AquaRex
preSwim
Aquarex is a new way into the water. Learning to swim is so much easier if you’re comfortable in the water. We get there in three steps:
Aquatic Breathing
Buoyancy Balance
Soft Propulsion
A new way into the water, based on natural human reflexes and reactions, but tailored to each person's comfort, needs, and capabilities.
A new way into the water, based on natural human reflexes and reactions, but tailored to each person's comfort, needs, and capabilities.
Before we learn to swim
we must feel safe
and happy in the pool.
Let’s take three steps:
1
Aquatic Breathing
People say they’re “afraid of the water”.
Well, that’s natural. It’s part of our “mammalian dive response” which helps keep us from drowning; you automatically stop breathing when your face gets wet. That’s a safe response we can modify.
You’ll learn continuous, rhythmic Aquatic Breathing. With practice it will come naturally to you when you’re in the water.
Feel yourself floating, not falling
2
Bouyancy Balance
Of course you don’t remember learning to walk, but it is very tricky because it’s about developing your “righting reflex” which is why we need to allow ourselves to float, weightless, in the water. It can be quite challenging for some people, but with a series of exercises you’ll learn to enjoy floating,
The real lesson is in managing your attitude. Not just the pleasant sensation of floating; your proprioception improves as you sense and control your position in the water without much thought or effort, much as you did learning to walk.
Lead with your chin!
You’ll learn to stand up, lay back, and roll over by just turning your head.
Swim like a fish
3
Soft Propulsion
Moving in a weightless, fluid environment is so unlike what we’re used to, especially rolling over to float on your back.
For our third and final lesson, we need to develop “water feel”. When we can calmly roll over and rest looking up, we can begin to move through the water calmly, without turbulence, we are ready to learn the swimming strokes.
Too often, instructors assume their students want to learn competitive swimming. Well maybe you do, but first let’s learn to simply move through the water with the least effort. Swim well and you’ll swim fast, if that’s what you want.
AquaRex
safeSwim
And then we learn to swim…
When you are comfortable breathing, floating, and moving in the water, you’re ready to start swimming.
It’s not just about swimming laps and winning races. It’s being ready to surf, sail, row, paddle, snorkel, open water swim, free dive or dive with tanks… what am I leaving out? Just loving the freedom and exercise, and adventure of being in, on or around the water!
Take a lesson
I’m a certified swim instructor, but more importantly, I’ve got years of experience teaching kids of all ages using my preSwim and swimSafe techniques: kids at least kindergarten age, some kids my age (grandfather age), and some kids with special needs; well, we all have special needs. That’s why I only give private lessons, and swim or stand close by my student in the water at all times.
The goal is always safety, and the key to that is calm awareness. That comes with practice, time in the water, experience, and positive learning support.
I will be accepting private students in late summer 2025, pending business arrangements for insurance, locations, and administrative staffing.
The goal is always safety, and the key to that is calm awareness.