Learning to Swim as an Adult

NORTHEAST GEORGIA - Learning to swim as an adult means overcoming fear and getting used to the water. Swim Instructor Joie Lane knows these beginners share a common fear.

"Even though we're not going anywhere near the deep end, I can feel you guys go ooohhh, she's going to take me and drop me," she jokes.

So Joie uses humor and lots of praise, knowing that learning to swim all starts with learning to relax.

Janet Romanic hasn't had a swimming lesson in 20 years, but she wants to swim with her daughter.

"She wanted me to come to the deep end with her and I said no, I'm afraid to."

First-timer Nirupama Isaac had a close call on a canoe trip. "We all fell in the water, it was horrible. So that was when I decided I needed to learn swimming."

Along with their fear, come other obstacles. "So face in the water is huge, that's a big fear for most adults and children alike," says Lane.

Gulping down water instead of breathing the air is another common problem. Over the next few weeks students will learn a couple of basic swim strokes, but until then it's a trip to the deep end and a little more reassurance.

Lane says, "It's harder to sink than you think!" A place that's not so scary after all.

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Learning to Swim as an Adult

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