How To Swim

Most people learn how to swim as children, but if you're still flailing about in panic, these instructions can have you diving and bobbing like a seal in no time.

1. Warm up first. You should never begin any type of exercise without warming up your muscles. Exercising cold muscles raises your risk of injury. Walk briskly for ten to fifteen minutes before attempting to swim.
2. Don't go in over your head at first. You're trying to learn to swim, not drown yourself. Stay at the shallow end of the pool until you feel more confident. When you move into deeper water, stay near the side of the pool in case you panic or get tired and need to rest.
3. Practice kicking. Hold on to the poolside and allow your legs to drift out behind you. To swim the breast stroke, which is the first stroke most people learn, you'll need to kick your legs in a frog-like motion. Draw your heels up beneath your hips and keep your knees spread wide, then thrust your feet firmly backward.
4. Practice the stroke. To swim the breast stroke, you'll need to move both your arms in a synchronized movement. Cup your hands and extend your arms directly in front of you, with the palms facing out and the backs of your hands together. Sweep your arms through the water, as if you were drawing an arch in front of you, until your arms are extended straight to either side; then, repeat the motion.
5. Implement what you've learned. Swim on the shallow end of the pool until you can coordinate both movements without sinking. Only then should you venture into deeper water.

Tips & Warnings:

When you're first learning to swim, swim only in the presence of a lifeguard.