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> But once you reach a certain age the social stigma of it will prevent you from even trying, Are you sure about that? There are a lot of people who worry abo

> But once you reach a certain age the social stigma of it will prevent you from even trying, Are you sure about that? There are a lot of people who worry about going to the gym , concerned that everyone else will be staring at them. No one [except for the very rare hole] is bothered about what you're doing, they are just getting in with their workout. I'd expect swimming to be the same. Our local pool has various sessions for beginners, both young and old. Normally the pool is separated into three lane sections, fast, medium, and splashing around. Any 'stigma' you do perceive isn't worth bothering about - it's their problem and not yours.

Raed667 8y ago
The stigma is internal I know. But usually beach time is with friends and acquaintances, people that know how to swim and don't understand at all my experience.
- philbarr 8y ago
  I would think if you said, "I don't know how to swim, so I'm going to learn," good friends and acquaintances would be massively supportive?
  - Raed667 8y ago
    Yes of course, but that puts me under the spot and everyone becomes an improvised teacher. Its just a combination of social pressure and stress with a stressful situation. My guess is to make it more sterile and professional by learning alone with a coach.
    - alach11 8y ago
      My 27 year-old girlfriend just took a swim class at the YMCA. In her class of 7, one other person was older than her while the rest were in their teens. She's way more comfortable in the water now and can swim the length of the pool and back which would have been impossible before. Don't let anxiety hold you back from learning this!
    - jessaustin 8y ago
      ...everyone becomes an improvised teacher. Swimming isn't actually hard. It's easier than a lot of things that people teach themselves to do. If multiple people offer to help you, pick out the person who seems pretty chill about things and follow her advice.
- slazaro 8y ago
  But those are not the ones that will be around you when you're in a class learning. You can learn in a class with people you've never seen before and you'll never see again, and when it's over, the problem is solved. Nobody needs to know that you went to classes, you don't have to tell anybody. The only "difficulty" is that you have to not care what complete strangers think about you trying to learn. Your actual friends and acquaintances won't know anything.

Raed667 8y ago

The stigma is internal I know. But usually beach time is with friends and acquaintances, people that know how to swim and don't understand at all my experience.

philbarr 8y ago
I would think if you said, "I don't know how to swim, so I'm going to learn," good friends and acquaintances would be massively supportive?
- Raed667 8y ago
  Yes of course, but that puts me under the spot and everyone becomes an improvised teacher. Its just a combination of social pressure and stress with a stressful situation. My guess is to make it more sterile and professional by learning alone with a coach.
  - alach11 8y ago
    My 27 year-old girlfriend just took a swim class at the YMCA. In her class of 7, one other person was older than her while the rest were in their teens. She's way more comfortable in the water now and can swim the length of the pool and back which would have been impossible before. Don't let anxiety hold you back from learning this!
  - jessaustin 8y ago
    ...everyone becomes an improvised teacher. Swimming isn't actually hard. It's easier than a lot of things that people teach themselves to do. If multiple people offer to help you, pick out the person who seems pretty chill about things and follow her advice.
slazaro 8y ago
But those are not the ones that will be around you when you're in a class learning. You can learn in a class with people you've never seen before and you'll never see again, and when it's over, the problem is solved. Nobody needs to know that you went to classes, you don't have to tell anybody. The only "difficulty" is that you have to not care what complete strangers think about you trying to learn. Your actual friends and acquaintances won't know anything.