Learn to swim at any age

Learning to swim has so many benefits - you’ll equip yourself with the skills you need to be safe and enjoy being around water, while boosting your physical and mental health. And even better, there’s no age limit for when you can start learning these skills.

Perhaps a lack of confidence is holding you back from taking the first step. We can help. If you’re feeling reluctant about enrolling in beginner adult swim lessons because you think it might be too late to start, you can put your fears aside. Swimming is a great life skill to learn at any age.

In this blog, the manager of SwimMagic Otorohanga, Santana Tapara, explains the benefits of learning to swim and provides some tips to help you get started.

Benefits

If you didn’t learn to swim as a child you’re not alone. Many adults come to swimming lessons because they didn’t have the opportunity to do so when they were younger. Often adult learners have emigrated to New Zealand from countries where they didn’t grow up around water, says Tapara. “A change in lifestyle when they move here, triggers a need to learn to swim.”

Regardless of your age and experience, there is no better time to start than now, and you’ll enjoy so many benefits. You’ll build confidence, feel more at ease in the water, and develop the necessary safety skills. On top of this, swimming will keep you looking and feeling young, and because it’s a low-impact workout, you can continue to swim for the rest of your life.

Tips

Before signing up for lessons, it’s a good idea to get prepared so you feel comfortable in the water and get the most out of your classes.
Build your fitness
Being fit before you get into the water is a huge advantage. Aim for cardio exercises that increase flexibility as this will help build your stamina in the water and therefore your breath control. Even regular walks, cycling or yoga at home will help. Swimming requires strong arms and shoulders, so exercises that work on these areas will also enhance your swimming ability.

Choose your setting

Whether you want to learn the basics, improve your stroke or train for an event, it’s important to find an instructor and environment you feel comfortable with. Visit the pool and speak to staff about your goals. If you don’t feel confident in a group setting, you can choose private lessons, where you can work one-on-one with an instructor and fast-track your results.

Get the gear

An advantage of swimming is you don’t need a lot of gear to get started. However, there are a few key items you need before you start, to ensure you feel comfortable in the water and can move freely. Invest in a good quality swimsuit or swim shorts you feel comfortable in. They should fit well so they’re not baggy in the water. There is a huge selection of swimwear available now, from bikinis to full-body swimsuits, speedos to shorts, so there really is something for everyone. You’ll also need swim goggles to protect your eyes and allow you to see underwater and if you have long hair, a swim cap will help you move through the water more easily.

“There’s really no age limit with swimming”, says Tapara. Enthusiastic instructors can help you achieve your goals, whatever they are, so you can enjoy the benefits of being active in the water.