Swim School of Austin Blog

Our Safety Guidelines for Covid19!

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 17:09:15 GMT

BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!

At The Swim School of Austin, you're like family to us and we want to say thank you to those of you who choose Swim School Austin as your home for swim lesson instructions. In these unprecedented times, we are working hard to keep our members, guests and team safe and healthy.

We will be resuming Classes on May 9th, with a few changes to your lessons to better keep our staff and families safe during hours of operation.

First and foremost classes will no longer be 30 minutes long, they will be 40 minutes long. However we will be starting your classes on the hour!

If your class starts at example:

10am, your class will end at 10:40am. Leaving us the extra 20mins to prepare for the next class that would start at 11am, so that we may clear the building for students and families to safely leave before the next class comes in. We will also be using this time frame to clean our pool facility in between classes.

Our commitment to your safety will not waiver, so we wanted to share information about the steps we will be to taking upon reopening, to help prevent the spread of all illness and disease.

What Our Swim Families Need to Know

Classes are now 40 minutes long (with the exception of Adult Classes)! With 20 minutes interval after each class for cleaning!

We will have a temperature checker and sanitation station outside of the building!

Masks will be optional! However our staff will be wearing a full snorkel mask to cover our faces to protect our staff and families in the water!

The CDC has indicated that there is no evidence the virus can be transmitted in a properly maintained pool. We always use chlorine in all our pools as a disinfectant to provide the safest swimming environment for your family.

Additional Cleaning and Sanitation

While we pride ourselves on cleanliness and safety at our schools, we will continue to enforce additional safety precautions and measures. This includes:

Your temperature will be checked before you are allowed into the facility!

More frequent cleanings of each Swim School Austin location and the equipment we use

Additional sanitation stations available throughout our facility

Frequent after-hours deep cleaning sanitization to help provide a healthy environment for you and your family

Classes will temporarily not be back to back so that we can sanitize our pool area after each class, and give families time to clear out of the building to maintain the number of people in our facilities.

The Virus is Not Transmitted Through Pools

You have to be quarantined! Make-up’s, absences etc.

In the event that you may you need to take a leave of absence for any reason that is up to the minimum of 2 weeks you are subjected to your account being put on hold, and being dropped from the class, that way your account is not being currently effected for something that is out of your control! Simply give us a call our send us an email and we take care of everything for you on our end until it is safe for you to return!

We're Always Monitoring!

Because we care about the health and safety of you and your family, we're constantly monitoring recommendations and developments from the appropriate health agencies – which means we're ready to reevaluate our processes and actions accordingly to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, as well as any other health concerns.

What You Can Do to Help!

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitize
Keep your children away from others who are sick
Please keep your children home if they are ill
Teach children to cough and sneeze into their arm or elbow, not their hands
Clean and disinfect household objects and surfaces in your home regularly
Avoid travel to destinations where the outbreak is prevalent or know
We encourage everyone to stay up to date on health information by visiting the CDC.gov website
If you or your child are not feeling well, it's recommended you contact your doctor.
If you've traveled somewhere that has been affected by any disease or outbreak, you should follow CDC guidelines. You may have to stay home for a certain amount of time to help prevent the spread of a virus. During this time, please take care of yourself – and remember to let us know you won't be attending your swimming lesson.

Our Commitment to You

Swim School Austin is committed to taking extra precautions to assure the health and safety of our families, guests and team members.

Swim School Austin will also continue to follow the guidelines put in place by their local health authorities. This may include limiting special events and Family Swims upon reopening.

Please watch for email communications from your local Swim School Austin for updates on plans to reopen, and the precautionary measures they continue to take to keep you safe.

If you have further immediate questions, please don't hesitate to contact your local Swim School Austin location, we will be sending out an email in regards to the new set scheduling, we will also be calling ALL of our families starting next week as to find out whom would like to start back early and whom would like to wait it out further.

We are committed to the health and safety of you, your family and our team members, always.

THE SWIM SCHOOL OF AUSTIN TEAM

HOW SWIMMERS CAN LEARN TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE POOL

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:30:10 GMT

HOW SWIMMERS CAN LEARN TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE POOL

HOW SWIMMERS CAN LEARN TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE POOL

BY OLIVIER POIRIER-LEROY 2

“Stay in the moment! Stay present! Focus!”

Your coach has likely tomato-face yelled this across the pool deck more times than you can count. Maybe they’ve said it so many times that it just goes in one chlorinated ear and out the other.

(Right along with “Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er!”)

But as you circle around the black line like a shark, the sound of rushing water blowing past you, it’s worth asking yourself…

HOW PRESENT ARE YOU WHEN IN THE WATER?

Where is your focus during the countless number of strokes and laps you perform each day?

You know the feeling of being mentally dialed in—best described as being in “the zone.” Things feel smooth, controlled and powerful here. You have a calm and confident sense of mastery.

It’s a great feeling. And it’s a great place. Where we are locked in to the way the water moves over our fingers, our body glides across the surface of the pool, and for a few fleeting moments we feel fully connected to our stroke.

But most swimmers don’t spend enough time here.

They don’t spend enough time being present with what they are doing in the water.

Which is too bad.

Because they are missing out on:

Letting go of mistakes. Because you are spending time in the here and now you aren’t endlessly rehashing mistakes and bad swims. Beating yourself up over past screw-ups rarely power performances in the present. Mistakes should serve as a lesson and/or motivation and then moved on from. That’s it.

Stressing less about the future. While our big goals act as a North Star for our swimming, they can distract us and demoralize us if we feel that we aren’t progressing quickly enough. Being present with your swimming today means you aren’t getting needlessly anxious about tomorrow’s practice or races.

Training at a higher level. This is the biggie—with more focus comes higher quality training the water. Gone are the mindless meters, the garbage yardage, and the missed training opportunities. Being present means you are fully engaged mentally and physically in the water, maximizing technique and effort. That is a triple-decker of wins.

HOW TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE POOL

Cool, so the benefits sound legit. But where do you start?

First, with the expectation that you aren’t going to wholesale your focus habits overnight. It’s a skill that takes time to improve, like anything else you do in the water.

Second, here are some quick questions to use to give yourself a blueprint for high-grade focus:

WHEN DOES YOUR FOCUS SNEAK OFF?

We don’t usually notice that our attention has wandered until it already has. Our focus doesn’t give us a head’s up that it’s bored and wants to look elsewhere—it just does it, leaving us playing catch-up. What tends to happen next is that we beat ourselves up—“Why can’t I stay focused?” The old I suck judgement rarely helps.

Take a scientist’s approach and treat your focus habits like an experiment.

The next time you hop into the water make a mental note each time your focus sneaks out the back door. Yes, this might get tedious and annoying if it is happening a lot, but the intel you will get from this activity is priceless.

You will find that your focus takes off during a consistent number of scenarios. Knowing when it is most likely to happen helps you prepare for it.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON?

One of the hardest mental skills to master is locking your focus on the present. Ignoring what is happening around you so that you can maximize your effort and energy on the things that deliver peak performance for you in the pool.

There are a million things happening around us, and a million other competing thoughts slamming against the walls of our brain like a Powerball draw.

There are the judgements of what we just did, and the anticipatory judgements of what is to come.

One of my favorite stories is of Caeleb Dressel and the essays he would leave in his training journal. He detailed how his body felt in the water, how he wanted to feel in the water, what he could do to improve, and so on. This indicates a seriously focused approach while he is in the water.

While most swimmers will log the meters and yards, Dressel logged how he wanted his stroke to feel.

What are the “feelings” you are going for in the water? How do you want your body to feel when swimming at max speed? How do you want your arm pull to feel as you are pulling through the water?

Design some performance cues around how you want to feel in the water and use them during the course of your training.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET UNFOCUSED?

Despite our best efforts our focus is always looking for something else to check out. Your focus, for lack of a better term, has strong FOMO tendencies.

Competing thoughts are coming for your focus, and one of the odd idiosyncrasies of our brain is that the harder we try to block out those competing thoughts, whether it’s stress, anxiety, or a pink elephant, the more likely we are to think about it.

Instead of spending your mental energy trying not to think about something think instead of the things you want to focus on. The supercomputer under your swim cap, for all its processing power, is a world-class single-tasker.

When your attention wavers, step back and take a breath. Avoid labeling it or cursing yourself for losing focus. Don’t waste your time trying to suppress it.Gently redirect your focus to the thing you want to focus on. The more you do it, the easier this skill becomes.

THE NEXT STEP

Being focused and present can be hard, especially if it’s something you have never really given any thought or—wait for it—focus to. Like any other skill it takes time and patience.

Start with noticing when you lose it, figure out a handful of things you want to direct your focus, and work on making that focus and being present more habitual.

The Benefits of Dipping Their Toes in Early: Starting Swimming Before Age 1

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 20:53:24 GMT

The Benefits of Dipping Their Toes in Early: Starting Swimming Before Age 1w post

Too young to walk, but old enough to swim – seems counter-intuitive, right? Well, studies have shown that dipping your babies’ toes in early can have long-lasting benefits throughout their development. From improved cognitive functioning to reducing the impact of those phases of fear that every toddler will experience, a new family tradition of splashing around may be exactly what your baby will benefit from.

But do be aware, that many doctors encourage babies under 6 months to avoid chlorine-based pools as their immune system is not fully ready. But once they hit that magic number, it’s all systems go for a family fun-day in the water. Let’s dive in below and find out why!

Cultivating their Cognitive Performance

It’s widely advised, that activities that call upon both sides of the brain are proven to help in the development of your baby’s brain. Curious, right? This means that an early start to your baby’s time in the water will assist in their reading skills, spatial awareness, and even communicative capabilities. “Not only is all that kicking and screaming (for joy) helping their brains to develop, but their bodies’ naturally become accustomed to the sensation of water against their skin – an essential cognitive process that most parents will agree can make bath time less of a stand-off!” says Michael Pitts, a health writer at Simple Grad and Academized.

Replace The Fear Factor with The Fun Factor

It’s a natural process to encourage your child to enjoy the water as early as possible. By doing so, you may find that it naturally reduces their susceptibility to that dreaded fear phase all of our toddlers go through. Instead, you’ll have welcomed and familiarized them with a new and exciting environment that they’ll be excited to dive back into anytime.

The ‘D’ Word

It’s never fun to discuss – but oh, so important to remember, getting your baby in the water will most likely reduce the risk of drowning. There are no studies to guarantee, and of course, we always implore vigilance and care in the water, but starting your baby swimming early will certainly increase their cognitive awareness in their less familiar, watery environment. Let’s not forget, drowning is one of the unfortunate leading causes of young deaths – a tragic fact. Even if you believe your child is a fish in the water, they should still be 100% supervised at all times, particularly during these early development years.

Bonding, Baby Bonding

A license to swim is a license for fun – as even one swimming lesson involving the parent and baby-making a splash together in the water, improves that one-on-one quality bonding time your baby craves. Skin-to-skin contact and interactions with other caregivers and instructors will have your baby beaming with confidence in no time. It’s not only initial benefits they’ll enjoy, but studies have shown babies who were introduced to their water environment early on had greater self-confidence, self-control, and a desire to succeed when starting school years later – not bad for a little splish, splash!

Muscle Development

Swimming with your baby, in a controlled environment, will assist in their functional development. A stronger cardiovascular system will make their strong little heart and lungs even stronger. “The coordination of their legs and arms will also engage their core muscles sooner giving your baby the balanced and playful experience their quickly developing muscles are calling out for – and maybe a little excuse for us parents to hop off the couch once in a while (we’ve all been there, Dad especially!)”, explains James Gonzalez, a lifestyle blogger at Big Assignments and Uktopwriters.

A Good Night’s Rest

It’s no secret now that all of this activity is good for your baby’s development. But one pleasant side effect is that their sleeping pattern is bound to improve along with it – imagine what a good night’s sleep for your baby means. Their little bodies are using up a lot more energy, engaging their muscles, working on coordination skills, and even using excess energy to stay warm. While a good sleep pattern is a welcome bonus, it’s important to make sure that you accommodate additional nap times or even adjust your babies sleeping schedule to facilitate their new family fun activity.

Conclusion

So, what are you waiting for? Isn’t it time you and your newborn dipped those toes in together and bond in a new and fun way through those early development years.

Here at the Swim School Austin we have many Baby and ME classes waiting for you and your family! Take a look at what we have here and sign-up today!

GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:43:23 GMT

GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

Hi guys!

Giving gifts is the fun part of the Christmas season. Sure the parties, food, and music are nice, but the true joy comes from giving to others, so what better gift for the season than the gift of learning how to swim!

As we work our ways from celebrating what we are thankful for, we are now entering the celebration of love for another, so whats the best way to show our love and appreciation for family?

Swim Lessons!

