How I Learned To Swim Aged 50 Years Old: My 4 Step Strategy
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- Опубликовано: 4 июн 2024
- I have never been able to swim, despite always being athletic. I would swim one lap of the pool, floundering like a dead fish, absolutely exhausted by the end. And had to resort to breast-stroke swimming to catch my breath.
Last year after contracting covid and becoming a long-hauler. I started swimming more as part of my recovery. During this time I decided that once and for all I was going to learn.
Pulling from both @timferriss and @tiswim I focused on 4 strategies: 1) Learning to Float 2) Learning to Reach 3) Learning to Kick Less 4) Learning to Breath.
CONTENTS OF VIDEO
0:00 - Intro
3:00 - The importance of consistency.
3:44 - Skill No.1 Learning to float
4:35 - Skill No.2 Learning to reach
5:43 - Skill No.3 Learning to kick less
7:00 - Skill No.4 Learning to breath
8:24 - Putting it all together
My wonderful son Eilean both filmed and edited this video for me. So thankful for savvy teens.
I hope you enjoy and I hope you learn to swim!!!
L I N K S
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![Water Treading - [Skill you need to stay afloat in deep water]](/img/1.gif)
Learned to properly swim at age 69, 5 months after I finished radiation for breast cancer during 2020. Now I swim three times a week; am able to swim over a mile without stopping. Best exercise for everyone!
so true
A mile without stopping! 👏🏾 I still struggle beyond 50m 😢
That's great... appreciate your spirit
Great
Great I am 64 trying to swim but scared
I’m 62 and finally taking swimming lessons in 8 days. Had a near drowning at age 5 but finally learning how. Tired of always watching others swim while I’m stuck in the shallow end. Wish me luck!!!
I am 63 and learning
Good luck for your learning
I am 70 and start lessons next week...Bucket list item hopefully will be marked off. Thanks for this video.
Wish you long years of pleasant swimming, 👍👍👍
I learned to swim at age 45! Took me a year to be able to swim one lap comfortably. Now, 5 years later, I swim several times a week with an open water swim group. I’m still slow but try to stay consistent. Keep up the good work!
That's fantastic to hear, how inspiring!!! Let's not stop xx
Very inspiring! Thank you!!
Everyone is inspiring/motivating me but making me...sad [not really the word but neither is "jealous". Idk] bc i can't swim.
I also don't really have a place TO SWIM.
Seriously need to find one
"Hello, silver sneakers? Yes, I need to know when your water aerobics classes are."
😂😂😂
I mean, I do qualify for the silver sneakers program/classes afterall
I'm 59 and learned some technics from a swimming video. With those technics I taught my 8 year old granddaughter, she learned in 2 days!!! She's floating, flipping and gliding with some basic swimming
I’m 50 and probably the youngest in the class I can’t catch as fast the younger people I’m about to cry I want swim so bad
Welcome to the club! I also learned it at 50. Don't ever believe the maxim "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks". Thank you for the great video!
I couldn’t swim at all. Not breast stroke, not free style, not float on the back. I was also extremely afraid of the deep end. And this changed with me learning to “survive” a swim in the deep end at the age of 50 with my efforts this summer.
Still far from proper swimming maybe but mighty proud of my achievement. Your video is inspiring.
agree 💯. I am 29 yrs old.. started learning recently.. getting improved bit by bit.. I am now in the stretching phase soon move to kicking less phase
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. I'm 59 and just learning how to swim. This is super helpful!!
learned last year at 46, went to the pool on my own two days a week for one hour, two months i was swimming on my back, front crawl and head above the water...started surfing around 6 months later
I'm trying to learn how to swim and I have 2 months to do it. I was feeling bad after reading these comments but yours has inspired me to think I can do it. did you have an instructor?
