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About me
updated 7/4/08
A
bit about me and why I put this site together. Obviously I think swimming
is important for everyone. In my view it's the most effective and
sensible workout anywhere.
There
are many people like you who need care and attention to overcome an
early experience or trauma. Learning to swim is within your grasp.
You are the people I want to reach.
Safety
is most important, believe me. I've had my share of frightening swimming
and scuba diving experiences (I get sudden leg cramps and go right
down). I have fear, too, and can never forget it. But I love the water
too much to stay away, so I keep a healthy respect and make sure to
not swim alone. Part of the site, friends, is a writeup on water safety,
covering statistics to prevention and rescue "musts."
I was lucky to have good teachers both within and outside of my family. I competed from age 7 till 18 or so, stopping at last in college.
I've taught swimming to just about everyone
-- via the Red Cross, any number of YW- and YMCAs, facilities for
psychiatric and developmentally disabled populations, private and
public health clubs, as well as private home pools.
I've taught babies from 6 months (rarely fearful unless their adults are) to adults at any age. Every group I've taught included at least one worried swimmer-to-be.
In the mid-1980s, I taught at a health club in New York City specializing in private lessons for students with a fear of water. It was from these private students that I learned to retool my lessons, addressing breathing basics immediately. Nothing else would happen until this was cleared up first!
Relaxnswim is the pre-lesson resource I'd always wished for my students. They taught me right, as always; the breathing exercises in this site should be learned before the first pool lesson.
Please stay in touch and tell me how your lessons are going. After all, it's to your credit that we've come this far, and for you the best is yet to come. I know you want to be swimming with confidence already – isn't that why you stopped by to visit?
I've said it before: I'm convinced that you will swim with enough support. May these lessons be the right start.
That's it.
Great success to you!
Liz Wassell
Above: I finally meet one of my heroes
(he hasn't changed a bit! although freakishly tall...)
NYC, October, 2002
