficient and less afraid of the water.

2Birds, how did I miss the 1/2 mile open water swim a few months after learning to swim?. That is such a great achievement!!

Took your advice and read Tim Ferris and Total Immersion. I bought the book (second hand, $3 includes shipping). May get the DVD also. I always learn well when the steps are broken up and the physics are explained to me. I believe that Total immersion is like this. Thanks for the tip!

[Frankies Girl]

Just wanted to say good luck since your first lessons is coming up.

I adore swimming and think it's one of the most perfect forms of exercise - you can work the entire body with almost no impact and never get sweaty! ;)

I think it is awesome that you're going to learn - hope you end up loving it!! :)

[nereo]

I adore swimming and think it's one of the most perfect forms of exercise - you can work the entire body with almost no impact and never get sweaty! ;)

[/b]

Oh, swimmers definitely sweat - that's one of those common misconceptions.  It's true that you never 'feel' sweaty because it is constantly washed off your body.  FWIW, pure chlorine has almost no smell (especially at 2ppm, the standard concentration in pools).  What you smell are chloramines, which is what you get when a chlorine atom binds to ammonia.  And ammonia comes from sweat and pee. 

Eww... :-) 

[RetiredAt63]

I learned to swim in a lake, which is very different.  Once you are a comfortable swimmer, you might want to branch out and try swimming in a more natural setting than a pool (even an outdoor pool is not very natural) - i.e. sand (or crunchy water weeds) underfoot, waves in your face, blue sky overhead when you float on your back, neat fish and snails to see when you don mask and snorkel.

Good luck with it all, swimming is wonderful.

[mrpercentage]

Never. In fact I think you will find that it is one of the easiest and enjoyable activities you can do for your body. There is zero impact and a reduced sense of weight. Any pool with an extended shallow end is a good place to start. Lessons are great if you can afford them. If not take a friend and don't venture where you can not stand up. You can hold breath longer than you will give yourself credit so remember the best thing you can do is relax and move with calm.

Excessive force gets you no where in water. Calm movements are the most effective. I think its great you are willing to try.

[Zikoris]

I didn't learn to swim until my late teens. I just brought a friend down to Lake Winnipeg with me and got her to watch and give pointers until I could keep my head above the water. Then I kept going back to practice as often as I could. I'm not sure there's much point in paying for lessons unless a) you want to swim competitively or b) you're terrified of water and need coaching on that front.

[Kouhri]

Although I learnt as a toddler  my mum decoded to learn in her 20.  And for extra badassity my grandmother took her first swimming lesson aged 89 and was able to swim reasonably well throughout her early 90s. So definitely never too late

[cchrissyy]

I took adult swimming lessons at the YMCA, still glad I did!

[dragoncar]

Do you want to swim as in "not drown" or do you want to go fast?  I feel like swimming well enough to stay afloat is really simple -- you could teach yourself by just hanging out in the shallow end long enough and getting a feel for/comfortable with the water. 

[CowboyAndIndian]

Just wanted to say good luck since your first lessons is coming up.

Thank you Frankies Girl.

...What you smell are chloramines, which is what you get when a chlorine atom binds to ammonia.  And ammonia comes from sweat and pee. 

Eww... :-) 

Eww is right. Glad I did not read that last night before the class ;-)

..try swimming in a more natural setting than a pool (even an outdoor pool is not very natural) - i.e. sand (or crunchy water weeds) underfoot, waves in your face, blue sky overhead when you float on your back, neat fish and snails to see when you don mask and snorkel.

Thanks R@63. I was planning to learn sailing when DW laid down the law "Learn swimming before you learn sailing". Snorkelling sounds great along with sailing.

Thanks Mr%, Zikoris.

.. my grandmother took her first swimming lesson aged 89 and was able to swim reasonably well throughout her early 90s. ..

Serious bad ass! I hope I can at least match her...

Do you want to swim as in "not drown" or do you want to go fast?  I feel like swimming well enough to stay afloat is really simple -- you could teach yourself by just hanging out in the shallow end long enough and getting a feel for/comfortable with the water. 

First is I do not want to drown. Next I would like to swim longer distance (exercise as well as the "not drown" thing).
I am not afraid of the water.

[GuitarStv]

Most of my childhood swimming was done in small lakes.  Between weird mushy stuff, ominous cloudy water, lots of leeches, and concerns that the things brushing my toes might end up biting them . . . I can't recommend it.  :P

[CowboyAndIndian]

Had my first lesson last night. I picked private lessons since I did not want to go to a class with a bunch of 5 year olds ;-)
Found a group which gives lessons in Hotel Pools (well maintained, no crowd, shallow) and signed up for a class at the local Westin.

The teacher was a 20 something lady who was teaching a couple of 5 year olds when I showed up. I think I may have been her first adult student, since she used some kiddie phrases ("talk with the fish, hear the fish" -> put your face in the water, turn your head sideways).

