Karina, 41, "Instant Swimmer, Just add Fins"
When I asked Karina to describe her relationship with water, this is what she showed me- an angry wet cat. How could I not choose her to participate in my project? Until her daughter Alexis was born four years ago, Karina had "avoided pools at all cost." That's thirty-seven years of NOT swimming. But, she married "a fish" and has tried not to transfer her swimming fears to her daughter.
"Yea right," I thought. I could just imagine her standing in waist-deep water, holding on to four-year-old Alexis for dear life. I pictured her on tiptoes, hair tied up, arms out of the water, tense, shrieking at how cold it is. It would be very difficult for someone not to pick up on the fear. She told me, "Swimming for me has always been for survival -- not for enjoyment." I couldn't imagine how she faked that in front of Alexis.
I was negotiating swimming with Izzy when I noticed a woman seem to acknowledge me with a nod and a smile as she entered the pool in the shallow end. At first I thought it was Karina, but this woman walked comfortably down the steps and slipped into the water without hesitation. She swam breaststroke with her head up, smiling. This couldn't be the woman that was so fearful as a teen, having a bucket of water dumped over her head by the swim instructor. And this woman looked NOTHING like the angry wet cat picture.
But it was Katrina! And she remained calm through getting her chin wet, her ears wet, and even her eyes. I commented on how comfortable she was (wondering why she wanted or needed my help). "I'm NOT," she said. "I don't like water in my ears or my eyes." She shivered at the thought. I was amazed. She masked her fear like a pro. (Moms rock- I am seriously in awe of all of my mom friends on a daily basis.)
One of the coolest things about teaching adults is that they are just like children. I remember Nicole was giddy with excitement to learn more. Karina was mellow, but serious, and clearly determined to push herself, showing me breaststroke with her head out of the water, After half a lap she was tired. Well, yea! She had to hold her head up so her neck was stiff. If your body is not relaxed in the water, the water will not hold you up. You have to trust the water. Although she was moving through the water, it was forced and she was fighting the resistance of her entire body. Her head was up, so her feet were down.
Then I put fins on her. Fins are such a great teaching tool! They are buoyant and help with proper body position. As a result, Karina's feet went up, which brought her head down. Which made her swim horizontally. Which is much more efficient than swimming vertically :) Which is extra efficient with fins propelling her body through the water. Which made her happy. By the end of the hour, Karina was swimming across the pool with her face in the water. And when she came up to breathe, she was smiling! She kept saying how proud her husband would be.Karina let me know she bought fins with her "FACEINWATER" discount and can't wait to show off her new skills.
