Bolle Adult Swim School on the priceless benefits of learning to swim – LIVING WELL Magazine

The Priceless Benefits of Learning to Swim

By Klaus Bolle, Bolle Adult Swim School, Scottsdale LIVING WELL Magazine

So often my conversations about the advantages of swimming seem to center on the health benefits. From reducing weight, to lowering blood pressure, to building strength, stamina and energy levels––I could go on for hours about what many consider the ideal exercise. As great as those things are, the most powerful stories I hear are about the impact learning to swim has had on my students’ personal lives. Some of these stories literally bring me to tears (in a good way).

I hear numerous stories about folks that have lived all their lives without knowing how to swim. They feel shame and embarrassment thinking that everyone else knows how to swim. So they give up completely on the idea of ever learning themselves. But they are among millions in America who never learned to swim and yet a six-day class becomes a life changing experience as they become “swimmers.”

One recent experience shared with me came from a man in his 60s (a common age group that we teach) about how things had changed with his family. Until recently, when spending a day with family including his grandkids, he would make excuses as to why he didn’t want to go into the deep water, etc. He watched while everyone, even the youngest, swam like dolphins and had a great time together in the pool. One Sunday, his grandson begged him to come in and race with him but he declined. A short time later he overheard one of the other kids telling his grandson, “It’s not ‘cuz he doesn’t like you. Grandpa doesn’t know how to swim.” Well, besides realizing his secret wasn’t a secret after all, that comment was gut wrenching and was the final push he needed to sign up for classes.

At the next gathering it was his turn to challenge the kids to a race. His grandson said, “Are you sure?” His reply was, “Last one to the other side is a rotten egg!” Well, they still beat him across the pool but he told me through teary eyes, “It felt better than winning the gold medal and my grandson said I was ‘awesome.’ Klaus, it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

Klaus Bolle is the founder of Bolle Adult Swim School and has taught over 30,000 adults to swim. You can contact him at 602-323-4116 or bolleswimschool@yahoo.com. www.bolleswimschool.com.