It was an interesting 30 minutes. I told her I was not afraid of the water, but she made me go thru the steps till she found where I needed help. At the end of my 30 minutes, I was holding the dumbbell shaped float, kicking and trying to breathe. Yup, the breathing was where I needed help.

Excited about the progress, hope to say I know swimming soon.
Thanks all for the encouragement!

[Cornbread OMalley]

Had my first lesson last night. I picked private lessons since I did not want to go to a class with a bunch of 5 year olds ;-)

It was an interesting 30 minutes. I told her I was not afraid of the water, but she made me go thru the steps till she found where I needed help. At the end of my 30 minutes, I was holding the dumbbell shaped float, kicking and trying to breathe. Yup, the breathing was where I needed help.

I was taught swimming at a young age but still took lessons at age 32.  Just keep working at it and you'll be proficient in a short time!

[Frankies Girl]

Hooray on your first lesson and sounds like it went very well!
And very nice about doing it in a hotel pool - never would have thought of that.

[TrMama]

Had my first lesson last night. I picked private lessons since I did not want to go to a class with a bunch of 5 year olds ;-)
Found a group which gives lessons in Hotel Pools (well maintained, no crowd, shallow) and signed up for a class at the local Westin.

The teacher was a 20 something lady who was teaching a couple of 5 year olds when I showed up. I think I may have been her first adult student, since she used some kiddie phrases ("talk with the fish, hear the fish" -> put your face in the water, turn your head sideways).

It was an interesting 30 minutes. I told her I was not afraid of the water, but she made me go thru the steps till she found where I needed help. At the end of my 30 minutes, I was holding the dumbbell shaped float, kicking and trying to breathe. Yup, the breathing was where I needed help.

Excited about the progress, hope to say I know swimming soon.
Thanks all for the encouragement!

LOL about the fish comments ;-) I hope you had some good comebacks for her.

Once you can swim a lap without drowning, think about joining a master's swim group. Master's doesn't mean "super great swimmers", it just means, "group swimming for grown ups". Many groups have a coach who will give you tips and all of them are social clubs for people who like swimming. They're often really cheap and booked at times when the pool isn't crammed full of 5 year olds.

[CowboyAndIndian]

...
Once you can swim a lap without drowning, think about joining a master's swim group. Master's doesn't mean "super great swimmers", it just means, "group swimming for grown ups". Many groups have a coach who will give you tips and all of them are social clubs for people who like swimming. They're often really cheap and booked at times when the pool isn't crammed full of 5 year olds.

Thanks TrMama, that is a great idea. I was just thinking on how to practice when I learnt. There are a couple of groups in the area and seems like a perfect way to practice.

[RetiredAt63]

Sailing (any boating) is a totally different thing - being comfortable on the water is not the same as being comfortable in the water.  And a good life jacket is essential in a boat (on you, not just nearby).  I used to sail a Laser, and although I never got hit by the boom, it could have happened.  People don't swim well when unconscious, that is why we wear life jackets.  On the other hand, the first thing I did in my first sailing lesson was tip the sailboat, right it from the water, and then climb back in.  It is good to know that if you tip, you can recover on your own.  And it definitely helps to be comfortable in the water when you are dealing with a boat hull, a mast, a sail and a boom in the water with you.

Thanks R@63. I was planning to learn sailing when DW laid down the law "Learn swimming before you learn sailing". Snorkelling sounds great along with sailing.

[CowboyAndIndian]

Thought I would add an update.

I have had 6 lessons till now. The break over Christmas and New Years, the snow storm in NJ and various pool closings due to maintenance kept the number of lessons low.

I have a different teacher for the last 3 lessons and he is very good.

I was able to do the free style from one end of the pool to another last night. I was even able to breathe. I thought that I could never do that. That is a major milestone for me.

The instructor has also taught me an elementary back stroke which I have used to cross the breadth of the pool.

So, my target is to be good at

• Free Style (Maybe 10 laps at least)
• Learn back stroke
• Roll over both ways
• Improve my swimming using a Total Immersion program

Hopefully, I will be able to join a masters program by middle end of this year.

Thanks to everyone. Without your encouragement, I would not have gone thru with this.

[nereo]

Great progress - glad to hear you are sticking to it!
Once you get the basic mechanics down, progress goes pretty quickly.  I think you'll be surprised at how soon you will be able to complete 10 laps without stopping, especially if you swim every single week.

[Cornbread OMalley]

Good job!  Your progress is motivating me to go hit the pool again!

[CowboyAndIndian]

Thanks Nereo and Cornbread.

I'm thinking of joining a YMCA program for lap swims at the local school so I can practice a couple of times a week. Thanks Spartana for suggesting this.

Edit: Credit to Spartana for the local community rec lap swim classes.

