Common challenges in learning to swim for adults (and what to do about them)

If you’re an adult who can’t swim, you’re not alone. You might be surprised to learn that roughly 1 in 3 adults in the UK can’t swim either!

If you didn’t learn to swim as a kid, it can be difficult to commit to swimming lessons as an adult. You might feel a little self-conscious about taking the plunge, or maybe you are busy with work or other family commitments, and you just can’t find the time.

Learning to swim for adults also often comes with the preconception of “It’s too late” or “I’m too old”. Well, let us tell you, it’s never too late to learn to swim! However, we do understand the challenges that it can present so here, in this article, we address the three most common;

Fear – This is a big one. Aquaphobia is a real obstacle when it comes to learning to swim, for adults as well as children, and will require different support for each person. You may feel more comfortable learning on a 1 to 1 basis where you have the focussed attention of the instructor, or you may benefit more from peer support in a group setting with friends or family.

With private lessons available for one, two or three swimmers we can help tailer a learning to swim journey for adults of all abilities and confidence levels and our patient and experienced teachers create a safe, encouraging environment where you can take things at your own pace.

Lack of time – We get it. Adult life often takes over and gets in the way of us doing things for ourselves. Whether it’s work, family, other commitments or a combination of them all taking up much of your time, at Swimtime we have swimming lessons available at varying times throughout the week; days, evenings and weekends, meaning there should always be a lesson available at a time that best suits you!

Age or health related limitations – Getting moving can be difficult, and even painful, for those of us with physical restrictions, but the good news is swimming has been proven to be extremely helpful in relieving aches and pains in joints and muscles and physical activity actually boosts the immune system!

Not forgetting, it engages the entire body in a gentle way, promoting healthy muscle building and strengthening which, in turn, can also help relieve pain and discomfort out of the pool too!

Swimming also comes with a host of benefits to your mental and emotional health. Swimming helps reduce anxiety, relieves stress and helps your body to produce mood boosting endorphins and improve mental health through it’s soothing and meditative effects.