I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Your Progress This Year Might Be Bigger Than You Think
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Hi, Mark here — I hope you’re doing well as we reach the end of the year. This is the time when routines shift, pools get a little quieter, and many people focus on family, work, rest, or celebration. If you’ve found your swimming slowing down recently, please know this is completely normal - and nothing to feel guilty about. Learning to swim as an adult takes courage, consistency, and patience. And sometimes the best thing you can do for your progress is simply to pause, breathe, and come back refreshed. A Few Gentle Reflection PromptsAs you look back on your swimming this year, you might ask yourself:
Sometimes we don’t notice our progress until we stop and look for it. If You Want a Bit of Support While Things Are Quiet…You might find The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Swimming helpful during this slower period. It’s written specifically for adults who want to feel safer, calmer, and more confident in the water — whether you’re brand new or still working through early fears. It covers:
If you want something to read, revisit, or use to plan for the new year, you can take a look here:
However You Spend This Time…Please remember: learning to swim isn’t a race. You can pick it up again in the new year with the same determination you started with — and often with an even clearer head. I’m genuinely proud of everyone who takes this journey as an adult. It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely worth it. Wishing you a peaceful end to the year and a calm, confident return to the water whenever you’re ready. Cheers Mark P.S. Do you know someone that might appreciate this email? Forward it to them now! P.P.S. - Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here. |
Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
What’s the one thing that can instantly re-energise a tired swim class? Hi there, Mark here - hope you’re doing well. Over the years I’ve found that no matter how much experience we’ve got as swimming teachers, a few simple tweaks can make a huge difference to how our lessons run—and how much our swimmers get out of them. I’ve pulled together some of my best tips that I use myself, and I thought you might like to try them out in your own lessons: My Top Tips for Better Swim Lessons ✅ Know...
Always wondered why confident swimmers look so relaxed in the water? Hey, Mark here. Hope you're doing well. For many beginners, putting your face underwater feels like the biggest hurdle in swimming. But once you get comfortable with it, everything changes. Swimming becomes calmer, smoother, and far more enjoyable. Here’s a simple 3-step way to build confidence underwater. 1️⃣ Get the face wet Start gently. Splash water on your face, blow bubbles, or chase a floating ball at the surface.This...
What’s the biggest challenge you face when teaching an adult to swim - fear, technique, or simply unlearning old habits? Hey, Mark here, I hope you’re doing well. This week, I'm tackling that sometimes tricky task of teaching adults how to swim, inspired by an article I wrote a while back. Why adapting your style matters Adults come to the pool with all kinds of backgrounds: varying fitness, flexibility, and confidence levels. The key is to meet them where they are, not push them into a...