SWIMMING GUIDANCE BY ARLENE: October 2013

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Revisit to 'consciously' become aware of .... post 6

From time to time re-visit the Swimming Guidance Modules to 'consciously' watch the look on the faces above and below the water.

The direct focus of the eyes to the skill which will be or is being performed, the physical set up in preparing to perform the skill, the body position, the position of the legs, feet, arms, the hands. The way in which the body uses the water for the direction and purpose of the skill, how the water supports the body, gives way with each movement, the timing, the rhythm of movement. No fear of going under water

Notice the manner of physical support as assurance to instil confidence, ensure safety. No hands on the body. The physical support in a manner which stimulates use of the joints of the body, self propulsion, individual, independent movement

All is calm during the teaching/learning process. No uncontrolled wild frolicking, obvious yelling, yet we are all deliciously content in the water. Happy!

We have been taught to and are consciously channelled into 'conscious thinking' which comes from the skill of 'listening' ....

About 'conscious fear' to develop the 'power of reasoning' .... post 5

The development of 'conscious fear' means that the 'power of reasoning' develops. Now we know that the ‘power of reasoning’ does not only apply to 'little people'. Our power of reasoning will influence the wish, the want to, the choice of, the ability, the achievement to learn that which is new. We have chosen to 'think' for ourselves. We have chosen to 'think' and to be in present time (conscious thinking). This is a basic skill which we develop

Choosing to move forward to learn step by step we create our own process of learning to progress, develop ourselves to learn many life skills. We made that choice through 'conscious thought'

An experienced, competitive athlete too must have 'conscious thought' and make all these decisions much like a beginner when struggling with a specific phase of an activity

Simply .... 'thinking' is the first, the most constant, the most valuable quality we need to use for many other skills and life skills. Thinking rewards our sense of well being, of self confidence and self esteem which influences our teaching and/or learning process for all ages and stages without exception

When do we develop 'conscious thought' .... post 4

Babies and toddlers (pre the development of conscious fear) are taught simple individual skills in a silly, fun way. These are practised regularly, consistently, repeatedly. As these skills become efficient and automatic progressions to a skill are introduced. Much like building a puzzle. Separate, individual pieces find where they fit, are joined to form a picture. The water skills become useful, little phases of an action. In other words, lots of 'parts' of a whole movement

Babies and toddlers do not think about what they are doing. They just feel .... comfortable or they will react to discomfort, intuitively. When learning to swim, that which is an incorrect movement feels uncomfortable. That which is correct feels really good and positive. Your connection with water is complete each time

Conscious thought to learn, the how and the why is your reward for personal achievement. That which we learn in this medium, water, is never forgotten

With 'conscious fear' comes 'conscious thought'. Such an interesting place to be. We can 'think' about fear and learning and not learning and why we want to and why we do not want to and we can make a choice. We can attempt to learn water skills, we can achieve. The 'thinking' will determine our attitude and our safety in and around water

www.swimmingguidance.com

About what water is and using her .... post 3

Most of our interaction will be about the skills that we learn in various movements in water. It is 'movement' that is needed in water to swim in any direction be it forward, backwards, sideways, downwards, upwards. So smart to be able to move in so many directions in one medium don't you think! We can all learn these skills

Before we get too far ahead we should learn to 'connect' with our chosen medium. This is the best way I can explain her to you .....

A universal yet considered a classical element, feminine in nature, Water is associated with qualities of creativity, emotion, intuition, nurturing life-giving qualities, causing individual differences in physical and behavioural traits

Flowing over us from head to toe water cleanses our ‘auric field’. Her healing qualities influence us physically, emotionally and spiritually. This is her rhythm and her power

Liquid in state she flows, yields and adapts to our shape stimulating sensory experience

Her rhythm pertains to flow with regular or irregular (uniform or patterned) recurring action or function of movement

When we enter water she welcomes us. We feel a sense of well being by the sensation of weightlessness, the total freedom of movement we experience
This is Harmony!

Using our senses, tuning into the ‘feel’ of water, we realise how to use her power and our intrinsic power to achieve the desired effect we want to experience when swimming

She re-acts to your action!

Babies and toddlers (pre the development of conscious fear) love water with uninhibited expression while human development creates inhibition and conscious thought. Our connection with water will become conscious when we understand her. As you 'think' about teaching or learning each new skill you will learn to understand water and connect with her

www.swimmingguidance.com

Look at the 'function' of the Modules .... post 2

Welcome back! Thank you for spending time with me. As I learn to share on 'this medium', blogs and stuff, reading for those who are looking for swimming guidance and knowledge will become hugely more interesting.

The images on the blog on the website, the YOUTUBE Modules, look at the person, not the age. Confident, calm, comfortable, safe, enjoyment ... free swimming without artificial support.

All ages learn exactly the same way. All ages must learn the same skills. Babies and toddlers learn by repeating the skills regularly and consistently. Young children to adults have the power of reasoning, can understand what, how and why a skill is learned and the relationship to achievement and ability.

Babies and toddlers have no 'conscious fear'. This is developed during the stage of the 'terrific twos'. 'Conscious fear' of water is good because this sets the boundaries of safety.

Such a good place to start, learning good basic swimming skills, to realise achievement. There is no reason to rush, ever. Each of us has a rhythm. Water has a rhythm.

www.swimmingguidance.com

Sunday 27 October 2013

A little introduction .... post 1

Since 1983 I have been privileged to teach/assess/develop a diversity of ability/disability/inability in water from infants, toddlers, children, adolescence, adults, disabled, special needs, teacher-training at university level, skills training drills at provincial and national level water sports

The diversity of skills includes learning to swim, swimming stroke techniques, drown-proofing techniques, surf life saving, varied surfing disciplines, open water kayaking, snorkelling, under water hockey, tri-swimming and rehabilitation after surgery/sport injury

I found that there was a common characteristic which appears in most where swimming is involved, ‘self doubt’

Wonderfully, as each individual learned, progressed, achieved the short term goals set for themselves with their target goal in constant view, developed an understanding of water and their own ability, common qualities emerged ... the development of life skills. These qualities influence lives within and outside of the swimming environment. We know that swimming, stimulation in water influences life skills more than any land based activities, regardless of age

What do we understand 'life skills' to be .... that which tends towards growth, development, progress, ability, talent, cleverness, dexterity, expertise, proficiency, being competent, flair, aptitude

If you are wondering why all this 'stuff' about thinking and conscious thought and present time and life skills, know that you are being made consciously aware of the qualities that are never 'voiced', those that are an intrinsic part of the abilities that we have, that we do not use, those that we need to be aware of to learn and understand anything and everything that we do and want to learn. The teacher too must have these qualities. Teaching and learning then becomes simple and fun

Only I can think for myself. Only you can think for yourself. There is no other or easier way

Our main focus here at this time is to have no illusions about how valuable 'grassroots' of all teaching and learning is. That ‘basic’ is where we return to when 'in doubt'. An advanced athlete is advised to find a teacher/coach/trainer who knows and works with this value