Now keep in mind that we've been exercising pretty regularly for a while now. When we go to the gym we do a combination of Pilates, stationary bikes, weight machines, Qi Gong, aqua aerobics, you get the idea. And on days when we don't go to the gym, we walk at least half an hour. We're being good, we're committed to making our bodies healthy, which is why we signed up for swimming lessons.
Well, there is another reason.
Let me back up a bit here. When I was six or so, our family went for a picnic at Anderson Dam, near San Jose. I was playing by the waters edge, goofing around jumping in the water, which was maybe eight inches deep. I remember telling my Mom "Look Mom, I'm learning to swim! On my next jump, I went in over my head. I guess I was playing near a shelf of land. I remember opening my eyes and seeing nothing but murky water (yes, that vision is still with me).
The next thing I knew, my sister jumped in and pulled me out.
Ever since, while not exactly afraid of water, I haven't had much desire to swim. In fact, I don't even like getting my face full under the shower head when bathing. I'll get in the water and do aerobics, on a hot day I'll splash around, heck when I was a teenager, we had a pool in our backyard. But I've never learned how to really swim.
It seems like such great exercise, and somehow, while I know it's still work, it seems a bit more enjoyable. So, as I've said, we signed up for lessons. Eight thirty minute lessons for each of us. Individual attention, because that's what we need, we're barely able to navigate in the water.
So I went out and bought a bathing suit (and that's a whole other story, involving a trip to the seventh level of Hell . . .), bought some goggles and today we braved the pool
But somehow, I just wasn't at all prepared.
I guess I'm more used to an exercise that works a certain set of muscles.
Let me tell you, swimming works everything all at once.
I'm pooped!
I went first and spent most of my time attempting to learn about keeping my body straight, my legs up, my head down and trying to make my body move through the water. Oh yeah, and breathing. How am I supposed to remember all of this at one time and remember to breath without inhaling half the swimming pool??
But we made it through the lessons, spent another thirty minutes or so practicing and actually made an appointment for another lesson.
We're tired, but determined.
3 comments:
I used to love to swim but haven't been in the water forever. I really should try it again but the thought of putting on a bathing suit just makes me sick to my stomach. Keep up the hard work.
Kate and Terry, I am so proud of you! That's awesome.
It will get easier as time goes on.
I really need to do something like that for my knee too.
About the swimming suit, that makes me cringe just thinking about getting one..Ugh!
Keep it up friends.
The fact that is works all the muscles, and removes gravity's effects from my joints for a while is one of the reasons I enjoy swimming, even though I'm not the best.
I can still propel myself back and forth down an olympic lap pool, albeit not very fast :p. Usually will do that for about 2.5-3 hours or till my muscles say, "Done, get out of the water now, or we're going to drown yer butt".
I ended up having to custom order my lap suit from Agonswim because I needed something a bit more functional than the classic trunks (which are hard to find in my size to begin with, and always want to come off no matter how tight I tie the cord :p).
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