It’s amazing to see these seniors able to be so athletic and vibrant, just slipping through the water! I’m inspired to know that I have my favourite sport available to me in my golden years (I’m currently in my mid-40’s)

I’m certainly enjoying learning more and more all the time, and I recently had a lifeguard look at my stroke (unfortunately, the closest TI coach to me is a 6 hour drive away in Kamloops, BC, Canada). She was open-minded about TI style and was a great help in noticing that I was imbalanced; my dominant hand was slightly more closed during the catch and pulling more than my other hand. Only a little but enough to make me dip and have to yank my head up for air on one side. And, one kick was more dominant. Here I was, for over a year, believing that my imbalance was due to an old whiplash injury in my neck! I thought there was nothing I could do but it was a pretty simple fix (with a lot of work to correct since I got into the rut of some bad habits).

Now that I’m getting my balance smoothed out, I’ve come to believe that small differences like yanking with one arm more, or having a foot dragging, can be somewhat like an airplane with a rudder — it only takes an adjustment with a tiny rudder and an airplane goes diving! Now, I am realizing much better how to find “cruising speed” and I think I am conserving a little more energy with each successive swim.

Speaking of airplanes, I love swimming because, although I cannot fly on land, I can fly in water. And, it’s like underwater pilates — my core has never been stronger — I can do more of the core strength exercises my physiotherapist gave me years ago, than I could when I used to do them religiously on dry land. And, to top it all off, swimming is my meditation as well. Like Marilyn in the video, after a swim, I feel refreshed in body, mind and spirit and “reborn” as she so joyfully exclaimed.

Thank you for the wonderful info and videos. I tried to be succinct with my post, but I get so excited about TI swimming that I could write a whole novel.

With much gratitude,

Josh in Nelson, BC, Canada (On Kootenay Lake)