Learning to Swim @ 25!

My mom has a phobia with deep waters and that led her in not allowing us to go swimming. My two older brothers still managed to learn though, but not me and my sister. But after 25 years (almost 26!), I finally have the courage and motivation to learn how to swim!

I've always wanted to try different water activities like snorkeling, parasailing, reef walking and surfing! Although not all of them requires that you can swim because you have the option to wear life vests, they still need you to be in control and relaxed, which is the total opposite of what I feel whenever I'm in the waters! I'm always hesitant and in a state of panic whenever the water level reaches chin high!

But since we have scheduled surfing lessons in July in La Union, I guess I need to learn the most basic swimming strokes or just even how to stay afloat! And this is my lesson#1. My instructors? Friends Dan and Zaicy! Thanks a bunch! ♥

Zaicy and Dan!

I guess it's a lot more difficult to teach me than a 3 year old child! Because kids are more adventurous and they don't have the fears that I have. Plus, they don't get exhausted as fast as I do and can keep their breath longer than I can! But I'm up for the challenge and I promised myself that I'll try as hard as I can!

First things first, learn to stay afloat! It is not as easy as it sounds though. My instructors used all possible techniques to show me how to do so.. Internalize! Think like your a log! Or a frog! But I'm a human being and not a log or a frog, lol! The best method that worked for me? A friend asked me to hug my knees together so they touch my chin, in a fetus-like position, and she said that I will float effortlessly! And just like magic, I did float! Yey! Then, all that's needed was to stretch my body like a.. log? Ironic, haha!

Second, learn the right kick! They said that it should be done in a reverse bicycle way. When I can't even ride a bicycle! And reverse the movement? My mind just went haywire! I will get it right in the first few strokes, and then.. How's that again?! Zaicy would tell me "you're forgetting it!" and we'll just laugh together because I know I did! 

Then, add the hand movement! "It's just like dancing", said Dan. Oh how I love to dance! But not in the waters?! The hand movement isn't that hard, what's hard is putting it together with the kick! But I was determined to learn, and so I practiced more and finally got the hang of it!

Yey! I'm done with the reverse bicycle style (I'm making up these names because I don't think that they'd really count as a swimming stroke!). Next is the frog style, lol! They said that this would make me swim faster! Instead of doing that pedal-like movement of the feet, it would be more of scissor-like!

I can't help but laugh everytime I watch these videos! I still look exaggerated and lousy despite one whole night of practice! But I guess that's good enough for the lesson #1! I hope I can practice more this week, need to be prepared for all upcoming water activities! But more than the recreational stuff, swimming is a survival skill that I really must take seriously! Aja!


**Again, thank you so much Dan and Zaicy!**
**Naloka rin ba kayo sa background song ng second video, hahaha!**