@@cynthiamoss6344 only had three classes with an instructor and moved on on my own watching videos and taking exercises to the pool
This is so inspirational. I started my swimming lessons yesterday! Thank you ❤️
So happy this video was suggested to me! At 48 I am trying to learn to swim too. Covid has put a halt to my practices but it was good because I took time to watch inspirational and informative videos like this one! Back to the pool tomorrow after a month away!
I'm excited for you. Best of luck!!
Hi Amanda
Trying to teach myself to swim, aged 75. I have been watching the same vids chas you. the breathing has got me beat so far but I will keep trying your vid has spread me on to keep trying.. Well done you.👍👍
Promise you will keep me posted because I would love you to get this!!!!! I think you can.
I did a workshop on Ti-swimming, together with 10 others. After about half a year of extensive training, a friend of mine swims nearly a mile, but me, that's another story: I can't take a breath properly, my fear of water is so intense! Maybe because I nearly suffocated when being borne. Several tricks, like turning sideways more than at TI, might help. Anyway, giving up is no option.
40 year old male, two kids in lessons and it’s really made me want to take lessons. Had quite a close call when I was around 17, very scary. I had basically given up and figured that was it, I was going under.. I went down and my head was looking straight up.. I hit a sandbar.. something was watching out for me that day, it was a second sandbar which is quite rare at the beach I go to. I was JUST barely able to touch and get myself back in.. incredibly scary experience, to have given up on yourself like that. Makes me sad how easily I gave up.
I am in the midst of trying to book some lessons at the local indoor pool. Wish me luck!
Thanks for the nice video.
Tim from Toronto area.
GOOD LUCK!!!
You've got this!!
i’m kind of interested to know how you’re doing 2 months later
I had a close call at...maybe 6. I know I wasn’t more than 8. So I definitely know where you’re coming from. I was in a pretty good size lake with my mom & two older sisters. Oldest sister was holding me, bouncing me on her knee while I kind of "half-floated" securely in her arms.
Everyone was bouncing a beachball back-and-forth. It got thrown across the lake; the distance was definitely farther for a five-year-old then it was for the 13-14 yr old that was holding me. she was mostly treading water, but could touch the bottom, so didn’t think about it as she left me to go after the ball. I thrashed as I went under, somehow making it to the string of buoys where I attempted to yell for help. FYI--don’t scream for help when you’re bouncing up and down underwater. Did NOT think about that at five years old.
I missed out on swimming with my nieces and nephews, partially bc of THAT incident.
they were all pretty much great swimmers. My four-year-old nephew would "drag" me around the pool. I would make a chair/floaty out of pool noodles, he would grab an end and take off with me. It was one of his favorite things to do and quite frankly, I loved it as well.
Still haven't learned to swim.
Ironically, I feel like I did better in the ocean when I visited Florida than I do in most pools or lakes.
Again...
Good luck learning! Hope you're overcoming your fear and pushing forward.
I live in Florida and am under the impression that the last place to safely swim is at a ocean or gulf front beach! The rip tides are horrible. I say for serious swimming, stick with pools!
Thank you so much for this truly inspiring and enlightening video. Today was my very first time ever in a swimming pool. I'm over 50! 🙂
wow that is amazing, good for you
Swimming is such a freeing experience, it’s so awesome you learned to swim and can experience that joy 🏊♀️
Yes. Completely liberating
So happy you are feeling better and are doing all the right things to build up your strength! Take it easy....pay attention to your breathing. You seem like a smart lady and know to pay close attention to that dreadful "air hungry" feeling....You are doing amazing👏
You are an inspiration, and I'm grateful to you for sharing this with the rest of us! I hope you continue to recover. We owe the Covid long-haulers much better than you've all been getting thus far. May you regain your health fully
First time I’ve ever entered a pool and started to swim was when I got 53, unfortunately I can’t go to the pool regularly, but I learned. Thank you for sharing your experience
Thank you so much for this-I’ve always struggled with breathing while swimming and I can’t wait to try your method.
You're so welcome!
