But, how long does it take to learn to swim properly?
You can learn to swim quickly, for sure, but if you want to learn properly it's going to take a little longer. And, it's time well spent.
Everyone is different and there is no set amount of time we can give you to tell you how long you should wait to be able to learn how to swim. If you put in plenty of time and effort, it won't take as long as someone who doesn't have that much time to practice and who isn't willing to put in the effort either.
The truth is that everyone learns at a different speed and it also depends on whether you have a fear of water, or whether you struggle with a particular type of stroke or aspect of learning. The good news is that nothing can stop you, you just need to break through any barriers you face.
Can Anyone Learn to Swim?
Yes! It doesn't matter whether you're advanced in age, young, or somewhere in-between, anyone can start to learn. It doesn't matter if you never learnt when you were young, that doesn't have to stop you from learning right now. If anything, it will be a sweeter accomplishment now that you're older. You'll appreciate the process and feel the achievement far more than if you learnt when you were a child. Swimming is also very beneficial for overall health and wellbeing. It's a gentle form of cardiovascular exercise that works out the entire body and gives your heart the increased rate it needs over the course of a week. So, if you are a little older and you want to learn how to swim, now is the ideal time. Exercise is just as important as we age as it is when we're young, if not more so.
How to Learn to Swim
It's not possible to simply get in the water as a non-swimmer and suddenly swim. If anybody tells you that it happens that way for them, question them deeply. Learning to swim comprises of phases and you need to master each phase in order to move onto the next. You also need to build confidence and technique, if you want to learn in the correct way.Because, that's extremely important - learning to swim correctly.
If you don't learn properly and you use incorrect techniques and positioning, you're going to struggle with your swimming adventures. You'll find it harder to move through the water, you'll struggle with drag and propulsion, you'll get tired very easily, and you may put yourself at risk of injury.
If you don't have time to go to the pool as regularly as you would like, the ZEN8 swim trainer is a great choice. This will help you to get your positioning right from the start, therefore allowing you to learn how to swim in the correct way. You'll find it infinitely easier to master each stroke when you have the positioning and technique correct. The ZEN8 swim trainer can be used in your home and doesn't take up much space at all. You can then build your core muscles for strength and practice your leg and arm movements when you don't have the time to get into the water. We all live busy lives, after all!
Having the correct swimming technique will help you to feel more confident in the water too. For adults, that is often the hardest part of learning to swim, but once you feel more confident, you'll be able to learn the basics of swimming much easier.
How Long Does it Take to Learn to Swim?
We know that it varies from person to person, but there are several other elements that affect timing too. Whether you have a fear of water/how confident you are in the water.
The amount of time you have available to learn - again, the ZEN8 swim trainer can help you continue to learn when you can't visit the local swimming pool.
Whether you take formal swimming lessons or not, and how good the swimming instructor is, your general level of fitness and motor skills are factors.
It is hard to give an exact number of hours or weeks that it generally takes for someone to learn to swim because of all the variables involved. But, we can give you some averages that you can use as a guide.
Assuming you take private swimming lessons, with an average of one lesson per week, you may be able to learn how to swim confidently in 20 to 25 hours of lesson time. But, if you struggle with water confidence or general fitness, it may take a little longer. Again, don't rush, just go at your own pace and know that you're making progress. You will learn - there is no reason why you cannot.
Once you've learnt the basic swimming skills, you'll no doubt want to continue your journey towards becoming a better swimmer. Practicing different strokes and ensuring that your technique is correct will help you to improve your proficiency and your swim endurance, but practice is what will really get you there. The more you swim, the better you will become.
If you want to work towards competing in a triathlon, you'll need to set up a firm training program and make sure that swimming ability is an integral part of that. The ZEN8 swim trainer will help you during the times you cannot get into the water for whatever reason. Even then, to go from beginner to competing swimmer, it may take you anywhere between 1 to 2 years. But again, if you put in the work and you find that you're a natural swimmer, it may take you less time.
How to Speed up The Swimming Process
If you're keen to learn more about swimming in less time, there are some things you can do to speed up the learning to swim process. By focusing upon these tactics, you may find that you learn to swim in less time.
Make Sure You Have a Good Teacher
Take your time in finding a swimming teacher or Swim School. Read reviews, ask around, and make sure you speak to them about your goals, concerns, or worries before you pay for swim lessons. You will also find that one-to-one lessons (private lessons) will be more effective for you time-wise than group lessons. You should also choose a teacher who specialises in learning adults as they will understand your concerns far better during the learning process.
Set Realistic Goals
Having goals in mind will keep you moving forward when things get rough - and they will at some point. Motivation is key if you want to learn to do something a little faster and it will keep you on track during the learning process. Set yourself dates when you want to have achieved a specific milestone but make sure that your goals are realistic, otherwise you're simply setting yourself up to fail. Share your goals with your instructor too.
Practice as Much as You Can
Outside of your private lessons, you will learn to swim faster if you can spend more time in the pool. Again, the ZEN8 swim trainer can help you when you're not able to go to the pool, due to work or family commitments perhaps. Also, the more you practice, the more confident you'll feel.
Don't Overload Yourself
Rather than burdening your mind with ten different things to remember when you're learning to swim, focus on just one at a time. So, think about your legs until you feel confident in what you're doing. Then, move on to your arms, and focus on just one stroke. By trying to think of too many swimming skills at once, you'll simply overwhelm yourself and that will stop you from learning.By dedicating yourself firmly to the goal of learning to swim, you'll get there as quickly as you can. Remember, this is a marathon and not a sprint. Don't compare your progress to anyone else's and instead, set yourself realistic goals to stay on track.