Swim lessons are not only here to help us push through the fears of the water but to also keep our loved ones safe in and near water. Since drowning is the second highest cause of death involving children ages 1 through 14, kids need to learn how to be safe in or near the water. With formal lessons, children learn how to swim in a safe environment, and are taught swimming strokes and basic water safety techniques like floating and treading water. For kids aged 1 to 4, a U.S. study found that risk of drowning decreased by over 80% if children had taken swimming lessons. If your child will be in or near water, make sure their lessons prepare them to do these basic life-saving skills.

Are you someone looking to help yourself get into shape and possibly build up some muscles, than Swim Lessons are also for you!

Learning a swim stroke can help with gross motor skills and basic coordination. Swimming can help a person build all-around muscle strength in arms and legs.

Once they learn to swim, a person has a skill that can be used to improve fitness throughout his or her life. Since swimming is a low-impact activity, it puts less stress on joints while providing a wonderful aerobic activity. Swimming can improve both strength and cardiovascular health in one activity.

These lessons help build lifelong skills, they can even improve social development and build up your confidence, swim lessons are important and can really save a life!

Here at the Swim School of Austin, we would love to help encourage you to give the gift that keeps on giving through our Holiday Special, this special is available until 01/16/2020!

SO COME CHECK OUT THE DEALS AND SEE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN’T TRAIN?

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 14:55:40 GMT

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN’T TRAIN?

In today blogs fitness blogger Katie Brown from Cake v's Scales talks about her recent break from swimming...

There are times in life, when something will trip you up, it might be a hypothetical trip and something you can recover quickly from. Or one of those frustrating “Life Happens” situations, when for a period of time your routine has to change. For many of us it’s in our nature to enjoy routine and consistency, I’m not alone when I say I find change tough. Last year, after a 10 year hiatus from swimming, I made the choice to try OWS (open water swimming) and it gave me so many experiences and memories I’ll hold dearly for years. `

Gradually I started to notice that swimming wasn’t just proving beneficial for my physical health, but my mental health was improving as a result too. With this in mind, I made the switch to a gym with a swimming pool to ensure that I could continue to swim during the winter months. I threw out my regular gym routine and threw in an early morning swim. This change-up left me feeling invigorated, refreshed and ready to handle whatever the day threw at me.

But what happens, when you can’t swim and training simply isn’t possible?

I think it’s fair to say that everyone at some stage in their life will have a stage when having the time or ability to head to the pool isn’t an option. It might be as simple as an big project at work, or even the arrival of a new baby, but most commonly, an injury. Whilst swimming has become an important part of my life, I had to resign myself to 3 months without swimming following a surgical procedure in November.

How are we best to handle the mental side of not being able to swim?

One of the common side effects of injury or sudden lifestyle changes is that is can be hugely detrimental to our mental well being. Rather than sliding into your local pool it becomes easy to slide into a whirlpool of negative emotions, frustration and sometimes even denial. Whilst I’m not a medical professional, I think that self-awareness and acceptance of the situation are key points to focus on. Chances are, it won’t be forever and for better or worse, time really can pass surprisingly fast when we make the time to re-focus.

My personal mission was to find a way to fill the void…

One of the implications of my surgery was the fact I was unable to take part in any high impact sport or anything that would have direct impact on my upper body. Therefore, options such running, or using weight training to build a strong upper body were immediately written off. Whilst my choices might have been limited, I spent my mornings powerwalking and cycling on the recumbent bike. I made time to read more, focus on friendships and I have planned future swimming events, to keep a positive spin for the rest of the year.

But, what about the loss of fitness?

Firstly and foremost, focus on what you CAN do rather than what you can’t do. My initial thoughts whilst recovering from surgery was that I was going to become bored, frustrated and extremely unfit. Whilst it might be tempting to play the “Mind over Matter” card and start training straight away, it’s worth some serious consideration, is the risk worth it if it could be detrimental to your recovery time? I fully understand and accept that it might take me several months to return to my previous levels of fitness, but rather than perceiving this as a stumbling block, I’m treating it as a future goal.

I’ve decided to try and focus on the brighter side of life. There’s a whole new year ahead for me to pack in adventures which include visiting a new open water swimming venue, increasing my distances and enjoying time in the pool.

10 things you should know if you swim through winter

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 18:57:53 GMT

10 things you only know if you swim through winter

1 All-year swimmers don’t wear wetsuits. That defeats the purpose.

2 You will never have enough warm clothes . You need many more things than you think you might need, to recover after a cold swim. Thermals, fleeces, your thickest jackets, woolly hats, gloves, socks and scarves. And you won’t want to take them off all day. It’s a pretty strong look.

3 Pool shoes are essential. They will make tiptoeing into and out of cold water more bearable: even a small amount of insulation against the cold ground helps. When you get out of the water, you won’t be able to feel your feet enough to manage flip-flops, so slip-on shoes are preferable.

4 Never jump or dive into freezing cold water. Step in slowly, splash your face and chest with cold water, and submerge your hands. Then breathe slowly and calmly submerge yourself.

5 The first two minutes in the water are the worst. Your body is adjusting to the shock of the cold. Rookie swimmers panic and get out during this bit and never experience the magical moments after you have calmed down.

6 Cold-water swimming isn’t about getting fit. It’s about feeling alive. It’s a watery adrenaline rush that will make you feel invincible. It’s addictive.

7 Plan how you’re going to get dressed. When you get out of cold water, you need to get dry, get dressed and get warm very quickly and efficiently. That means leaving your clothes laid out in the order you’ll need to put them on again – because you’ll be too cold to think. Bundle up and then move around to heat up naturally. You should never be tempted to recover by having a hot shower; it can cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure and exacerbate the effects of hypothermia.

8 Flasks of hot drink are essential for post-swim recovery. As is cake.

9 Only cold-water swimmers know what cold is. The normal people you see bundled up in coats, scarves and hats commuting to work in winter, who think it’s cold, are wrong. Cold is stripping off and submerging yourself into 2C water, so your skin is burning and turns bright pink. Cold is shocking pain, and your breath being taken away in gasps. Cold is mad and exhilarating and amazing.

10 The friends you meet in cold water are the best. They think nothing of stripping off in the snow for a fix. They are adventurous, full of life and quick to laugh. They sparkle like the icy water they inhabit.

Sally Goble has swum outdoors through the winter for around 12 years. The coldest water she’s swum in was -0.7C, in the Arctic Circle in Finland.

THE BENEFITS OF SWIMMING WHILST PREGNANT

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 21:35:20 GMT

THE BENEFITS OF SWIMMING WHILST PREGNANT

Swimming is great for your fitness and your mind. Just because you’re expecting a baby doesn’t mean you should avoid it. In today's blog discover the benefits of swimming that you might not know about, and our tips to encourage you to get started.

Can you go swimming while pregnant?

Taking a few laps in a pool is a wonderful way for pregnant women to exercise and stay in shape. Swimming during pregnancy doesn’t just help maintain your fitness levels, it will help you cope with the physical demands of labour and motherhood in general.

On average, women gain nearly 2 stone in weight throughout their pregnancy. Adding swimming to your weekly routine now can help to control fluctuating weight as well as prepare your body for giving birth and recovery.

How much swimming do you need to see and feel the benefits?

It’s recommended you go roughly 3 times a week for half an hour. You can safely swim any stroke (unless otherwise advised), so you can vary your exercise or do what you enjoy most.

The weight of carrying your baby can often induce back pain. To improve your back strength, breaststroke is the perfect technique. It’s known for being particularly helpful by working to strengthen your back, chest and shoulders to enhance your posture.

What can you do to be safe?

If you were a frequent swimmer before you became pregnant, then it's perfectly fine to continue your normal routine. If you didn’t exercise much before knowing you were carrying a baby, you should take it easy at first and ease into the exercise slowly.

During every session, you should always warm up, cool down and stretch out. Once you’re ready to get into the water, start with a few warm-up laps to get your muscles moving before giving it your all. This ritual is even more important when pregnant, as you have more to support than normal.

One thing to keep in mind is that you should slide into the water slowly as opposed to jumping in, as you need to allow your body to adjust to the water temperature and avoid cramping.

What are the benefits of swimming?

There’s no doubt that swimming has plenty of physical benefits, yet it’s also a great relaxing mental exercise too. It’s the perfect opportunity to wind down and relax and enjoy some time to yourself.

It doesn’t have to be a long swim to notice the benefits; floating about or walking about in the pool gives you time to relax. The water will support your body and take the pressure off of your joints and the soles of your feet to create a soothing weightless feeling.

What swimwear options are there?

If you are concerned about what you are going to look like in a bathing suit, you should know that there are plenty of choices out there for pregnant women.

If you prefer to cover your 'baby bump' there are some stylish one-piece swimsuits for pregnant women, which provide extra room for your growing belly. Yet, one-piece swimsuits aren’t the only options. Pregnant women are opting for bikinis now more than ever. If you would like to show off your pregnancy and feel comfortable in a bikini, whatever your style, there are plenty of choices you can discover and flaunt your baby bump! For more coverage than a two-piece and more versatility in personalised style, tankinis are both a flattering and supportive option. Their unique design of a longer top is perfect to cover your belly, and with added inside bra support as well as wider straps, you’re guaranteed a comfortable fit.

Tips to remember

Drink plenty of fluids

Remember that exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to be beneficial

Avoid using saunas or steam rooms

Don’t exercise to lose weight whilst pregnant

Swimming is generally considered a very safe activity, yet before taking the plunge, do check with your doctor so that you are given the green light.

6 WAYS TO AVOID BOREDOM WHILE SWIMMING

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 20:40:12 GMT

6 WAYS TO AVOID BOREDOM WHILE SWIMMING

Todays post is from fitness blogger and triathlon enthusiast Lucy Edwards from www.paddlepedalpace.co.uk.

Let’s face it, swimming can be monotonous. The repetition of going from one end of the pool to the other with nothing to look at but the tiles and black line can get seriously mind-numbing. If the boredom becomes overwhelming, it can have an impact on your motivation levels and desire to continue swimming.

There are however, some ways to make pool swimming less tedious and make the most of those lengths.

Join a club

Swimming solo can be very lonely, so it’s worth considering joining a club for the added motivation of swimming alongside others. A club will widen your social circle and you’ll meet like-minded people. Swimming clubs usually have a structured program planned for each session which is written by qualified coaches. The coaches are also able to critique your swim stroke and give pointers on how to improve.

Listen to music

Listening to music as you swim can help you get into a rhythm, feel more energized and focused. There are a wide range of waterproof MP3 players on the market which are designed for swimming, like the Finis Duo Underwater MP3 Player. Make a playlist which is the same length as your swimming set and you’ll find that the laps fly by!

Meditate

The pool is actually the perfect place to practice mindfulness and meditation. Being immersed in water is an escape from every day stresses and responsibilities- there’s no phones or emails to answer while you are swimming. Focus on the present moment, let your mind relax, enjoy the feeling of weightlessness in the water and the rhythm of your breathing.

Mix up your stroke

If you usually swim freestyle, try adding in some backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly laps to vary your workout. Or try mixing the different strokes- freestyle with dolphin kick or backstroke with breaststroke kick. You’ll get a greater all-over body workout, plus it’s hard to be bored when you are learning a new skill.

Use equipment

Another way to break up monotony is to add some equipment into your swim routine. Training aids help you to target specific body areas and improve your speed, form, technique and performance. Try fins to develop a powerful and streamlined kick, or hand paddles to build upper body strength and refine your stroke.

Try different pools or get outdoors

A change of scenery can really make a difference to your motivation for swimming. Try different locations, maybe a Olympic length pool if you are used to swimming in a 25m pool. For the ultimate way to escape boredom, get out of the pool and into open-water. The possibilities are endless when it comes to open-water swimming: lakes, rivers, seas- each adding a sense of adventure to your swim.

We think this is great advice for any pool swimmer. What do you think?

Five Ways to Help the Anxious Parent Survive Their Child’s First Swimming Lesson

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 15:11:27 GMT

Five Ways to Help the Anxious Parent Survive Their Child’s First Swimming Lesson

As a swim instructor, you know that from time to time, you’re going to have to deal with anxious children. A fear of the water is fairly common, and you have the techniques and skills to help a child overcome that fear. But what about the anxious parent? If you haven’t had to deal with one yet, rest assured that eventually you will. When you do, you’ll want to be prepared. Here are five ways to help nervous parents get through their child’s first swimming lesson.

1. Take the Time to Introduce Yourself

If you work at a public pool, chances are you may never have met your student’s parents before. If you’re instructing groups of children, meeting each individual parent can be time-consuming, but it’s still something that should be done. It’s important to a parent that they’re able to see you as someone who knows how to do your job, and with whom they can entrust the safety of their children. A simple, confident handshake and a statement to the effect that you’re pleased to have their child in your class may be sufficient. Other parents may require a bit more chat time.