The most efficient & easy way to get all the steps to swim right 👍
Thank you so much 🙏🌷🐬
wow!! you are awesome! I am close to 40 and just learning to swim. Thank you!
Thank you for the concise instruction! I’m 46 and learning to conquer my fear of water. I’m excited to try these 4 steps. Appreciate your help!
I did a Triathlon a few weeks ago and totally struggled w/the swim. Was SO upset w/myself that I didn’t train properly - but decided not to beat myself up after having surgery and almost losing my finger to a dog bite a few mos earlier. Signed up for the Tri next year and want to get as many pointers as I can - THANKS for the vid! Will def use your tips!!
Amanda, it's amazing that you can learn swimming at your 50+. I am 44, I started last fall, I paid private trainer for about 10 classes now. I still cannot swim that made me disappointed. I don't have a lot of time to practice that might be problem. But your story inspired me. Thank you so much!
There r a few things u should understand about swimming. First when u r very relaxed in the water u will float. Pretend ur abt to sleep, relax. Second don’t bend ur knees, kick from ur hip like when u walk it starts from the hip. Third, don’t pull ur head out of the water to breathe, I’m talking about the top of your head. It helps to bend ur elbow in the air as ur arm is coming out of the water and going to stretch out to the front of ur shoulder into the water. It must bend to get to that position and that’s when u breathe. Water video carefully again and again. That will help u. Everyone can learn to swim at any age. Keep practicing I’ll get it.
Mistake correction (watch)
Correct (u will)
Good luck plz share with others who need help. I’m still swimming at 69 one he thrice weekly as I have to work.
Delete one he
That's very helpful instruction. Thank you for sharing this.
You are so motivating. I am talking myself into finally learning how to swim. Thank you!
Go for it!
Awesome! Very nice approach to swimming! I personally believe in learning from somebody that know how to swim so I joined a master swim team combined with taking a few private swimming lesson from a swimming instructor. That did it for me. I know some people prefer learning by their own and that may work as well but it takes much longer. I do not have that much time to live so I took a short cut. I was in pretty good shape before I started swimming so my goal was also to learn how to swim efficiently. Thank you for sharing your approach. It sounds very similar to what I have learned.
I love this! Very helpful...thanks!
This is great Amanda! I have been looking to improve my swimming and will put these tips into use!
I'm excited for you. Best of luck
Practice practice practice and don’t quit.
I am in the breathing stage.
Newbie in swimming at almost 60.
don't stop!!
Nearing also at 60 years old, me and my wife had our swimming lessons ( 2 hrs every Sunday) for the past 8 months now, we can proudly say that "we can swim!" Persistence pays. 🏊♂️🏊♀️👍🙂
Yess I don't feel alone, as I am 59
me too, I learned to swim when I turned 50 years ago and now I enjoy swimming very much.
Great video, thanks!!
I am 33 and starting learning how to swim (going to my basic triaing in the navy), and the anxiety I am having is too much. Thanks for sharing. I will work on being more relaxed
I'm 59 and just started having swimming lessons.
Wish I had done it years ago
But to be honest I wasn't ready to
Have a go because of the fear of water.
I am slowly getting over that fear.
That being said still don't like to be out of my depth.
I'll get there eventually
Thank you so much for sharing
I am 68, recovering from two surgeries and can swim “granny breaststroke” / backstroke about 700 meters in the sea. ( I live in Turkey) I am determined to learn to do front crawl so I can go further. Really struggling with the breathing but practicing and hoping for eventual success!
Thanks Amanda - learning at the moment and your 4 tips super helpful also going 4 times a week until you got it is a nugget as well. PS you look great too young lady :)
thanks Amanda . I learned to swim at age 36. now i love swimming.
I learnt to swim at age 55( 2014), had 10 lessons, started from front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and finally butterfly. At 65 hate drop the butterfly but still do my dauphin kicks under water. Best exercise 😊
I am 58 years old and I have learned how to swim. The only thing I having trouble getting the breathing. I'm sure with much practice, I will get it.
