Nice blue water surrounded by lush greenery and apple green concrete blocks...quiet, peaceful environment (cos thank goodness, the kids from the estate didn't have their swimming lesson that day, for some reason :p)... just imagine being at the scene above, watching the blue of the pool and...
A BIG CLUMSY BLACK WHALE STRUGGLING UNDERWATER --> ME. (oh, and at least 2 people laughing at me... sigh.)
Had my first swimming lesson with Hubby as my instructor and Beebee for some additional moral support last Sunday late afternoon. Went back to Bukit Timah and eagerly went straight down to the pool after greeting Mummy and Papa. Changed into this black Triumph halterneck swimsuit that I bought from Takashimaya just the evening before (it was a good deal btw, U.P. $130+, bought it for $89.90). Even took the trouble to pin on this nice white flower that came along with the costume, just to feel even more positive about what I would be facing in the water.
Alas. Positive experience throughout?? No no no. The moment I submerged my body (up to my neck) in the water, I started getting butterflies in the stomach. The queasy feel of having my body movement restricted/ controlled by the water surrounding me started up again -- something I have not experienced since I was last in a pool in Sec 2. Ugh.
Hubby started by asking me to practise putting my head underwater and just holding my breath. He wanted to get me comfortable with being underwater so that I could pick up swimming more easily. It's good advice, but me being me, I just felt like a big whale underwater with my blowhole totally blocked. It was really scary for me, cos I've this irrational fear of drowning. Had to constantly stay near the edge of the pool just in case something happens and I could save myself by clinging on to the edge.
After a few more tries, I managed to stay underwater without panicking too much, but was still not totally comfortable. Beebee showed me how to practise kicking, and Hubby also later showed me how to move my legs in the breastroke manner.Tried practising these lots of times, and even started going into the deeper end of the pool to dip my head underwater. Then went back to the shallower end and tried swimming in a single breath using the breastroke width-wise. At most could reach the middle of the width. Sometimes it got terrifying cos I felt myself out of breath and the water was pushing down on me so hard that I found it tough to find my footing on the ground and surface for air. Then I would start thrashing about in the pool in a sudden panic attack. Sigh.
Although it might not seem like much, especially to swimmers out there, I feel like I've made some good progress already. I started out fearing the going underwater part, but managed to practise it repeatedly, especially at the deeper end, and even tried the legs movement for the breastroke. Am gonna practise again, definitely. Perhaps next week or so. Now that I think of it, it's actually quite fun and relaxing to be in the pool. I do miss that already! Hehe. But of course, I must overcome my phobia first... sigh, wonder when I'll really be able to swim...
No comments:
Post a Comment