[Basenji]

This is great, well done! A great example of how one should never say too late or I can't until one tries. True for lots of things, including trying for FIRE.

[CowboyAndIndian]

This is great, we'll done! A great example of how one should never say too late or I can't until one tries. True for lots of things, including trying for FIRE.

Great way to think about it.

Thanks Basenji

[Basenji]

This is great, we'll done! A great example of how one should never say too late or I can't until one tries. True for lots of things, including trying for FIRE.

Great way to think about it.

Thanks Basenji

What's funny is I thought your thread title was a metaphor before I started reading it and found out you literally meant swimming. There's an ERE post where he compares learning to swim to gaining skills for saving money. So, not my idea exactly, but I love the example of a person jumping in, so to speak.

[CowboyAndIndian]

...
I was able to do the free style from one end of the pool to another last night. I was even able to breathe. I thought that I could never do that. That is a major milestone for me.
...

Re-reading that, I need to make sure that people know it was NOT an Olympic size pool. I think if I could do 50 meters, I think I would be boasting of knowing how to swim :-)
Just your run of the mill hotel pool (maybe 15 meters as opposed to the Olympic length of 50 meters)

[Cornbread OMalley]

Re-reading that, I need to make sure that people know it was NOT an Olympic size pool. I think if I could do 50 meters, I think I would be boasting of knowing how to swim :-)
Just your run of the mill hotel pool (maybe 15 meters as opposed to the Olympic length of 50 meters)

You will be surprised how fast you develop the stamina and get to completing 50 meters and more.  I would guess it will take you about 3-4 more pool sessions.

[Dicey]

When I clicked on this thread, I was kind of hoping this was where it would lead! Hooray for you for acquiring this new skill.

As a former competitive and then long-distance for pleasure swimmer, I'd like to add another skill suggestion or two. Some teachers have you breathe to one side, first for one full stroke, then every other full stroke, always to the same side. When I was finally coached to breathe on alternate sides, it made a world of difference in relaxed, distance swimming for me. Since you haven't had time to develop any deep-set habits, I'd suggest learning this trick before you develop a preference. I hope I've explained this clearly. Think left-right-left(breathe to right)-right-left-right(breathe to left). And gently reach on every stroke. Stretching your body through the stroke feels great and helps you slice through the water with ease. Very calming, plus you look great too.

And guitarstv, you made me laugh. I have a terrible fear of dark water, which is why I prefer swimming pools and stay as far away from the drain as possible ;-)

[CowboyAndIndian]

You will be surprised how fast you develop the stamina and get to completing 50 meters and more.  I would guess it will take you about 3-4 more pool sessions.

Hope so, I plan to make  swimming one component of my exercise routine in FIRE.

 

As a former competitive and then long-distance for pleasure swimmer, I'd like to add another skill suggestion or two. Some teachers have you breathe to one side, first for one full stroke, then every other full stroke, always to the same side. When I was finally coached to breathe on alternate sides, it made a world of difference in relaxed, distance swimming for me. Since you haven't had time to develop any deep-set habits, I'd suggest learning this trick before you develop a preference. I hope I've explained this clearly. Think left-right-left(breathe to right)-right-left-right(breathe to left). And gently reach on every stroke. Stretching your body through the stroke feels great and helps you slice through the water with ease. Very calming, plus you look great too.

Yes, I seem to be breathing only on my right side, so the coach has already recommended breathing on both sides. We will try this in the next month or so.

As far as looking great, watch this guy, he is so smooth, does not even splash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJpFVvho0o4

[CowboyAndIndian]

One final update.

Early this year when I started swim class, I set myself a goal to be able to swim from one end of a 25 meter pool to another.
As of today, I can do it using the back stroke as well as free style.

I still have  problems (breathing on my left, stamina), and my plan is to keep on swimming and practicing. I plan to swim at least 3 or 4 times a week.

I do not have the stamina to swim laps like a see a lot of others do. Until I can, I will not join the masters swim team.

I would not even have tried to lean to swim without the advice and encouragement from this forum.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice.

[Secretly Saving]

Great update! Congratulations on all that you've accomplished.

[Frankies Girl]

This is an AWESOME update! Swimming is super fun and great exercise and you are amazing for going outside your comfort zone!

You should be so freaking proud.

I'm so happy for you!!! :D

[Paul der Krake]

Re: breathing on both sides

Most people have a favorite side. Unfortunately, the longer you put off learning to breathe on both sides, the harder it will take to break the habit. You really have to drill it deep into your muscle memory bank until it becomes second nature.

Keep at it. Swimming is 90% technique, 10% fitness.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

Awesome that you're learning. My university had a swim test requirement for graduation, which was no trouble for me but was something people from New York City frequently had some problems with. Guy next to me at the freshman swim test had to be fished out with a pole.

[Zamboni]

Well done!

Thank you for posting the update.

[Cornbread OMalley]

Good job, C&I!