I am taking swimming lessons third time I am 40 now , I am so excited to learn swimming after seeing your video thank u
Might not be the most efficient technique but what she said about the part of paddling less is so true. Many swim coach tells us to paddle continuously from the beginning but it's just not the way. This is many many beginner swimmer give up,... paddling should be the least focus when u are starting to learn swimming ,the main part is the reach and breathing... if u get hold of the two,paddling will just come by itself. P.s. I am that guy who went against my swimming coach when he was so much focused on our paddling when I was a beginner,I just studied some article and didn't listen to him,and tried on my own based on those articles because of which I learned faster than others who were just listening to our coach . ... 85% of swimming coaches around the world are just wasting your time... Believe in yourself and do some little genuine research on the internet and if you are a normal person you will learn evrything on your own. ✌️
I belive this cus I keep telling my coach when I have to kick so furiously it's hard to relax...and you keep telling me relax..arrrgh
I really appreciate this msg.. it made me not to quit as since a week i m unable to paddle. And coach says your body is too stiff
Thank you,,I will try this. I went to class and all they were telling was to kick vigorously. I got tired and they were frustrated that I was not kicking hard enough. I gave up the class. May be will try the way you suggested.
Great video. Your breathing and less kicking tips really help. I'm going to practice them.
Awesome
Well Done! I have found that Total Immersion techniques are the best. Age 50 - you are still young. Don’t highlight this number. Keep on learning the way TI teaches.
I am 38 and just now teaching myself how to swim. My aunt tried to drown me as a child and some how it made me think the water was burning my skin when I would get near a pool. And one day recently, it splashed me when I was busy and it didn't hurt. So I decided to run an expierament and dip my arm in the water and clear my head of thoughts. And leave it for a bit and it never burned. I was so exicted... Now I am teaching myself to swim, tho I get annoyed when I can't get the freestyle correct. lol
Oh I'm really sorry to hear about your traumatic experience. If it helps you to know, I swim with somebody who's best friend drowned and he is very nervous about the water. But he's just taking his time and he's learning to really enjoy it. Good luck!
@@AmandaThebex Ty so much. And I’m glad ur friend is trying as well. ^^ Now I don’t even like leaving the water. Lol
After years of being traumatized and a pre-teen, I am now ready. Wanted to Starr in 2020 but Covid hit, so now trying again. I love the water prayers that I get it. I sink to the bottom, hopefully my instructor can help with this.
Good luck!!
I see that it’s been five months since you’ve posted this, I hope you are doing well learning and having fun also!!
I just watched a video that helped with the “sinking to the bottom". I hope your instructor was able to help you with that.
The gist of the other video, along with several other tips, was that as long as you have air in your lungs, you will not sink. Lungs without air in them is basically the equivalent of a rock. The body will sink.
Hope you're doing great on your journey
Learning to swim has 3 elements, 1. You must relax. 2. Once you are relaxed you are able to float. 3. Once you float you can now propel yourself through the water.
was literally like a lightbulb moment for me
I am running 72 n joined on 1st of this month of June.I am enjoing .😊
Excellent Amanda. My big thing was the breath and it panicked me. And I think I was consistently kicking which was expending more energy than necessary- can’t wait to give it a try. Now just need an open pool!! ☺️
Swimming is not what people think it is. Basically all it is is being comfortable and relaxed in the water, strokes aside.
so true
I totally feel you on the being able to find a pool part. LMAO.
it doesn’t help that it’s hard for us to find one/get access to one.
how can we learn to swim if we don’t even have a pool or body of water?
I don’t know if anyone knows what a bar ditch is, (not the kind that is for road/road construction) but i am NOT swimming in it!! besides, you never know when it’s going to have enough water in it to learn how to swim. LMAO.
Well done
Nce. Im learning as well.. and i would say the hand movement and breathing are the most toughest at the moment.
And its all practice.