While you’re at it, make sure to introduce yourself to the child. The parents need to feel that you see their little one as an individual in his or her own right, not just as one of a group of kids.

2. Get to Know Your Student

This is the time to find out if there are any special requirements the child may have. Is he or she afraid of the water? Are they recovering from an illness or an injury? Do they have any special needs? Most of the time, you won’t have to actually ask questions. Parents are typically very forthcoming when it comes to things they might be worrying about. Be open and accepting, and reassure them that you’re able to accommodate a wide range of issues.

3. Don’t Minimize a Parent’s Concerns

You know how to do your job, but the anxious parent doesn’t have any way of gauging your particular level of competence. It might be tempting to brush off parental worries with a simple “Don’t sweat it, I’ll take good care of him/her,” but the better approach would be to empathize. Say something like “It’s hard letting them try new things, isn’t it?” Allow the parent to express their worries, and respond in a calm, reassuring way. Let them know that they’re welcome to observe the swimming lesson, but gently suggest that it might be less distracting to the child if they’re unobtrusive.

4. Be Open to Suggestions

If a parent has a particular concern, and an idea for how to approach the issue, listen. For instance, if the parent feels that their child learns best by observing other children, that’s your cue to suggest that he or she can be the last one to enter the pool. If it might help, and won’t do any harm, there’s nothing wrong with deferring to the parent.

5. Remember that Every Parent is Different

The level of anxiety you may be dealing with will vary from parent to parent. You don’t take a cookie-cutter approach to your students, so don’t do it with their parents.

The most important thing to remember is that if you use your “people” skills, you should be able to calm even the most anxious parent.

How to swim: 'It can be exhausting, but so rewarding

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:58:50 GMT

How to swim: 'It can be exhausting, but so rewarding'

There’s a lot to love about swimming – but churning up and down on your own can be monotonous. That’s why Peigh and I started the Swim Dem Crew, a group of swimmers who meet at the pool for training every week and social swims followed by breakfast together at the weekend. We’ve grown in the last two years and now go on trips to races such as the Dart 10k. It was the first time that any of us had embarked on that kind of distance, and one of the highlights of the year.

Many people don’t realise swimming is a full-body exercise. It can be exhausting, but so rewarding. To pick it up again, start with at least one lesson with a coach (it’s easy to find adult lessons; check swimming.org for your nearest pool). It’s likely you haven’t been taught how to do front crawl since school – if you ever had formal lessons at all. Having someone look at your form in the water can transform the way you move. Some pools will let a coach or friend film you swimming. Just like when people hear their voice on a recording and say, “That’s what I sound like?”, you’ll be surprised at how you look when you swim.

Give yourself a challenge to get started. After university I began to swim again after a long break, and needed a rest after just 50m. I decided to swim for 20 minutes every day for a month and it helped me get fit as the distance I covered in that time slowly increased. At Swim Dem, we test ourselves each month: how many lengths can we do in 20 minutes? The aim is to do 20 lengths in under 20 minutes. Peigh, who only taught himself to swim two summers ago, can now do 20 in 20, and I’m on 20 in 17. A bit of competition works wonders for your motivation.

How to do… front crawl

Get your face in the water

The basic body rule for front crawl is face down, legs up. If you don’t get your face in the water, your legs will struggle to rise to the surface, making it harder to move. Think of the body like a seesaw: lifting your head up makes your legs go down and vice versa. Practise putting your face in the water and blowing out of your nose while keeping your mouth closed. The more comfortable you are with this, the easier it will be to maintain a good position.

Use your whole legs to kick

The two key things: kick from the hips, not the knees (think about long kicking motions using your whole leg), and keep your ankles relaxed. This allows your feet to flick the water away, helping to propel you forward. Your kicking motion should be smooth, alternating each leg; your feet can break the surface but not come fully out. A little splash is fine; a slapping sound is not.

Keep your elbow high

As your hand enters the water, keep your fingers closed together, with an open palm. Press your hand into the water in front of you; as you pull your arm back under your body, think about pushing the water with your hand, keeping that open palm facing behind you. Make sure your arm goes all the way back. Then raise your elbow high out of the water, so it brings your hand out, too. Put your hand forward and repeat. Your arms are alternating: when one hand is in front of you, the other should be all the way behind you.

Breathe on both sides

As your elbow comes out of the water, turn your head gently to one side to take a breath. Your ear should remain in the water. Breathe in. Keep kicking your legs, and as you twist your head back into the water, exhale fully and continue your arm movement. Practice breathing on both sides for balance and to prevent neck ache.

How to do… breaststroke

Scoop the water

Your arms start in front of you; keep fingers closed. Twist your palms to face out and pull them back so your elbows are out and your hands at 10 and 2 on a clock. Pull them towards you, making sure you feel them really scooping that water. Elbows still bent, your hands should be close to your chest. Bring them together like a prayer hand, with fingertips forward; push forward with your hands together as one. Repeat.

Flex your feet

In front crawl or backstroke, feet are pointy like a ballerina; in breaststoke they need to flex out, with toes up. Start with legs extended (and toes pointed). Bring heels to bottom, bending your knees. Now keep heels together while your toes are flexed apart. Then kick both out to the side, kicking away from each other in a near circle before coming together again, feet pointed. The feet are key; if you don’t flex them when your heels are together, you won’t go anywhere. Practise on your back, holding a float. But watch out that you don’t bring your knees up to your chest, instead of your heels to your bottom.

Remember to breathe

Just before your hands touch, you should notice your torso lifting out of the water. Take a breath, then with hands in prayer position, put your face in the water, push hands out in front of you and breathe out fully. Two tips: put your face in, rather than your whole head; come up enough to breathe, but don’t jerk your whole head out.

Use the glide

When you kick your legs out, you get the reward of all that effort. Don’t waste it. Hold the position of extended legs for two or three seconds – that’s the glide, where you should move around 1.5m. If you kick again too soon, you will jerk forward, then backwards. Think of it as kick, gliiiide, kick, gliiiide.

How to do… backstroke

Relax

The key to a great backstroke is letting go of any fear you may have of the water. If you’re uncomfortable with lying on your back in the pool, then hold on to the side with one hand, bend your knees so that your shoulders are in the water, look up, stick one leg out, then both legs, and get your ears in the water. Keep on practising this until you feel comfortable enough to stretch out your legs and one arm, and then finally let go.

Learn how to kick

To really move in the water, the most important thing to master is the kick – that’s what will stop you flailing around the pool. Start by floating on your back, then flap your hands at your sides with your palms open and fingers closed, as if you are fanning your legs. This will give you some propulsion and allow you to focus on your kick. As with front crawl, keep your ankles relaxed and kick from the hips; up and down, up and down. Keep your legs close together and your knees slightly bent as you kick down. Away you go.

Make those arms move

Start with both arms down by your side and keep them straight. Bring one straight arm out of the water, brush it against your ear (this will help your shoulders rotate) and twist your hand around so that the little finger touches the water first (with your palm away from you), then bring the hand back down to your side. Repeat the same action with your other arm. Now make it a fluid, faster movement; when your first hand goes into the water and begins to pull down, raise the other arm up out of the water. Keep the arms moving continuously, circling around your body.

Push yourself in the pool: the swimming workout

Designed for a keen swimmer in a 25m pool, this is a great way to break up a session, keep things interesting and work hard, giving you a total swim of 2,500m. If that seems too far, halve the distances; if you fancy yourself as an elite swimmer, multiply by two! Take the suggested 30 seconds rest between each activity. You’ll thank us for it near the end.

Warm up

Gentle pace

Change from backstroke to front crawl after each length. The pace should be gentle and relaxed; you’re simply going through the motions, to get blood pumping around the body, loosen joints and warm muscles.

500m

30 seconds rest

Main set

Slow to normal pace

Start off at your warm-up pace and gradually increase the speed after each length until your arms and legs are ticking along at your usual average pace for the last length.

150m

30 seconds rest

Normal pace

“Normal” is your own average pace: a speed you can maintain for a long time without getting too tired. You’re leaving plenty in the tank while pushing at the same time.

150m

30 seconds rest

200m

30 seconds rest

250m

30 seconds rest

300m

30 seconds rest

High effort – 75% of maximum exertion

Now it’s time to ramp up your effort. Did you know that you can sweat in the water? You’re about to find out how that feels. Use about 75% of what you’ve got. Your legs should kick faster and your arms will pull the water more quickly.

250m

30 seconds rest

200m

30 seconds rest

150m

30 seconds rest

Big push – 90% of maximum exertion

This pace is one of the trickiest to pull off, in and out of the pool. You’re one step away from giving it your absolute all. Aim for six kicks for each arm pull but keep in mind you still have to swim after this. Push it hard and leave something in the legs for the last hurrah.

100m

30 seconds rest

All out – maximum, 100% exertion

Now it’s time to unleash your inner Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones, Katie Ledecky or Simone Manuel. Show everyone in the pool what you’re made of. Be strong, be quick and be smart. Maintain a 100% all-out effort for 50m and bask in the glory of completing a Swim Dem Crew sprint.

50m

2 minutes rest

Warm down

Gentle pace

Once you’ve caught your breath, it’s time to warm down. Use a slow front crawl to reduce your heart rate. Keep the pace nice and easy; you’ve earned it.

200m

4 Reasons You Should Count Your Strokes In Practice

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:58:20 GMT

4 Reasons You Should Count Your Strokes In Practice

Many times, swimmers are more focused on making sure they have the right competitive swimwear and are improving on their race times than they are on the more mundane details, such as counting the number of strokes you make. However, when it comes to competitive swimming, it’s important to find as many ways as possible to make improvements in your swim times. There are many reasons you should consider counting your strokes.

Preserve Energy

If you’re making too many strokes as you move across the pool, you’re actually burning more energy than necessary and thus costing yourself time. If you’re aware of the number of strokes you are making versus how many you should be taking, you can make adjustments to your technique so you can conserve energy and perform better.

Improve Your Focus

Many times, competitive swimmers often lose focus on the intricate details of their stroke, which can lead to sloppy swimming. When you’re counting your strokes, you’re also thinking about how your body is moving so you can improve your technique, as well as your swim times. Bringing back your focus is sure to help you become a much stronger swimmer.

Create a Habit

If you talk to most coaches, they will tell you counting strokes is an important element in becoming a better swimmer. If you’re not doing it, you’re missing out on an important training tool However, it can be difficult to start counting your strokes. The good news is the longer you do it, the easier it will become. Eventually, you will do it out of habit without having to think too hard about it.

Improve Breakouts

One of the areas swimmers struggle with most is their breakouts. Many swimmers have a tendency to push off the wall and drift for longer than necessary, costing precious fractions of a second on their swim times. When you’re thinking about how many strokes you take and you realize what a difference a couple more strokes could make on your time, you can improve your breakouts and get better times.

Becoming a better swimmer requires paying close attention to your performance and practices. Each time you put on your practice swim suits, you need to start counting your strokes and thinking hard about how you can improve your technique and perform even better.

Ready to start swimming? Book a lesson with Swim School Austin here!

Books Suggestions for Reluctant Swimmers

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 15:29:10 GMT

Books Suggestions for Reluctant Swimmers

Have a child who is nervous to swim? Here are the top five books our little swimmers recommend to overcome their fears.

BOOK SUGGESTIONS!

Title: Saturday is Swimming Day

By: Hyewon Yum

Recommended by: Dina (age 6)

New things can be scary — but as one endearing little girl discovers, it’s perfectly fine to take your time. In this charming and relatable story, our reluctant heroine shows us that a little bit of bravery and a lot of patience are all we need to face our fears.

Title: Leo Can Swim

By: Anna McQuinn

Recommended by: Tyler (age 3)

Leo and Dad are excited for their first swim lesson together they swish and swoosh. They splish and sploosh. This darling book is the perfect way to introduce lessons to new little swimmers.

Title: No Swimming for Nelly

By: Valeri Gorbachev

Recommended by: Addison (age 5)

Everyone’s favorite pigs, Peppa and George, are going swimming, but George is a bit scared. How will Mummy and Daddy pig ever convince him to get in the pool?

Title: Maisy Learns to Swim

By: Lucy Cousins

Recommended by: Maya (age 3)

Nelly looks fabulous in her new swimsuit, so she wears it all the time--while riding her bike, playing basketball, eating at a fancy restaurant . . . even while sleeping. But Nelly refuses to wear it for swimming. Grandma, a swimming champion, has other ideas. Finally Nelly, dipping one toe at a time, learns to float, blow bubbles, kick . . . and is on her way to becoming a champion swimmer herself!

