It's probably best to book lessons with a qualified instructor, especially if you REALLY can't swim. That way you will get a section of the pool to yourself and be able to learn without the worry of other swimmers crowding you, or hampering your progress. You can of course practice on your own, or with a friend in-between your lessons - and this is something I would advise - as practice really does make perfect where swimming is concerned.

Don't set your sights too high - just to stay afloat is probably a realistic place to set them when you start off! It's important to build up confidence in the water - especially if you are learning to swim later in life: children, I've noticed, seem to have no fear in the water - which is a good, and sometimes not so good, thing - but adults know the dangers so are less confident. Start off in a part of the pool where you can easily touch the bottom - and don't venture from this part of the pool until you can swim. Although it might be difficult at first, try immersing yourself fully in the water so your head goes completely under. This is perhaps the most daunting for those learning to swim, but if you can do this, then it means you can attempt - and master - any stroke, and it makes swimming a lot easier on the neck muscles (most swimmers know that swimming breastroke with their head out of the water is a lot harder on the neck muscles than swimming with their head dipping under as they go along). Also, being able to move freely under the water will boost your confidence as you'll feel that you won't be limited in your choice of stroke.

Most people new to swimming tell me that it's getting the breathing right that they find most difficult. This has a lot to do with co-ordination, and also with relaxing the muscles so that you're only using those you need: if you tense your body you will invariably use more energy than you need and that will affect your swimming - you won't get a smooth stroke. You can practice breathing at the side of the pool: hold on to the side of the pool with your arms outstretched, breathe in and then put your face in the water (just your face, not your whole head), and breathe out. After you feel confident with this, incorporate this into your stroke - it works with frontcrawl (freestyle) or breastroke.

Don't give up if you have an "off" day - if your lesson doesn't go that well and you think that you're not making any progress. You will get there. Persevere because as well as a great form of exercise, it's an important and useful skill to have.

Learn more about this author, Jane Dee.
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