Swimming Lessons for Adults
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Swimming Lessons for Adults
June 2002
After years of hearing that swimming is the ideal exercise, I'm
ready to take the plunge. Yep, that's right -- mom can't swim.
Now, I wouldn't drown if tossed in a body of water (I can tread
water, do the backstroke, etc.) but I never mastered the
crawlstroke or breastroke -- I've always had an aversion to
putting my face in the water, and I never got the hang of the
breathing.
Can anyone recommend an instructor and pool for me? I live near
Rockridge BART, and I would prefer something relatively close to
home, although a kind and nurturing instructor is just as
important. I checked the website, but everything there is about
swimming lessons for kids.
Thanks.
While not lessons, I learned the crawl/freestyle stroke from a
book. Like you, I knew how to not drown, but I didn't know how
to swim laps. I checked out a book with pictures and
instructional text, then watched people at lap swim who looked
like good swimmers, then got in the slow lane and practiced.
Good Luck.
Liz
If you have a UC affiliation, you might look into taking courses
through their P.E. department (now called Human Biodynamics or
something similarly fancy). That was where I learned to swim 10
years ago. Although the size of the class (20) may have slowed
down the pace of instruction, the trade-off was a really good-
natured atmosphere. Being in the pool with so many other adults
who hadn't learned to swim did a lot to dispel my embarassment,
and I recommend the classes.
Jennifer
August 2006
I am looking for recommendations of / pointers to any kind of
prenatal swim or water exercise classes in the East Bay. I
contacted the Berkeley Y about their Prenatal Water Exercise
class but was told by staff I would have to purchase a Full
Service Membership to attend. Berkeley Y just isn't that close to
me and I wouldn't make use of all the other benefits, so this
doesn't seem like an economically sensible option.
Last posting I found for this onsite was from 2003, and I'm
hoping that in the meantime someone has found some other
classes...TIA!
Leah
I took a great water aerobics when I was pregnant last summer at the Mills College
pool. The class wasn't a prenatal class, but the teacher modified things for me. It was
on Sundays at 9 am and also one or two weekday evenings. I think it cost around $8/
class.
Laura
The YMCA downtown Berkeley has great prenatal water classes on
Monday 6pm and Friday at 6:10pm - you can just show up, it's great
Kristen
April 2003
Apparently the Berkeley YMCA has stopped allowing non-members to
take their pre-natal swimming classes and for me to join the Y
just for that class seems pretty expensive. Does anyone know of
any other pools that have pre-natal swimming classes? Anywhere
in the East Bay would be fine. Thanks.
Amy
I take the prenatal water aerobics at the Berkeley Y and
although I am a member, I never have to prove Berkeley
membership. (Although I switched my membership from
Oakland to Berkeley when I was about 3 months pregnant
because there are no prenatal classes in Oakland.) If you
are already a member of another Y, I think you could just
pay $3 to get into the Berkeley Y at the times there are
classes. There are no signups for the water exercise
classes--you just show up--although there are signups for
the prenatal yoga classes.
By the way, the classes are great! 3 times a week and really
relaxing and enjoyable. The teachers are good (although
with different styles). I always sleep well after my classes!
So, if you don't find another place to do water exercise, I
recommend the Berkeley Y. Apparently they also have a
good childcare program for children 8 weeks and older.
Good luck!
I would double check at the YMCA, re: pre-natal classes for non-
members. You may need to pay a $40 ''community membership'' fee,
which usually allows you to participate in a class but not the
rest of the Y's facilities. This is how it worked for the baby
swim class at the downtown Berkeley Y.
Marian
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