Title: Peppa Goes Swimming

By: Scholastic

Recommended by: Lexy (age 4)

Maisy is nervous to swim, but thanks to good friends and a great teacher, learning to blow bubbles, float on her back, and kick around the pool is more fun than she thought it could ever be.

Do you have some splashin’ good books to recommend to our swim family? We’d love to check them out. Email your suggestions to Info@SwimSchoolAustin.com!

Wanna sign-up and join our swim family and get started today? Use the link provided to check us out!

How Swimming Benefits Your Circulatory System

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:22:21 GMT

How Swimming Benefits Your Circulatory System

The circulatory system, also known as the cardiovascular system is just one of the major organ systems that regulate our bodies. All of these systems have very specific functions yet, they can’t function independently. Working in tandem, they rely on one another. The circulatory system includes the heart (cardiovascular); lungs (pulmonary); arteries, veins, coronary and portal vessels (systemic). Its main purpose is to move nutrients, oxygen and hormones to and from different cells and tissues throughout the body. Not only is it responsible for delivering the goods; the circulatory system also plays an important, secondary role in removing waste products from the body via the digestive and urinary systems.

The cardiovascular system is a closed loop. It works congruously with the respiratory system. The respiratory system is responsible for exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen within the blood. This cohesive relationship between the systems is known as pulmonary circulation. The heart pumps oxygen-depleted blood through the lungs in order to oxygenate it. When the blood reaches the lungs, the blood cells release carbon dioxide and absorb oxygen. Systemic circulation is responsible for pumping the new oxygen-rich blood to cells and tissues throughout the body. Then back to the heart.

Circulatory System Diseases

There are a number of diseases that can afflict the cardiovascular system. While some are congenital (such as a heart defect), many are deemed “lifestyle” diseases. Coined as such because they develop by unhealthy lifestyle habits over time. Otherwise preventable by way of a healthy diet and exercising.

A brief overview of the diseases that can affect the circulatory system:

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Acute Coronary Syndrome(s) is a blanket term that describes a range of conditions, the cause is a sudden reduction of blood flow to the heart. An example of this would be an aneurysm.

Strokes can occur one of two ways; poor blood flow (lack of) to the brain or, hemorrhaging (bleeding), resulting in cell death. In both cases, cell death leads to improper brain functionality. Ischaemic attacks are “mini” strokes resulting from a temporary disruption of blood supply to the brain.

In 2018, a survey was conducted to determine how prevalent cardiovascular conditions in several select countries. The chart below shows us that the United States has the highest prevalence of heart disease, followed by Russia and the

EU-5.

Swimming for the Prevention of Circulatory System Diseases

If you are concerned about your heart then regular swimming can help to guard against heart disease. According to swimming.org, being physically active can decrease the chances of a stroke by 31%. Just doing an hour of moderate physical activity each day can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%. While all exercise that gets your heart beating and your blood pumping is good for your circulatory health, swimming is uniquely beneficial.

A swimmer’s heart pumps more blood with every beat, which lowers heart rate. The vigorous movements coupled with the water’s resistance leads to increased levels of oxygen, and oxygen consumption. This means that more blood is pumped to your muscles with every beat. A greater blood supply with fewer heartbeats means more efficiency, and therefore a healthier circulatory system.

This encourages blood vessels to remain flexible and elastic which is important for maintaining a normal blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, swimming for half an hour a minimum of three times a week can significantly lower your blood pressure levels. In addition to that, swimming helps regulate cholesterol levels. More specifically, swimming can increase your levels of good cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein – and lower bad cholesterol – lipoprotein.

Jump in!

If you’re a beginner, or are getting back into swimming, start slowly with five to 10 minutes of smooth lap swimming. As you get used to the exercise, and your strokes, kicks, and breathing become more efficient, you’ll be able to swim for longer periods. Mix up your strokes — freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, whatever you can do. In addition to keeping your swimming routine fresh, the variety helps you work different muscles.

So jump right in to the Swim School Of Austin for your first lesson today!

Can swimming relieve my child’s stress level?

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 16:04:16 GMT

Can swimming relieve my child’s stress level?

It’s all over the news, stress and anxiety levels in children are increasing at an alarming rate. While you may have scheduled swim lessons for practical reasons, by all means it IS a great work and vitally important to keeping children safe. Did you also know that swimming can help reduce stress and anxiety as well? Here are a few of the reasons why:

SWIMMING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Swimming relaxes our bodies. Stress makes our muscles tense up. Swimming stretches and uses those muscles, therefore easing built up tension.

Swimming is meditative.

Due to the repetitive movements and controlled breathing swimming requires, swimming is a natural for slowing down the mind and letting the body take control. Plus, the therapeutic value of the water that surrounds and holds you up adds to a relaxed state of being.

Swimming helps us sleep better.

It’s true, most children (and adults) get less sleep than they need. Do you know that lack of sleep actually causes stress levels to rise significantly over time? Regular hops in the pool not only help you feel better during the day it also helps you sleep better at night. Some studies show swimming also increases time spent in deep (think quality) sleep as well.

Swimming is fun.

If it’s true, that “laughter really is the best medicine”… then look no further than swimming to cure what ails you or your child. After all, USA Swimming calls it the “funnest” sport for a reason, and the sense of accomplishment when mastering a new skill is priceless.

Ready to help your child and possibly yourself to de-stress!? Sign up today at our nearest locations!

Why Hydration Boosts Swim Performance

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 15:47:12 GMT

Why Hydration Boosts Swim Performance

One thing many swimmers seem to forget when dealing with competitive swimming is how important it is to remain properly hydrated. After all, you’re spending time in the water so how could you possibly get dehydrated? Unfortunately, this can be a serious problem if you still aren’t drinking enough water. Simply being immersed in water isn’t enough, particularly because you are still sweating; you just don’t notice it in the water. As you consider the other competitive swimming products you need, don’t forget to add custom team water bottles to the list so you can enjoy the following benefits.

A Well Balanced Body

Your body is made up primarily of water, which means every system requires enough water in order to function properly, including your muscles and nerves. Drinking enough water ensures you can swim your best and don’t have to worry about any of the negative side effects of dehydration, such as headaches, fatigue and others. When you’re able to stay properly hydrated, you will find you swim much better in the end.

Makes Breathing Easier

Were you aware your level of hydration has an effect on your ability to breathe? One of the important basic elements of competitive swimming is proper breathing techniques. If you can’t breathe easily, you won’t be giving your body the oxygen it needs to function correctly. This can have a dramatic impact on your overall swim times and hurt your performance. As long as your taking in enough water, however, you can rest assured your breathing will keep up with your body’s needs.

Improved Cognitive Ability

Whether consciously or not, you are constantly thinking when you’re swimming. You need to think about your swimming technique, as well as make calculations and adjustments along the way in order to improve your performance on the fly. Studies have shown not being hydrated enough can impair the way your brain functions. Unfortunately, because much of the thinking involved with competitive thinking often becomes subconscious, you may not even notice your performance is suffering and your times are increasing.

How Much Is Enough?

Now that you’re aware of the importance of staying hydrated while you swim and why you should have custom team water bottles on hand at all times, you need to know how much you should be drinking. Because you’re less likely to feel thirsty, you’ll need to consciously think about it. It’s recommended to drink about 16 ounces of water prior to practice or a meet, as well as 8 ounces about every 20 minutes. Always be sure to drink plenty when you’re done as well to help aid in your body’s recovery.

If you’re looking for the best swim lessons in the Austin area contact us or find the nearest location , and experience a WOW customer satisfaction service!

How to Set Short-Term Goals for Long-Term Improvement

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 18:44:42 GMT

How to Set Short-Term Goals for Long-Term Improvement

When you join competitive swimming, you may be focused on choosing the right racing swimsuits and becoming the best swimmer you can be. While it’s important to set your eye on the end prize, it’s also critical to set up some short-term goals that will help you move toward this overall goal. It’s not all about the performance swimwear you choose; it’s about making small strides, just like you do with most of the other things you do in life. Breaking it up into smaller pieces will make it all seem easier in the end.

Be Specific

It’s easy to make your goals more general, but this can make them much more difficult to effectively achieve. This is why it’s so important to be extremely specific in your goals. Rather than setting a goal to improve your overall speed in the water, for instance, consider setting a specific time goal. However, it’s also critical to keep in mind how likely you are to be able to achieve this goal. Reaching too far too quickly can easily let you down and make it more difficult to continue focusing.

Take Action

It may seem easy to sit down in from the of the computer and do some research on how to become a better swimmer. While this information can be invaluable in helping you toward your end goal, it isn’t the best way to see the results you’re looking for. After all, you can watch a large number of videos, but if you don’t actually do something, you aren’t going to improve. Instead, try to set aside some extra time for your practices. Even 15 more minutes can go a long way toward achieving your goals. Doing some exercises at home when you’re not at the pool can also help.

Keep Track of Progress

Setting goals isn’t the only thing you should be doing. If you aren’t tracking your progress toward your end goal, it’s easy to lose site of the objectives you have put in place. Create a spreadsheet or find another way to keep track of the small successes you have so you can visualize the progression toward your goal. This ensures you remain focused on your end goal and can check off some of those short-term markers as well.

If you’re looking for the best Swim lessons in Austin, reach out to us or find our nearest location and experience our WOW customer service!

ADHD: 3 Ways that Swimming Can Help

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 20:13:11 GMT

ADHD: 3 Ways that Swimming Can Help

How can swimming help children with ADHD?

1) Swimming can increase attention span

Kids with ADHD often seem to have too much energy, resulting in fidgety, restless behavior. Swimming is a fantastic way to release this excess energy as it helps with the lack of focus and impulsivity seen in children with ADHD.

Additionally, during rigorous exercise such as swimming, their brains release chemicals called neurotransmitters. One of the neurotransmitters released is dopamine, which is involved with attention and focus in the brain. Interestingly, medications used to treat ADHD often work by increasing the same chemical, dopamine, in the brain. Hence, swimming can be a natural method for kids to increase their attention spans!

2) Individualized participation is key

Experts agree that team sports could be difficult for children with ADHD. In team sports, it is important to maintain focus and awareness on not only their own roles but also those of other players.

Swimming is one of the best sports for children with ADHD. This is because there are few opportunities for distraction, no physical contact with others, and low complexity of rules and strategies. As swimming is a sport with individualized participation, it provides children with all the energy release and endorphins of physically rigorous activity without the challenges of the disorder, including heightened distraction and decreased spatial awareness.

3) Swimming can boost self-esteem

This might seem contradictory to the last point, but swimming can actually help to boost self-esteem as it can be a team activity! According to child psychiatrists, kids with ADHD often feel isolated from their classmates. Team sports can offer social interaction and encouragement from peers. Although swimming is largely an individual activity, it also contains the social benefits of team sports if your child is swimming on a team.

Ready to start swimming? Book a lesson with Swim School Austin here!

4 Ways to Keep Your Goggles in Place During a Swim Race

info@techsanmedia.com (Todd Thornton) — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 16:04:14 GMT

4 Ways to Keep Your Goggles in Place During a Swim Race

There’s nothing more irritating than swimming in a competitive race, only to find your swimming goggles are slipping out of place. Not only is this incredibly uncomfortable, but it can also negatively impact your performance in the race. The good news is there are ways you can prevent this slippage and ensure your swimming goggles remain where they belong for the duration of your swim class or other swimming events.

Choose the Right Goggles

First and foremost, you need to make sure you’re choosing the right swimming googles for your needs. With all of the brands and styles available, there’s something out there for everyone. It may take a few tries to find the ones best suited for your face structure and swimming style. However, once you find them, you can rest assured they will stay in place the way they were intended.

Adjust the Straps Properly

The perfect fit requires you to adjust the straps so they fit snugly to your head without causing pain or discomfort. It may be tempting to make them eye-popping tight to ensure they stay in place, but this can sometimes cause them to slip out of place, rather than producing the desired results.

Ensure Proper Movements

There’s a specific method of moving the head while you are swimming that can actually help keep your swimming goggles in place. It’s important to tuck the chin into the chest as you swim in order to better streamline the body for smooth movements through the water and to keep the goggles in place when you first break the water. If you are turning your head properly, your goggles are much more likely to stay in place as they should.

Keep Your Goggles in Good Condition

In addition to the way you wear your swimming goggles, it’s necessary to keep them in great condition so they continue to fit properly. This includes using a anti-fog solution and storing them properly so they can dry and the rubber doesn’t deteriorate prematurely.

If you’re looking for the best swimming products in Austin, TX, contact us. We carry just about everything you need to be the best swimmer you can be. Reach out if your also looking for awesome swim lessons in the area!

Don’t Cramp While Swimming!

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 15:51:27 GMT

Don’t Cramp While Swimming!

