Courage to Learn Courage to Teach

Four adult women joined my swim class that started yesterday. It was awesome. We start with bobbing by breathing and humming. 

For the three ladies who already swim, I talked about keeping your head lower in the water when swimming. Basically the body as aiming for the shish kebob position of your whole body lined up on top of the water. Your head is a tomato on the shish kebob and it turns slightly so you can breathe. If you lift up your whole head rather than gently turn it, your legs sink. Then I helped my beginner to float on her back while supporting her lower back. Lift up your hips and your chin and throw your head back far enough to get your eyebrows wet. Try to relax, I've got you. When you are tense your muscles tighten and cause you to sink!

My students said they were thrilled to learn how to breathe better and noticed the difference in their buoyancy. Then I told them most problems dissolve in water. Most problems are water soluble!! Breathing is the yoga unity aspect of swimming and it also takes your worries away --as long as you are not panicked and fear drowning! We all laughed.

I remind them to drink water after the lesson when they are taking a hot shower. Don't wait for thirst! We forget that we sweat while we swim and if we become dehydrated it can cause headaches. I speak from experience. Then I lost my voice at the pool as I often do--it's a reaction to the pool chemicals but I won't quit. I'll hold up signs if I have to, I said laughing.

In the locker room I noticed one woman has a few toes missing from complications from lupus. We talked about places to adopt cats and dogs because she wants a 4th specifically senior cat. Another woman had a double mastectomy and was born with  a brain injury and other health problems. She spoke to me about her grandson's awful 4th grade teacher. She swims to tamp down her anxiety. The water is the best anti-anxiety medication I know! I said.

 

It's a real community of love and support. Another women attends 3 water aerobics classes a day sometimes because as she said it takes her mind off of her back pain. She's a jolly lady with spinal stenosis. She has grand children and a husband and two King Cavaliers that sleep in their king sized bed.