The Definition of Swimming · Caribe Swim Adult Swim Lessons

The Definition of Swimming

What do you believe it means to "know how to swim"?

***Community Poll Question:***

What do you believe you must accomplish to be able to say, "I know how to swim"?

Many professionals in this industry have disagreed on the answer to this very question.

Many traditional swim instructors will IMMEDIATELY begin to teach a student how to swim freestyle, dive in deep water, and tread water in the deep end when that student hires them to "learn how to swim".

They are well meaning, but set their student up for a hard time, fatigue, exhaustion, failure and disappointment.. especially if the student has no experience with how to use the properties of water that help support them. Especially if that student has a hard time breathing in the water in general.

Many students who are brand new to the water, are begun with technique that leads to overwhelm due to freestyle, treading water, or diving to depth's complex natures. Not only do traditional instructors ask their students to "kick harder", bend their elbow at a 45 degree angle - but they are asking them to also roll onto their side at the right time, while turning their arms a particular way, and think about a ton of different things that need to be in perfect timing and rhythm... all while trying to breath while suspended in water that they are afraid of choking on.

The student exhausts themselves, and begins to believe they aren't good enough, or that they just can't learn "how to swim", when the student needs to JUST be learning "how to swim", before trying to learn something as complex as freestyle, treading water, or other complex skills.

➕Knowing how to swim means to know how to remain calm, and float wherever you are in the pool, lake or ocean.

➕Knowing how to swim means to be free from reactivity in the water.

➕Knowing how to swim means to be able to enjoy and find presence in the water's weightless properties.

➕Knowing how to swim means to have confidence in water depths

➕Knowing how to swim means you can comfortably enter deep water without panic or anxiety, knowing you can stay afloat and move at your own pace.

➕Knowing how to swim means you can float calmly on your back or front in any body of water, whether it’s a pool, lake, or ocean.

➕Knowing how to swim means you can manage your breath effectively, taking relaxed breaths without gasping or rushing, regardless of whether your face is in or out of the water.

➕Knowing how to swim means you feel comfortable submerging your head, staying calm, and holding your breath without fear or urgency.

➕Knowing how to swim means you can adjust your body’s position and movements to stay buoyant and relaxed, whether you're treading water, floating, or gliding.

➕Knowing how to swim means you know how to stay calm and composed, even in new or unexpected water environments.

➕Knowing how to swim means you can move through the water using slow, controlled movements, like a gentle breaststroke or a glide, without the need for fast or frantic kicking.

➕Knowing how to swim means you can swim without feeling the need for constant supervision, knowing you have the skills to keep yourself safe and afloat.

➕Knowing how to swim means you know how to stay safe in various water situations, from understanding the risks of currents in the ocean to safely managing yourself in crowded pools.

➕Knowing how to swim means you feel at ease and even joyful in the water, allowing yourself to fully enjoy the experience without fear, tension, or discomfort.

At no point is "knowing how to swim" reliant on having a beautiful freestyle or perfect technique.

-AND-

There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a beautiful, efficient, effortless freestyle. This just comes later in the learning process, once you "know how to swim" and you are not basing your ability to swim off of your ability to swim perfect freestyle. (You WILL know how to swim, if you commit to following the Caribe Swim Process to its fullest, and beginning from step one of Shallow Water Mastery, and then move on to Deep Water Mastery. Get access to bonus videos by purchasing the Shallow Water Mastery companion workbook here: https://foxly.link/WorkBook)n).

But many new students believe they are failing at learning how to swim because they have been told the wrong definition of what it means to learn, and therefore KNOW how to swim.

I am writing this today, because many students get discouraged in their learn to swim journey when coming to learning freestyle with side breathing, and fail to celebrate major milestones, because someone else is telling them they aren't doing this, or that right on a very technical level.

But to overcome fear, to be able to keep oneself calm in the water, is the greatest accomplishment of all. This is the foundation of water safety, and what could be more important than that.

Many students forget they began this journey with fear, and tension.. sometimes having overcome extreme trauma and fighting against financial barriers while trying to learn "how to swim"... and then think they aren't achieving their goals or making progress because they've given themselves a very complicated technical skill to learn in which they are basing their worth as a swimmer.

With So Much Love,

Your Caribe Swim Coach Meredith

Perfect Freestyle / Stroke Technique

Treading Water For 2 Minutes (Even though it's exhausting)

Being able to remain calm and float in any depth of water

Being able to swim 25 yards Effortlessly

Being able to swim 25 yards Freestyle / Stroke Technique

Being able to swim 50+ yards Effortlessly

Tread Water Effortlessly

Other: COMMENT BELOW - WE LOVE *YOUR* FEEDBACK!

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