Warm Up Your Muscles

An important rule of thumb to practice prior to beginning in-water training or any rigorous activity, is to warm your body up. Preparation of your muscles using well practiced techniques should be key to swimming and avoid any cramps from sore muscles. All swimmers new and experience should prep their bodies before taking a dip. These techniques should be trained and perfected before starting your swimming session.

Care Free is the Way to Be

Swimmers should always be calm and stress free before beginning their sessions. Avoid being anxious and remain in a relaxed mental mood, as these procedures will aid in muscle relaxation. Warming up is vital in order to avoid any leg cramps while kicking or upper body muscle cramps while stroking through the water. Many swimmers use these trainings to pump their muscles, as swimming is an excellent tool to build muscle, so it is important that your muscles are ready to be worked out before swimming.

Don't Forget to Stretch

Swimmers should start by warming up outside of the water with minor stretches. Swimmers should stretch their legs by performing a few squats and jumping jacks to get the blood moving throughout their whole body. This warm up should be done once in the water as well. Swimmers could make a habit warming up with ledge kicks, and mid body twists while in shallow water to warm up.

Give Yourself a Break

The most important factor is to not be over work our muscles! Swimmers should opt for day-in, day-out swimming lessons as to not cramp up an already sore muscle region. Taking time off between lessons will assist in muscle tissue repair and growth, ultimately leading to you becoming a stronger swimmer!

Remember, Don’t cramp your style!

6 Reasons Swimming Lessons are Important at Any Age

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:06:54 GMT

6 Reasons Swimming Lessons are Important at Any Age

A number of people suffer from specific phobias. The fear of water, hydrophobia, is one fear that is particularly concerning as it causes people to avoid lakes, swimming pools, rivers, streams, and other large bodies of water. The fear of water is stressful for many people as the fear can end up transferring as an irrational fear to their children. Learning how to swim is essential at any age as there could be a situation where your personal safety is in jeopardy. Here are six reasons why swimming lessons are important at any age.

Personal Safety

Learning how to swim is vital to your personal safety as you never know where there could be an instance where you fall into the water. Learning how to swim will provide you with the ability to survive in water. You never know when there is a time where you will be around water, and swimming will end up saving your life. If you plan on going on a cruise, you need to know how to swim to prevent yourself from drowning.

Safety of Children and Others

Parents need to learn how to swim, as they could use this skill to save their children in the event they fall into the water. Each year, more than 3,400 people drown in the United States. Swimming lessons could enable one to save another person’s life.

Improve Your Health

Swimming is not only a great skill to have, it can help you improve your health. Swimming is a great form of exercise, and helps to burn excess calories. Your body will use a large variety of muscle groups, and it is a great cardiovascular workout.

Reduce Pain

Elderly individuals often avoid several forms of exercise due to pain when they move. Swimming will reduce pain during motion as the water helps to prevent excess strain on the body. Water is a natural cooling element, which reduces pain while moving stiff joints and sore muscles.

Enjoyment

Learning to swim is a fun process. A number of people find swimming to be an excellent pastime to enjoy with friends and family. When the weather warms up, swimming is a great way to cool down and still enjoy being outside. Once you learn how to swim, it can open up a new world of enjoyable activities you can try including waterskiing and wakeboarding.

Swimming Lessons Increase Your Knowledge

Knowledge is power, and adding a new skill to your life can not only improve your confidence, it could even help you professionally. If you work for a company that provides corporate events, cruises, and other fun things, you can find yourself in the middle of an awkward situation if you cannot swim. Learning how to swim is a great way to enhance your skills and enjoy your life. Sign up for swimming lessons here, to learn how to swim today!

5 Perfect Pool Games For Young Swimmers

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 22:00:03 GMT

5 Perfect Pool Games For Young Swimmers

As the last month of the summer in July, it often means pool parties, beach days, backyard BBQ’s and spending time with friends and family. To get your little ones excited for a day of festivities, we’ve put together a list of water games that are perfect for your young swimmers!

Pool Games 1: Sharks And Minnows

The all-time classic pool game for a group of swimmers! The objective: don’t get tagged by the shark. For new swimmers, stay in the shallow end. For more advanced swimmers, venture into the deep end.

Pick someone to be the shark, who will then swim around and try to tag all the minnows. Once a minnow is tagged, that person also becomes a shark. The last minnow remaining is the winner!

Pool Games 2: What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?

Choose one person to be Mr. Fox and stand at one end of the pool. The other swimmers wait at the opposite end of the pool and yell, “What time is it, Mr. Fox?” Mr. Fox yells out a time, which tells the other swimmers how many steps to take (ex. 6:00 means six steps).

Pool Games 3: Kickboard Battle

This is a great game to practice kicking strength! Choose two players to start on either side of a kickboard. Both players kick their hardest to try and move their opponent backwards. The winner is chosen once an opponent has been pushed back 2-3 feet in the pool.

Pool Games 4: Quick Jump Quiz

Choose one person to be the Quizmaster, while the rest of the kids line up along the pool. Make sure the pool is deep enough to jump into. The Quizmaster will ask a question to one person at a time, such as “What color is the sky?” or “Who was the first president?” The person answering must answer the question as they jump into the pool, before they touch the water. The game becomes more fun as the questions get harder!

Pool Games 5: Ice Cube Hunt

This game is perfect for young swimmers or for smaller pools. Drop large ice cubes into the shallow end of the pool. Have the swimmers try to collect the most ice cubes before they melt! The swimmer with the most ice cubes wins.

As you prep for your festivities, remember to practice swim safety at all times.

Have a safe, fun and splash-filled summer! ��

Building Comfort And Confidence In The Water

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 15:25:41 GMT

Building Comfort And Confidence In The Water

Learning to swim is not only imperative to your child’s long term water safety in and around bodies of water, but it can be an incredibly fun activity to help them bond with family and friends, as well as build self confidence. Like learning anything, there can be a lot of self-doubt and anxiety that gets coupled with learning a new skill that is outside of their comfort zone. For parents who have been long time swimmers there can be a feeling to want to rush into having your child be a strong swimmer, when in reality strong swimming skills are built over years. On the other hand, for parents who feel they are weak swimmers or who are unable to swim, there can be residual feelings of unease around water, which can be unintentionally transferred to their children through the parent’s energy and actions. In both of these cases, there leaves little room for the child to comfortably learn at their own pace in an environment that is nonthreatening and with no pressure.

Creating a Safe Space

No matter your own feelings toward swimming, it is important that your child learns this life saving skill at their own pace. Encouraging words, smiles and positive body language are the first steps in creating a safe space for your child to feel comfortable learning this new skill. While as a caregiver your first reaction may be to console and comfort your child in an instance that they feel uncomfortable or surprised, it is important to reinforce positive encouragement and affirmations no matter a small splash to the face, or suddenly falling into the water unexpectedly. During my own personal years of teaching swimming lessons I have seen parents react to their child swimming in a wide range of ways, from harsh words and even a little push to get into the pool, to coddling and consoling over the smallest splash that brings tears. I have seen children brought to tears over something as small as an accidental splash to the face, to suddenly slipping and falling into the shallow end and needing to be pulled out. No matter the instance, it is important to give positive encouragement and praise. Children are very intuitive, and as soon as there is an energy shift (especially in someone like their caregiver), their first reaction may be to react in a flurry of tears, worry and uncertainty. Since learning to swim is already putting them outside their comfort zone, reacting with positive encouragement is key.

Fostering Confidence

Ways to begin to build this confidence in the water can start at bath time. Encouraging your child to put their head underwater, pouring water over their head and blowing bubbles are the first steps toward building water confidence in the pool. Once they understand that getting water in their eyes, and getting their face wet is something that is normal and typical when in the water, they are more likely to be confident in the pool. Starting swimming lessons at an early age is another key component in building lifelong strong swimmers. You can start as young as six months old with “Baby and Me” classes, which brings caregivers and the infant into the pool together to play in a space that is both supportive and fun.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Throughout swimming lessons, it is important to understand that all children learn to swim at their own pace. Just because you have one child who is a confident and strong swimmer straight out of the gate, doesn’t mean the other child will be. No matter the level or age, be patient, positive and encouraging. Swimming is not only a life saving skill, but will bring your child self-confidence and joy for the rest of their life!

Say Goodbye To A Crooked Backstroke In 3 Easy Steps

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:32:09 GMT

Say Goodbye To A Crooked Backstroke In 3 Easy Steps

Going off course or colliding with the lane rope or other swimmers can be an embarrassing and dangerous situation when swimming backstroke.

However, being able to swim in a straight line is indeed a challenge for backstroke swimmers of all ages.

Unlike other swimming strokes where you can look ahead while swimming, backstroke requires swimmers to be on their backs. Ensuring you are swimming straight can also be exceptionally difficult if you are swimming outdoors where there is no roof for you to use as a guide.

Determined to stop zigzagging across the pool? Here are 3 easy ways to fix your backstroke in no time!

1. Look Out for A Guide

Like how you may use the pool floor as a guide to ensure you are swimming straight in other strokes, do the same when you are swimming backstroke!

Search for something that runs parallel to the direction you are swimming in, such as a fence or the spectator stands. Keep your eye on the subject to make sure you are not swimming off course.

Using your peripheral vision, you can also look out for the lane ropes beside you and make sure you keep a consistent distance away from them. This will ensure that you do not collide into them and that you are always in the middle of the lane as you swim.

2. Do Not Lose Your Positioning

Another easy fix for a crooked backstroke is making sure you do not lose your positioning when swimming. This applies specifically to how your head moves during the stroke.

When swimming, your head should naturally fall into a position that is in line with your spine. You should not be sticking your neck out, trying to keep your face out of the water. Doing that can result in your hips dropping, and thus losing your streamline body position.

In addition, to swim in a straight line, your head should optimally be still during your swimming stroke. If your head is frequently moving from side to side, it can be disorientating and cause you to be off balance.

To keep your head still as you swim backstroke, practice body rotation with minimal movement to your head during your backstroke drills. Over time, you will get used to the body positioning and be able to swim with ease!

3. Maintain Your Body Roll and Arm Strength

To effectively swim straight in backstroke, always be aware of your body rolls and maintain consistent arm strength.

Some swimmers neglect the importance of rolling their bodies to the side when their arms sweep through the water. This will result in their legs and hips moving around each time to counter the single-sided pull from the arm, thus causing a crooked backstroke.

Make sure that you roll your body in the same direction as your arm that is moving through the water. For example, the body should roll to the left if your left arm is sweeping down into the water, and vice versa.

Do be consistent with the amount of strength you put into each arm pull. If one arm creates a greater force or is faster than the other when pulling, you will be swimming diagonally.

Therefore, identify which side you often steer towards when swimming backstroke and correct the amount of strength you put into that specific arm. Always try to match both your arms’ speed and motion.

If you can identify the cause of your crooked backstroke, swimming in a straight line can be achieved easily. Once you get it right, swimming straight will be a part of your muscle memory, and will come naturally.

After overcoming the challenge to swim straight, you can then move on to focusing on swimming faster and better!

If you need help in perfecting your strokes, register with Swim School Austin today !

Fix For Sinking Legs During A Swim

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 18:35:13 GMT

Fix For Sinking Legs During A Swim

Do you find yourself having to kick a lot harder when you swim? Do you feel like you’re not moving much or moving too slowly? Are you struggling to keep your legs from sinking?

One of the biggest causes of slow and inefficient swimming is sinking legs. When your body position is not in line with the water surface, there is greater drag. This slows you down when you swim.

To achieve effortless and speedy swimming techniques, here are 3 must-do tips to fix those sinking legs of yours during a swim!

1. Exhale Your Breath Under Water

Many swimmers have the tendency to hold their breath when swimming instead of exhaling into the water. However, this instinctive habit is one of the main reasons why your legs are sinking in the water!

By keeping your breath in, the air in your lungs creates extra buoyancy in your chest. This will lift you up at the front, which can cause your legs to sink as you lose your streamline body position in the water.

Not only that, but you may also tense up when you hold your breath under water. Learning to exhale constantly in the water helps you to relax, which aids your swimming technique.

You can exhale your breath through your nose or your mouth in the water, releasing a constant stream of air bubbles when your face is in the water. This new swimming tip may need some time to get used to, so constantly remind yourself when you are doing your laps.

2. Flexible Ankles and Kick From Your Hip

A common mistake observed in the pool when practicing flutter kick for front crawl, is swimmers kicking from their knees instead of their hips. With bent knees and stiff ankles, this can cause your legs to sink low into the water.

By bending your knees as you kick in the water, you are creating more drag with your legs. You will also lose your desired horizontal body position, which can slow you down significantly.

Therefore, always keep your legs relatively straight and kick from your hips. You can correct your technique by doing more kick drills in the pool before beginning your usual laps!

