The problem, says Dash, is you can't concentrate on learning how to swim if your fight or flight response is on full throttle. First they have to be calm in the water, in control and confident that they are not going to drown, she says. After making peace with their fear, they get into the pool, and even then they go only as deep as they can handle, even if it means just dangling their toes over the edge of the pool. Dash will only teach in water that's at body-warming temperature, from 92 to 94 degrees, so that students are not distracted by discomfort. Adults commonly get stuck at several points, says Chris Beckman, director of the Swimboree Swim School in Boulder who utilizes some of Dash's techniques.
Equipment can help boost comfort and confidence.
Goggles, mask, snorkel, flippers - I say use whatever makes you feel more in control. Then there's another common roadblock - resistance to going face down in the water. That's where technique comes in, and where teaching adults takes a detour. Adults not fearless as kids are Unlike kids who jump in fearlessly and unselfconsciously flail around, adults feel uneasy about their lack of skill and are easily frustrated. While kids can grasp technique readily, adults need movements to be broken down into tiny increments.