Thank you for the four steps. I will practice more,
learn how to breathe, and relax. I am 65 and ì believe that i will be swimming by spring. Great video!
keep me posted. That is awesome
I’m 65 and taking swim lessons now!
I'm in my fifties, have been athletic all my life, and have done water sports and activities since I was six years old (water skiing, surfing, etc.). I had always thought I was swimming and knew how to swim, but I never knew how to swim effortlessly for any distance. At the time, I figured that knowledge and ability was necessary only for competitive swimming, in which I had zero interest.
I recently taught my young son what I knew about swimming to get him active, comfortable, and confident in water and quickly realized that I knew very little about proper technique and mechanics. I am now trying to learn how to swim. And I now understand that the reason I want to learn how to swim is to learn how to "BE" water, something that never would have occurred to me when I was younger.
Thank you for this video.
Just BE - what wonderful advice
Thanks babe it really helps.
Awesome
Hi, I am having a difficult time where my legs and arms stop when I incorporate side breathing with my freestyle. I can kick and use my arms when my face is flat in the water, but everything falls apart when I turn my head to breathe. Please advise on some helpful hits. Just started swimming. Does this occur with most beginners.?
I hope me and my son bond and have peace and harmony like that when he gets to be a teen 💜I’m trying to learn to swim 🏊♀️ I’m try these techniques this week at the gym thank you ☺️
Good luck
Hi. I am 53 yrs old and use a centerline snooker to gain strength and confidence in water. And now can free swim 25metres freestyle. A goal that I never thought I could achieve. Thankyou for yr advice.
that is excellent. Well done
What is that please?
I started to learn how to swim since last week and I'm 41. Still afraid with water but I'll try
Hi Amanda and son
Great Vidio
you sound British. Is this swimming pool in Uk. Is it public? Looks lovely. We have an outdoor pool in South Wales but it’s closing for winter.
You inspire me!!
Thank you
@@AmandaThebex I'm 60 and working hard at updating my swimming techniques. Been regular for the past 3 months.
Learn like this 👌
Great! I'm 68 and can't get my breathing right, I will keep trying.
Definitely keep trying
Getting my reach right gradually ,but the breathing is what I am struggling with ,the body feels too stiff to roll ,hoping to practice regularly
I'm learning now in my late 40s!
amazing
I've been learning to swim since march this year age 50.the breathing is such a nightmare for me , our swimming school teaches front crawl first ,when i go to public pool anyone there is swimming breast stroke , i feel so frustrated most times i enter the pool
Iam 62 never swim before but iam so interested longtime ago never have chance to go for swimming lesson but today iam taking lesson at ymca just once a week for 30 min every Tuesday for 8 lesson next Tuesday coming is ending my last lesson but little by little got confident to the water and get better but not perfect swimmer yet not enough time my lesson need more practice in order to get better swimmer! But anyway I learned got idea the proper way to swim looking forward to build my skill in the next opportunity! It's healthy exercise🙂
nice video
I’ve taken 3 6 week swimming classes throughout the years, & I’ve never been successful. My biggest FEAR is stopping and not feeling the bottom, I panic & sink. I’m 62, & I’m tired of going on vacations & not being able to swim. Suggestions??
I am 64 and have longed to swim. I was starting to learn around age 12 until someone pulled me underwater and I almost drowned. I've taken swimming lessons 2 or 3 times and still cannot swim. My fear will not let me swim sadly. 😢
Hi Amanda, I have the same problem of shortness of breath. And I am just 30. I go breathe less in just half a lap and stand in the middle of the pool. How did you improve your breathing ? By just practice ? Or you follow some certain strategy ? How do I overcome problem of going breathless after just half lap. Please reply
I just practiced all the techniques in this video. Over and over again. Learning to float and relax was key and knowing that I didn't have to kick like crazy all the time. Lastly for the breathing I would turn completely on my side and take a big breath and stay there as long as needed each time until I got used to it. Each time I went swimming I just did this over and over again. Adding on a lap each time I went. Hope this helps
The harder you pull or kick the more harder you will breathe and run out of air. You need to be completely relaxed. Pull or kick more slowly and with less force. This will help you breathe more slowly and use less air.