Another point to take note when kicking, is to make sure that your ankles are flexible enough to point your feet. If your feet are pointing down at the pool floor, you are only creating extra drag in the water.

Achieving a straight foot as you swim will propel you further and faster in your kicks, and help you keep your legs afloat in the water!

3. Master a Good Catch Action

The last crucial factor to avoid sinking legs, is the way you initiate each stroke when swimming front crawl. This is also known as ‘the catch’.

A good front crawl catch action requires swimmers to bend their elbows early when entering the water, so as to push the water backwards towards the wall behind them. This helps you to move forward as you swim.

However, a bad catch action is when you push downwards on the water instead with a straight arm, which will only lift your front torso up. This action subsequently leads to your legs sinking in the water, as the streamline body position is lost.

Therefore, a good catch action can help prevent the problem of sinking legs, while mastering a long and efficient stroke technique!

Correcting any swimming technique requires more than just an overnight practice. There may be several mistakes that need to be worked on and improved over time.

It takes time and patience to identify your mistakes and fix each one of them. However, the results will definitely be worth the effort!

With these tips and solutions, bid farewell to sinking legs, and welcome a beautiful streamline body position when you’re in the water.

If you are ready to learn more and improve your techniques, contact us today!

Foggy Goggles? Here are 5 Tried and Tested Solutions

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:31:30 GMT

Foggy Goggles? Here are 5 Tried and Tested Solutions

If there is one thing that annoys swimmers, it’s when goggles fog up in a middle of a lap. Foggy goggles can be a pain as you lose clear sight of where you are swimming towards, and of surrounding obstructions.

Why do our goggles fog up?

Because our body temperature is higher than the water we are swimming in. This leads to condensation, which causes the fog in our goggles. Most goggles have an anti-fog layer, but it wears off over time, and that’s when trouble starts.

It can be expensive to replace your foggy goggles every time the anti-fog coating becomes ineffective. And the good news is, you don’t have to!

Here are some tricks we have up our swimsuits that will help get rid of that fog in your goggles.

1. Your Saliva

Shocked? It really does work!

The human saliva is surprisingly effective in keeping your goggles fog-free. This is because saliva is a type of surfactant that can break surface tension, and prevents fog molecules from sticking together.

All you need to do is simply spit on the inside of your goggle lenses before you swim, and rub it around to make sure the entire lens is coated. Only a small amount of saliva is required. Too much will only cause a huge mess in your goggles!

Saliva is a great cost-free method that you can use any time! However, do note that it is only a short-term solution. Despite that, it is still an effective way to clear up your foggy goggles during your laps!

2. Baby Shampoo

This may seem like an unorthodox method, but it has worked for many! Baby shampoo is also a surfactant and will thus help to prevent fogging in your goggles.

If you are not comfortable with the idea of spitting into your foggy goggles, this is a great substitute for you!

Just by applying a coating on the inside of your lens, a thin film of protection is formed and condensation will be kept at bay. Baby shampoo is preferred over your standard shampoo as it is less irritating to the eyes and unlikely to result in allergic reactions.

However, excess baby shampoo may still irritate the eyes. Therefore, apply the baby shampoo onto your goggles and wash away excess shampoo 15 minutes before you swim.

3. Anti-Fog Spray

If you are willing to spend some cash for your goggles, a 100% effective solution is purchasing an anti-fog spray. These anti-fog chemicals can help recoat your lenses, leaving your goggles fog free!

A great brand that we will recommend getting is SWANS. You only need a little amount at a time to coat your lenses. Therefore, one bottle can last you for a long while!

A precaution to take note is to rinse your goggles under water after using the anti-fog spray. This is to avoid the chemicals from getting into your eyes when you use your gear.

This alternative is definitely cheaper than replacing a whole pair of goggles, and it will prolong the lifespan of your anti-fog lenses!

4. Toothpaste

Recommended by scuba divers, another popular method to defog your goggles is to use toothpaste! Like the baby shampoo, a coat of toothpaste can prevent condensation from forming on the lens of your goggles.

However, it is not advised to use abrasive toothpaste as that might cause scratches on your goggle lenses; and just using a small amount is enough.

Once again, remember to wash off the toothpaste from your goggles thoroughly, because no one likes a burning sensation in their eyes when swimming!

5. The Ultimate No-No: Touching Those Lenses with your Fingers

One huge mistake that many swimmers make when handling their goggles – constantly wiping the lenses! The anti-fog layer in the lenses wears off eventually, but how fast it happens depends on how you treat your goggles.

The anti-fog coating will not last long if you constantly touch the inside of the lenses with your fingers. This is because the oil on your fingers can rub off the thin layer of anti-fog easily.

Rinsing with cool water and leaving them to dry is the ideal way to clean your goggles and preserve the anti-fog layer in the lenses. So, resist that urge to swipe those lenses when you are swimming and your goggles will go a longer way!

What’s better than treatment is prevention.

If you follow the golden no-touching rule loyally and store away your goggles properly every time, you won’t have goggles that you need to defog. Take good care of your goggles and don’t let them impede you from swimming your best!

We can’t wait to see you at the pool with your fog-free goggles!

Looking to improve your swimming technique? Check us out at and experience our AMAZING customer service!

Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Water in Your Ears after Swimming

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:52:30 GMT

Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Water in Your Ears after Swimming

Have you ever felt that annoying tickling sensation in your ears when there is water trapped in them? Or hear that sloshing sound when you tilt your head?

Clogged ears is a post-swimming discomfort that every swimmer has definitely felt before. It is inevitable for some water to get into our ears when we are in the pool.

Not only is clogged ears annoying, but having water stuck there can also lead to ear canal infections, a common one being the ‘Swimmer’s Ear’.

Here are the 5 best remedies for you to remove water from your ears in no time!

1. Pop Your Ears

The fast and easy way to get rid of water that anyone can try, is to pop your ears! This simple method has been termed the Valsalva Maneuver, and it can help to push water out of your ears.

First, pinch your nostrils closed, take a deep breath and close your mouth thereafter.

Gently blow out of your nose until you hear a popping sound, which is caused by the pressure to your ears. This means that the Eustachian tubes (which connects your nasal passages to your middle ear) in your ears are opened, removing any water that is trapped inside.

Be careful not to exhale too fast or harshly, as that may hurt your eardrums!

2. Tilt Your Head and Add Pressure

This next remedy is commonly used and incredibly effective! By tilting your head to the side of your clogged ear and applying pressure to it, gravity will help to drain the water out of your ear.

Tilt your head sideways such that the ear that is clogged is parallel to the ground. Sometimes, if the water is not stuck in your ear canal, the water will immediately flow out. You can try jumping or shaking your head to help with the process.

If there are still fluids, place your palm against you clogged ear and press hard for a few seconds before removing it. This action will create a temporary vacuum which can draw the water out of your ear.

Make sure that the clogged ear is facing down to the floor and not up, or you will only be forcing the water to seep into your ear canal further!

3. Use a Blow Dryer

Another solution that do not require much effort is to simply dry off the water! Blow dryer is a great choice as the warm air from the dryer can ‘pull away’ water vapor, thus removing water from your ears.

Tug your ear lobe away from your face, and hold the blow dryer at least 30 cm away from your ear. Ensure that the dryer is aimed directly into your ear canal, and stay in the position for about 30 seconds.

During this period, water will begin to drain from your ear. Repeat the process until all the water in your ear have dried up.

Do note that the blow dryer should be at the lowest setting, or else it may get too hot. Do not let the blow dryer touch your ear as that may cause a burn injury.

4. Use a Warm Towel

Similar to a blow dryer, using a warm towel can also open up the Eustachian tubes in your ears.

Wet a cloth in hot water and wring off any excess water so that it is not dripping wet. Bring the warm cloth to the affected ear and press against it for 30 seconds.

Make sure the clogged ear is facing downward towards the ground in order for the water to drain out. Repeat this procedure until you no longer feel there is any water stuck in your ears!

5. Olive Oil

This may be a surprising tactic for many, but olive oil is great at repelling water and getting rid of them in your clogged ears. It also has anti-bacterial properties that can prevent your ears from getting infections.

To do this, simply warm a bowl of olive oil. Using a clear dropper, drip a few drops of oil into your affected ear and leave it for 10 minutes. Thereafter, tilt your head to the side and let the oil and water drain out of your ear.

This is a great preventive measure that can be used in future swimming sessions as well. Just apply a couple drops of olive oil into your ears before you swim, and this will stop water from getting trapped!

With these five home remedies, clogged ears will be a thing of the past!

To prevent such issues from happening at all, you can consider wearing a swimming cap or using ear plugs when you spend time in the pool.

Don’t let a simple problem such as clogged ears turn into a serious one like an ear infection!

3 Simple Ways to Know If Your Child is Ready for Swimming Classes

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 18:38:14 GMT

3 Simple Ways to Know If Your Child is Ready for Swimming Classes

Covering approximately 71% of our Earth, water is indeed everywhere! This is the reason why swimming has consistently been one of the most important skills a child needs at a young age.

Apart from its life-saving benefit, swimming is also a sport that has proven to enhance cognitive development. Most young swimmers actually perform better than their non-swimming peers in school.

But before you get too eager and start registering your child for swimming classes, you must know if it is the right time for them to begin.

Here are three simple ways to know if your child is ready for swimming classes!

1. Is your child at the right age for swimming?

The very first thing you need to make sure is that your child is attending a swimming class that is suited to his/ her age and maturity.

There are different swimming classes, each with its own benefits, for children of different ages.

For babies (6 months to 2 years)

Baby swimming classes are suitable for little ones below 2 years old. Parents are expected to be in the water with their babies for swimming classes.

Babies will learn how to float on the water (an important water safety skill!) and control their breath. Such classes are a great way for a parent with bond with their child.

For toddlers (2 to 4 years)

Toddler swimming classes will prepare your child for the Learn to Swim program. If your child is showing signs of discomfort with water (upset with water on the face, uncomfortable playing in shallow water), it is advisable that your toddler joins a swim program.

Toddlers will learn under a fun environment. Water toys should be provided and games and activities will stimulate your child’s senses. It’ll be a blast under the sun and in the pool.

Besides enjoying his/ her time in the water, your child will also learn breath control, free floating, to return to a point of safety if they fall into a body of water, and basic swimming skills such as flutter kick.

For children five and above

Learn to Swim program emphasize on teaching efficient swimming strokes, water survival skills and basic lifesaving skills. A full program will see your child learning the 4 main swimming strokes, front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly stroke.

A study conducted by Griffith University in Australia has shown that children who learn swimming reach developmental milestones earlier than children who don’t. Besides better motor skills (using a pencil to write, drawing shapes and lines), these children also display more advanced language and math skills.

All that aside, swimming is ultimately an essential life skill that every child should learn. There’s no better assurance for a parent than knowing that your child can swim and will be safe in the water.

If there’s an enrichment class you would like to sign your child up for, swimming is definitely high on the list of skills to acquire.

2. Is your child able to follow instructions?

Your kid’s ability to listen to instructions is the next important consideration.

Listening to the swim coach is mandatory for swimming lessons to go smoothly and safely.

By 2 years old, your child should be able to listen to one part instructions. By age 4, they should be able to understand and follow more complex directions.

If your kid is still having difficulty being attentive and unable to follow given instructions, it may be better to sign your child up for private swimming sessions instead of group lessons so he/ she gets individual attention.

As a parent, remember to lay out clear expectations you have of your children. Encourage and compliment them when they follow instructions. When they don’t, chide them gently.

3. Is your child a people person?

To determine if your child is ready for swimming classes, it is good to have a better understanding of how they react in a larger group as compared to a small group.

If your child is comfortable with strangers and enjoys social interaction, a group swimming class will be more suitable. Group lessons provide the dynamic aspect of peer learning and positive peer pressure. Children will also get to build on their social skills!

However, if your child is uncomfortable being around many people, having them attend private swimming lessons might be a better idea. Private lessons will keep your child focused and at ease. Individual attention also means that your child is highly likely to learn and progress faster than in a group lesson.

At the end of it all, no one knows your child better than you!

Swimming lessons are crucial for children at a young age. With encouragement and communication, you can stretch your child to learn new skills and face challenges head on. What a great way to prepare them for primary school and more! Sign up today and experience our GREAT customer experience!

Swimming makes you smarter

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:19:11 GMT

Did you know your child could get smarter by learning how to swim at an early age? An in-depth study shows children in swim lessons performed significantly better than the typical population in every major milestone.

We all know that exercise is great for the mind, but pool owners have something to rejoice about! Studies show that swimming is also great for the mind and can even make you smarter!

A study by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research in Australia found that young children who participate in early swimming achieve a wide range of skills earlier than the normal population. These skills included language development, fine motor skills, confidence, physical development, and even math skills. The Griffith study states that the skills developed by being involved in swimming helped children be prepared for the transition to pre-school or grade school.

Athletic swimmers often use basic math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to calculate their distance swam, laps, strokes, fly kicks, and more. Swimming also takes a lot of concentration on breathing and coordination.

There is no specific time to get involved in swimming. It is a sport and recreational activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. Some places offer classes for infants all the way up to senior citizens. Just because swimming can help children develop skills does not mean that it has no benefit for other ages. Senior citizens can benefit from swimming in both physical and mental capacities. Physical movement and exercise are beneficial at any age. However, swimming can also help develop mental health in seniors. It is known to relieve stress and improve mood levels.

Any physical activity or sport is bound to have the same types of benefits, but if you have a pool in your backyard, why not try swimming more often to sharpen your mind?

Here are 3 reasons why being in the pool can keep those wheels in your child’s head turning quickly!

1. Like Classroom, Like Swimming Pool

One reason swimmers get a head start in their development is because of the similarities between what is taught in a classroom and what is learnt in the pool!

Children are exposed to numbers at an early stage when they take swimming lessons. This is because coaches are constantly using numbers in their conversations with their students.

For example, coaches will usually count “1-2-3 GO” at the start of an activity. Kids will also have to count the number of seconds they must hold their breath underwater or when doing an activity.

Starting swimming lessons at a young age also exposes children to language frequently. They often have to follow instructions given by the coaches, like teachers in classrooms.

Children can also voice out when they are unsure about anything during the swimming lesson. This builds on their oral expression at an early stage.

Furthermore, swimming helps to hone our motor skills! Our coordination improves overtime as we exercise the muscles in our body. These drills include flat palms for freestyle or pointing our toes for flutter kick.

Young swimmers fare better in visual-motor skills like cutting paper, drawing lines and shapes and colouring in. These skills are highly valuable, as they are beneficial in getting children ready for school.

2. Memory Booster

Besides the classroom like experience we have in the pool, another reason swimming makes us smarter is its effect of improving our memory.

A part of our brain consists of the hippocampus, which is a fundamental component of our brain’s learning and memory systems. Aerobic exercises, like swimming, are found to have a significant impact on the growth of the hippocampus.

By swimming regularly, the hippocampus will increase, allowing more oxygen to flow into our brain. This will in turn help to boost our memory capacity!

A strong memory is a definite key to retaining content-heavy information, which is necessary at school and work.

3. Focus, Focus and More Focus

Another great benefit swimming has in the brain department is to help sharpen our focus and concentration, ensuring we do not stray away from our tasks.

Swimming can increase the attention span of children. Swimmers are more likely to dismiss the distractions around them and focus better in their work.

Having the perseverance to complete laps instead of stopping halfway, and focusing on executing each stroke correctly helps sharpen our attention and focus greatly.

So, what are you waiting for?

It’s time to head down to the pool with your kids, and get those brain juices flowing!

THE SURPRISING BENEFITS SWIMMING HAS ON YOUR MIND

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 22:31:14 GMT

Did you know that one in 4 people suffer from a mental health issue every year? A great way to combat the issue is with exercise. Adding exercise to your weekly routine can benefit most aspects of your life now and in the future. We uncover why swimming, in particular, will provide health benefits that will make you want to start straight away.

We all know that exercise is a fantastic way to help manage our weight, but the benefits don’t just stop there.

Exercise is great to help maintain strong muscles and bones
It can reduce levels of fatigue
It improves the health of your skin
Makes you feel happier
Helps you relax and calms your mind

Exercise doesn’t just improve your health right now, if you keep it up, you’ll be reaping the benefits for years to come. You can lower your chances of an early death by up to 30%. Exercise can also greatly reduce your risk of getting a major illness, including cancer and heart disease.

How does exercise benefit your mind?

When you exercise, changes in your brain occur that affect your levels of stress and anxiety. Your body produces endorphins (a group of hormones) that react with receptors in your brain that help minimise discomfort and produce a feeling of happiness through your body. Because a healthy body equals a healthy mind, right?

What are the benefits of swimming?

Swimming is the ultimate exercise to improve the way you think and feel. In a recent study by Swim England, they found that swimming has astonishing benefits on your mental health. With 1.4 million adults (in the UK) seeing positive results on their anxiety or depression as a result of swimming.

When it came to their mental state after swimming, the research found that swimming made 43% feel happier; 26% felt more motivated, and it helped 15% cope better with everyday life.

But, what’s so special about swimming?

Swimming is unique because it’s so accessible to anyone and everyone. The buoyancy of water makes it easy for individuals to get started, even if you have restricted movement. It’s also a cost-effective solution to expensive gyms and therapy; most local pools offer memberships, and outdoor swimming is completely free. Browse online to find your nearest outdoor lido or why not take a weekend day trip to the coast?

How often should you go swimming to feel the benefits?

According to the NHS, you should aim for 150 minutes of physical activity (which is the process of performing exercise that moves your body, uses energy and gets your heart rate going, such as walking or swimming) in a week. This time should be spread out throughout the week, with physical activities planned every day.

To make it a habit that’s easier to stick to, you can start by alternating your swim workouts. Try going at different times of the day and going alone or with friends to keep your exercises interesting and motivational. You can write your scheduled classes down in a diary or on your phone so that you don’t forget.

Take a look to see how you can get started at Swim School Austin, find the nearest location to you and sign up today!

4 Reasons Not To Let Your Child Quit Swim Lessons

Tue, 28 May 2019 20:43:02 GMT

4 Reasons Not To Let Your Child Quit Swim Lessons

Maybe your son wants to play football instead of taking swim lessons. Or perhaps your daughter is bummed that her friends aren’t in her class. Or, maybe life is getting a bit chaotic for you (as is a mom’s life…always). Whatever your thoughts, it’s really important to NOT let your child quit swim lessons. Why? Read on:

For many children, swimming is a part of growing up. But don’t count on your little swimmer learning how to swim “next summer” or when there’s more time or when he or she is more interested in swimming. Once they’ve started lessons, you should really KEEP your child in swim lessons.

1. Swimming lessons may save your child’s life.

Knowing how to swim can help prevent drowning. At Swim School Austin, we teach kids how to get in and out of the pool safely, how to act appropriately in and around the pool and what lifeguards do, along with other safety-related lessons each week. That’s only part of why Swim School Austin is worth the money. And seriously, teaching a valuable life-saving skill is the best part of our amazing customer service!

2. It takes a while for some kids to adjust to swimming.

Water splashing on your face, getting in your eyes and going up your nose and in your mouth and down your throat: What’s not to love about that?! Plenty. Getting used to being in the water (and under it) can take some time — and that’s OK. It’s a big adjustment and it can be a bit intimidating for kids who haven’t been around water much. If you let your little swimmer quit swim lessons before they’re really comfortable in the water, he or she — and you — may miss out on the fun stuff (not to mention seeing some extraordinary results). Give them time and soon your kids won’t ever want to get out of the water!

3. Swimming is great cardiovascular exercise — and helps burn energy in those tiny Perpetual Motion Machines you’ve got running around.

Did you know that swimming works every muscle group? It’s such a fantastic way to exercise — without even realizing that you’re exercising! It strengthens all the muscles, which is great prep for any other sport your little swimmer may decide to join. Plus, just let little Johnny or Janie play around in the pool for an hour and chances are bedtime will come a lot more easily. Parenting win!

4. These aren’t just swim lessons; they’re LIFE lessons.

Imagine your little man is all grown up and getting married (sob!). Then picture him going on a honeymoon to Hawaii. But, your adult son won’t be heading out on the boat with his new bride to experience any thrilling water adventures such as surfing or snorkeling — because he can’t swim! Maybe he’s even afraid of the water. This is a shame because there’s such beauty underwater (besides just being fun to swim in). All because he wanted to quit swim lessons to do something else with his time and he never got around to learning how to swim and be comfortable in the water. This is an extreme example but think hard: You probably know several adults who don’t know how to swim or who are afraid of the water, right?

Swimming isn’t just for sport; it’s a great skill to have for the rest of your life. Celebrate and swim!

Before your kid quits swim lessons, find out WHY your child wants to quit.

Is your land-locked little one just a little nervous, or actually deeply anxious about swimming? If so, don’t force or bribe him or her. Instead, try to make swimming FUN, slowly but surely, little by little.

But if he or she is just nervous, talk to your child about why. Let him or her know that you hear what is being said — and that you understand — and that it’s OK to be nervous. Bonus: Our instructors at Swim School Austin are GREAT at using their integrity, trust and compassion for helping little swimmers deal with their nervousness!

Swim School Austin

Keep in mind these 4 Reasons Not to Let Your Child Quit Swim Lessons and just keep on swimming! Not in lessons yet? Enroll your kids today in Swim School Austin and see for yourself the amazing experience we provide! Visit us today!

Do you have any more reasons to add to the list? Let us know!

6 Common Swimming Ailments And What To Do To Prevent And Treat Them

Mon, 20 May 2019 17:47:38 GMT

6 Common Swimming Ailments And What To Do To Prevent And Treat Them

Sometimes, spending a lot of time swimming in pools and lakes can lead to minor conditions including dry skin and hair, swimmer’s ear, red eyes, cramps and diarrhea. Kids benefit greatly from swimming, so you want them to have a great experience every time. Your job is to make sure these pesky ailments don’t keep your little swimmer on dry land! Read on to learn what you can do to prevent and treat common swimming conditions.

1. Dry Skin and Rashes

You may think that being immersed in water would make your skin even more filled with moisture, but sometimes that’s not the case. One of the reasons people may experience dry skin after swimming is from not properly drying off when exiting the water. Always rinse off with warm or even cool water — never hot water, which contributes to dry skin. Then, be sure to wrap up your little one in their towel and gently pat him or her dry all over — even if it’s warm out. Letting the air dry those water droplets off skin leads to that dryness. Use a hydrating lotion (be sure it doesn’t include alcohol, which is a drying agent that many perfumed lotions have) and apply it while skin is still damp.

2. Swimmer’s Ear

That pain and itchiness in the ear, commonly called swimmer’s ear, is brought on by many factors, including high bacteria counts in bodies of water like lakes and rivers (so your little one should be fine swimming at Swim School Austin). The best way to prevent it is to make sure to thoroughly dry your ears when getting out of the water — but NOT by using cotton swabs. Instead, tilt your child’s head to the side and gently tug at the earlobe, then switch sides.

While earplugs are generally not necessary, especially in a pool, talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns.

3. Brittle Hair

Constant swimming can seem to attribute to dry, brittle hair by stripping hair of its natural oils, but there are simple steps you can take to restore moisture. To protect hair, you can always have your child don a swimming cap. If that’s not feasible, or if hair still gets brittle, you can repair hair by doing conditioning treatments. Always rinse hair when getting out of the pool. As soon as you can, wash hair, then apply a conditioner or special leave-in conditioner. Check for products without alcohol, which dries hair further (or look into using coconut oil, argan oil, etc. to add moisture). And when towel drying hair, do NOT rub hair vigorously. Instead, wrap hair in a towel, gently squeeze excess water out and then pat dry the rest.

4. Red Eyes

After swimming in a pool, you may think the chlorine has contributed to those red eyes — but recent research suggest it’s actually urine combining with pool chemicals that lead to red eyes. So, to prevent that irritation, have your little one wear goggles (and make sure to go to the bathroom before going in the water, and take restroom breaks every hour). Once you get out of the water, flush red eyes with a saline rinse or fresh water. For little ones, let the shower run down their face over their eyes or even have them open their eyes in a sink of cool water.

5. Cramps

Swimmers may experience cramps, generally in sides, legs or feet. Make sure you and your swimmers are properly hydrated: Fill everyone up with plenty of water before going in the water to prevent dehydration that can lead to muscle cramps. In addition, bananas have been known to help by keeping those potassium levels up to help muscles.

6. E. coli / Diarrhea

One of the more common ailments from swimming in a lake stems from all the bacteria and human fluids and germs mingling together — so, the biggest way to prevent diarrhea from E. coli is don’t swallow water. In addition, make sure you’re not bringing additional bacteria into the water by showering before swimming, washing hands after using the restroom (and changing diapers!) and avoiding swimming if already sick with diarrhea.

Learn to Swim with Goldfish Swim School

Celebrate those extraordinary results your child will get when they start swimming lessons at Swim School Austin! With locations throughout the country, find a location near you and stop by to see our awesome customer service (and see how our instructors use integrity, trust and compassion with all students) when you sign up. Our pools are always set at a balmy 90 degrees, and we offer plenty of other cool things that make learning to swim fun!