You look truly amazing at aged 50💪
You're describing me perfectly. I can breast stroke ok but front crawl EXHAUSTS me. One length and I'm busted. I can't wait to try these tips. If our pools ever open...
Awesome. I think you can do it
Your body looks amazing!!
Subscribed 👍
Thank you
Thanks for the tips. If someone looks as good as you at 50, it's like winning a lottery jackpot!
LOL thank you and best of look!
Great!! I love how you swim, you can breathe on both sides, which Is great. I started a year ago and it takes time
Wow.. am 45 just started learning to swim. I still can't float on my back without water getting into my nose. It's been 3 weeks now. 2 lessons a week. Maybe swimming isn't my thing. Can someone please encourage and motivate me?
Lay back your head completely,take a deep breath…
Just don't quit. You are better off at 2x/week. My wife (56y/o) and I (58y/o) started swimming lessons (2hrs, every Sunday) since Nov 2022. Now we can both swim one lap (25 meters) comfortably. We believe that soon, we can do non stop for 2 laps.
I'm having issues floating on my back too but I taught my 8 year old granddaughter to float
How to to thread in deep water
Thank you . I am 60 and just started going to the pool on my own . I do hope these videos help me learn on my own . I have a handicap on one leg and always wondered if I could do it . But just decided to dare after understanding the technique. Your video clearly says you don’t need to kick too much . I bet I can do it .
Hey viewers, ANY NEW SWIMMERS LISTEN UP. Don't follow most of these RUclips videos. Almost all of them tell you to start of with this weird crawl stroke. After you mastered floating you wanna learn the breaststroke instead. It allows you to stay above water with your head the whole time, see where you are going and it's used for leisurely swimming. You will be so much more comfortable in the water knowing that you can swim, then you can learn the other strokes on your own knowing that you can always fall
Thank you for your input. I agree that after learning to flow you do need to feel really comfortable in the water. So thank you for that. The purpose for me doing this video though was because I was already at that stage and I was frustrated because I couldn't do front crawl. That's simply all this video is, and I'll happily tell you that people have been in touch with me and have actually learned to swim because of the video. So makes me happy. And my husband is also a national level swimmer, which is quite funny because he could never actually teach me to swim. Probably because I had so many bad habits. Habits. But he also reviewed this video and said the advice was sound.
@@AmandaThebex yeah the advice is good. I was just shocked to see that so many videos recommend starting of with the front crawl. Which is so much more daunting for real beginners. But the skills in this video are definitely important!
@@iamanironman4141thank you and I appreciate your input here
Thought "learning to swim" meant - with the English and the Americans alike - learning freestyle, after already swimming breaststroke.
You look amazing
I’m 54 I enrolled at ymca for swimming lessons and re enrolled again I wanna learn how to swim
thank you for this, turned 50. 2024 goal is to learn how to swim...
I like your rotation, probably makes you breathe easier?
Just learning to swim at 54 super excied
I'm 65yrs. And just started to learn at the Y,.😕
Wow 50! I’m 70 learning for gods sake
I need someone to teach me how to let my self in water I’m so scared
🏊♂️ like dog 🐕 ❤️ 😍 ♥️
So you could swim but not perfectly? Hope you’re doing better re the Covid.
My problem is treading water. I can swim but once I stop moving forward I sink. 🙄
I’m 45 and also just picking up freestyle
Start at 3.47 minutes.
I am 39. I am struggling with swimming. I didn't go today because I am upset about all this.
world longest intro.
I learned swim at age 58.
I always wish learn swim. I am age of 37
You can. I'm taking lessons at 43.
I still can't manage my fear 😢 with water. Now already late i am 54
Hum ... you'r take to late with your arm ...