Swimming Safety Q&A: Life Jackets, Puddle Jumpers And More

Mon, 13 May 2019 17:13:24 GMT

Swimming Safety Q&A: Life Jackets, Puddle Jumpers and more

Parenting is full of decisions, and learning what to do in new situations – like should kids learn to swim while wearing a flotation device, and when is it OK for your child to swim without a life jacket?

At Swim School Austin, water safety is something we take very seriously – and teach in every lesson. We want you to have the tools you need to keep your family safe, so here are our answers to some popular swimming safety questions:

Should my child learn to swim with a life jacket, puddle jumpers or water wings on?

When your child is learning to swim with a qualified swimming instructor, like the ones at Swim School Austin who use integrity, compassion and trust to teach such a lifesaving skill, then generally personal flotation devices are not needed.

Plus, at Swim School Austin, we feel that learning to swim without some sort of flotation device actually helps kids build their confidence in the water quicker! (And if your child has special needs we would love to talk to you and figure out what works best.)

Think about it: Those bulky swim life jackets can hinder proper swim movements and backtrack progress when it comes to swimming without the device. Plus, water wings aren’t U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices, and they can slip off or leak air. The same goes for those bathing suits with the floaty built in: It can ride up and not provide the safety you expect it to.

When should my child wear a life jacket while swimming?

When to put your child in a life jacket while swimming at the beach or a pool is your decision, since you – as the parent– know your child best and you know the situation. Varying factors like your child’s skill level with swimming, type of water and the constant supervision you’ll be providing (right there next to her, or watching from a few feet away).

But that’s why swimming lessons at Swim School Austin are important: They provide extraordinary results that helps you gauge your child’s ability to be safer in the water.

Life jackets save lives, as does being able to recognize the signs of drowning (because it’s not the flailing arms like so many movies depict!). We want to make sure that every time you go swimming, you have a great experience!

When does my child need to wear a life jacket on a boat or other water vessel?

Even if your child knows how swim, accidents can happen on a boat that render your child unconscious or unable to use his or her swim skills – so a life jacket must ALWAYS be worn on a boat. Laws vary by state, but generally if your child is younger than 13, is above deck and could potentially land in the water – either accidentally or on purpose – he or she needs a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. That’s according to the U.S. Coast Guard, so when in doubt follow that rule – though your state law may differ.

And you’ll likely need one life jacket per every person aboard the vessel – and it must be ready to use, meaning it can’t be still in the packaging.

What type of swim life jacket should my child wear?

It can be confusing when you go to the store to buy a life jacket for your child and there are different types, but it’s vital the swim life jacket you use has the USCG approval on it – AND the life jacket must fit your child properly right now (not when he or she grows a little bit!). The fit matters because if your child’s head or ears can slip down beneath the life jacket, the device won’t be able to work as designed to keep the child’s head above water and allow for proper breathing.

That being said, there are four types of Personal Flotation Devices:

Type I: This life jacket floats a person the best and is able to keep most unconscious wearers face-up, and for longer periods of time – which is vital to life saving.
Type II: This kind is nearly the same as the Type I, and it’s less bulky and costs less. It turns most wearers face up and is better when there’s a chance for a faster rescue.
Type III: This flotation aid is better for active water sports because of the freedom of movement, but it doesn’t always turn wearers face up easily.
Type IV: These are life-saving devices, such as rings, cushions and horseshoe buoys you can throw in an emergency. They are great to have on hand, but not something you should rely on to keep your children safe.

Learn to swim at Swim School Austin

We have several levels of classes at Swim School Austin for kids of all ages to learn to swim (and yes, even babies as young as 6 months old can learn to swim!). Find a Swim School Austin location near you and sign up for classes today – and celebrate our amazing customer service that helps make Swim School Austin a stroke above the rest.

Summer Safety

Wed, 08 May 2019 17:15:15 GMT

Tips To Stay Safer In And Around The Water

Parents: Celebrate the warm weather and ease your mind this summer by being well-versed in water safety tips! At Swim School Austin we focus on water safety all year long!

When you're in (or near) the water, stay safer by remembering these W.A.T.E.R. tips:

WEAR your life jacket.

It's hard enough to keep an eye on our little ones every second when we're on dry land – but while in and near the water, it's vital to always be nearby and watching them. Wearing a life jacket while at the lake, ocean, river or deep pool helps keep kids safer, and brings parents a little more peace of mind so you have a fun experience out there.

ACT: Throw, don't go.

Make sure to always have a flotation device around the water, and know exactly where it is. If someone appears to be in an emergency situation while swimming, quickly throw it out to him or her before going for help. It can sometimes be confusing to recognize the signs of drowning and it's important to remember to keep yourself safe by having your own life jacket so you don't also get pulled under while trying to help.

TAKE swimming lessons.

The more we practice anything, the more naturally it comes to us: That's why we start babies swimming as young as 6 months old at Swim School Austin. Perpetual swim lessons allow your child to learn how to feel confident in the water and provide some extraordinary results.

And, parents: if you don't know how to swim, you can still help your child! There's no need to avoid the water altogether; empower your child giving him or her the opportunity to learn lifelong, lifesaving swimming skills.

EDUCATE. Learn swim safety skills.

We teach water safety skills during each and every lesson all year long at Swim School Austin, so your child learns ways to be safer in and out of the water – and it becomes second nature. Our instructors use integrity, compassion and trust to teach children things like breath control, treading water and back floats…which are the building blocks of swimming, but also swim safety skills. Even beyond that, parents can also make sure to know how to stay safer at an indoor pool with things like keeping pool toys away from the water while not in use.

RESPECT. Play it cool and follow the rules.

Those signs posted at pools and the beach are there for a reason! You may want to throw the rules out the window when you're on vacation, but it's important to follow them - especially when your on vacation. Water conditions may change depending on the hour of day or season, there may not be lifeguards on duty during certain times, or another reason may present possible dangers. Always respect the rules.

Stay safer in the water at Swim School Austin

Stop in a Swim School Austin location near you and sign your little ones up for swimming lessons today! Our customer service is just one of the things you'll love – besides our 90-degree in-door heated pool!

Repetition, Why It's So Important

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 18:02:00 GMT

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming!

As a parent, you probably have a certain book or movie memorized because your little guppies like to watch or read it over and over (and over and over) again, right? Repetition is something that doesn’t seem to bother children the way it bothers adults, right?

As grownups, we don’t have as much tolerance for repetition as children. We like things to be fresh and new all the time. But kids find comfort in the familiar as their brains are developing, so watching, reading or doing the same thing time and time again helps them master it.

Think about it: You can probably throw or kick a ball with no problem but for little kids, those mastery skills come from practicing time and time again.

So, while you are sitting on the sidelines watching your little fish swim, you might notice that they do the same things repeatedly. You might even wonder why. There’s a method to this and as swim professionals, the Swim School Austin Team believes that repetition is the key to swimming success – and mastery.

We want these skills to be habits for them, to be an instinct, so if they fall in the water, they know how to safely get out and not panic.

That’s why in every lesson, The Swim School Of Austin instructors use integrity, compassion and trust to teach kids how to be safer in and around the water.

In swim lessons, as in life, doing something one or two times isn’t enough practice to make it a habit.

We do things over and over again so we don’t forget, it helps us retain the information and the skills. This is especially important with children.

And as children progress through the levels at Swim School Austin they practice the same kind of skills, like pulling, kicking and turning – with some variances. That progression helps with learning too, because children recognize the skill and are OK with being challenged because it’s familiar. It also ensures a better experience each and every time.

You can even practice these skills at home!

It might look boring to a parent sitting behind the glass, but it lets the kids know what to expect.

Also, at play at Swim School Austin is, well, PLAY! Kids learn valuable skills under the guise of playing, meaning they are more apt to retain a skill. Your child might think she is diving for rings, but she’s also learning breath control. That’s something to celebrate!

When Swim School Austin revamped its curriculum earlier this year, one of the things they focused on was how to strip lessons down to the basics and build the repetition into each lesson, so swimmers can build seamlessly on their skills. Kicking, gliding, pulling: Each of those skills is taught at each lesson, at each level – expanded on as kids advance.

This allows us to focus on the main skills, teaching water safety and proper swim technique.

So, while you see your child doing something again and again, you can rest assured that he’s practicing something that will stay with him for life. These are the extraordinary results we strive for every day.

“We know it works,” she said.

Swim School Austin

Come and check out our WOW Customer Service for yourself. We’d love to meet you!

A Few Ways Swimming Benefits ALL Athletes

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 21:07:12 GMT

A Few Ways Swimming Benefits ALL Athletes

Not only is swimming a lifelong, lifesaving skill, but it is also a core sport that improves the skills and abilities of every athlete who participates in any other sport! Swimming benefits athletes who play:

-Baseball

-Volleyball

-Figure Skating

-Track and Field

-Cross Country

-Wrestling

-Dance

-Cycling

-Softball

-Football

-Soccer

-Gymnastics

-Hockey

-Basketball

-Lacrosse

-Cheerleading

-Skiing

1. Strengthen Lung Capacity

One of the biggest things athletes learn from swimming more than nearly any other sport is breath control . Little by little, swimmers progress and increase their lung capacity – which in turn means your young athlete will be able to play longer before running out of breath.

Lung capacity benefits athletes because the more exercise you do, the more oxygen your body needs – and the increased lung capacity achieved from swimming allows oxygen to pump through the body and provide energy more efficiently.

This means runners can go farther distances without being winded, cheerleaders can shout effortlessly while performing choreographed routines, cyclists can maintain breath control on longer journeys, and tennis players can coordinate breathing while simultaneously running and returning a serve.

2. Increases Cardio Stamina

The oxygen carried throughout the body gets there by way of the heart pumping it everywhere, so increased cardiovascular stamina remains vital to any athlete. The more efficiently blood can be pumped through your body, the more readily your body can accept it and respond without being pushed over the limit.

Sports where players are moving for lengthy periods of time require intense cardiovascular stamina – which swimming helps to build up. Soccer and lacrosse players who run across a long field, basketball players who run back and forth the court, and hockey players who navigate down the ice while on ice skates all need their hearts to be able to work hard pumping blood and oxygen through their bodies for longer stretches of time.

3. Builds Core Stability

Swimming takes into account building every muscle group and, most importantly, building an athlete's core stability. Particularly in sports where posture and balance are an integral part of performance, core stability provides an increased opportunity to perform optimally while also preventing injuries.

Dancers and gymnasts require core stability in routines to keep from falling over and maintaining appropriate clearance space from other performers and performance objects. Wrestlers, who use their entire bodies in pinning opponents, benefit from strong core stability to not get pinned down as easily. In addition, golfers use their entire bodies to propel a properly aligned and sufficiently strong swing and benefit from balance control.

4. Builds Muscle Strength

Although swimming is a low-impact exercise, it steadily makes muscles throughout your entire body stronger. All those strides back and forth to the other side of the pool make a growing child's arms stronger. The leg kicks mean more muscular legs, too. All this leads to extraordinary results in and out of the pool!

Striving for home runs? For baseball and softball players, stronger arms give more power to hits – and more power for running bases more quickly. For football players, it means longer throws and more endurance running down the field faster. Higher jumps and better spikes for volleyball players are a good bonus, too!

5. Increases Total Body Endurance

Since swimming involves all muscle groups, increases breath control and improves cardiovascular stamina, it brings along total body endurance. As every athlete knows, the more all-around in-shape your body is, the better it can perform – and swimming allows athletes to coordinate the entire body.

While every sport athlete benefits from total body endurance, those like skiers and figure skaters realize the importance of the entire body working together simultaneously. Swimming means legs and arms don't get tired, while breathing and heart rate are still in control as well. That's something to celebrate!

Bring your Athlete to Swim School Austin

Our instructors use integrity, compassion and trust to improve the swimming skills and physical abilities of every student at Goldfish Swim School. Stop in location near you, to sign your little athlete up for swimming lessons today, you will find plenty of reasons to come to the Swim School Austin!

Springtime is here - are you ready to Swim?

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 19:59:45 GMT

Be Prepared for the Swim Season

Now is the time to get your kids prepped and ready for the eagerly-anticipated return of sunshine and warm weather days spent in the pool! The instructors at The Swim School of Austin use integrity, compassion and trust to teach new swimmers how to swim. We offer swim classes for all ages from 6 months to Adults. Call Swim School of Austin today to schedule your swim lessons, you’ll be glad you did!

Importance of Water Safety for Babies

Thu, 24 May 2018 08:32:32 GMT

It's never too early to teach your baby water survival skills

I have finally decided to take the plunge and add a blog to my site. I always wanted an easy way to share information with visitors and I'm super excited to start this journey. Keep coming back to my site and check for updates right here on the blog.

Benefits of Group Swim Lessons

Thu, 24 May 2018 08:32:32 GMT

Choosing the right swim lessons for your child

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