It’s a question many parents hear on repeat once their kids are introduced to and more comfortable in water — usually in the summer months. Swimming is a go-to form of recreation for families this time of year, exposing kids to the freedom and confidence that comes with gliding, splashing, and floating in the water. But there’s no reason for this activity to be limited to summer break.

Whether your child has become a little fish or is still cautiously curious, transitioning swimming into a year-round activity is a great way for them to have fun and stay active, while also learning water-safety skills.

Considering a year-round aquatics program for your swimmer? Jen Rezac, director of kids and aquatics education at Life Time, shares why this is so good for them, as well as the options that are available through Life Time’s swim programming.

5 Benefits of Year-Round Swimming

1. Consistent skill development: Having the correct swimming form and skills is critical to ensuring your child is well prepared to be in the water. “It takes time and progression through multiple levels to become a strong, confident swimmer,” Rezac says. “Year-round lessons help children continue to build and maintain their skills, so they not only progress but also don’t regress between seasons.”

2. Physical wellness: Swimming is a great way for children to engage in regular physical movement. “Swimming helps build endurance, coordination, and overall fitness,” says Rezac. “If you’re encouraging a child’s enjoyment of the water, you’re encouraging them to stay active — and that can go a long way toward building healthy habits that stick with them for life.”

Swimming is also a low-impact activity, making it a safe and effective way for many people to stay active. (Learn more: “Every Body Into the Pool: 8 Strength and Stamina Water Workouts to Try.”)

3. Safety: Ensuring your child is capable of exploring the water freely is especially important. “The ability to swim is a lifesaving skill — and ongoing practice increases safety in and around any body of water,” Rezac says. “Studies show that formal swim lessons are associated with an 88 percent reduction in risk of drowning for young children.”

4. Improved mental health: Not only does swimming offer physical benefits, but it also can have a positive effect on a child’s mental wellness. “Helping a child feel confident, safe, and joyful in the water creates a positive association that studies show can benefit their overall well-being by increasing the amount of mood-boosting hormones generated by the brain,” Rezac explains. “These hormones generated by aquatic activities can also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.”

5. Accessibility: “Swimming is an incredibly inclusive activity, accessible for children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds,” shares Rezac. “At Life Time, the continuous nature of our programming and the fact that our locations can be a one-stop destination for so many activities for the whole family also helps maximize convenience.”

Year-Round Swim Options at Life Time

There are a range of swim programming options for kids at Life Time depending on their prior experience and whether you’re looking for leisure, developmental, or competitive activities.

Rezac recommends scheduling a swim assessment to determine the program that’s the best fit your child and family. This can ensure that your child is placed at a level that sets them up for swimming success. You can choose to do either a virtual assessment, which is a series of questions crafted to help determine your child’s level, or register in the Life Time app for a 15-minute, in-person assessment at your local club.

Family Swim

This designated pool time is for children under the age of 12 who are accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or sponsoring member. Families can enjoy the pool together while playing games, practicing swimming skills, or using any of the amenities their Life Time pool has to offer such as splash pads and slides.

The adult must be in the same pool as the children at all times (and within 10 feet of those who cannot swim 25 meters continuously). Lifeguards are on duty in most locations, but this may vary by club. Check your club schedule for available family swim times.

Swim Lessons

Life Time’s learn-to-swim program is designed for anyone looking to build their swimming skills. Options include a range of levels, with classes available for children as young as 3 months old all the way through adulthood.

Lessons are held weekly for 30 minutes and programs are available continuously throughout the year; you can start and stop at any time with a 30-day cancellation notice. Private lessons are also offered as a one-time or continuous option for both children and adults, with availability and times varying by club. You can register for swim lesson programs in the Life Time app. (Learn more: “Everything You Need to Know About Life Time Swim Lessons.”)

Swim Clinics

These one-time, three-hour events are for children ages 5 to 12, where they can learn swim and water-safety skills as well as enjoy fun water games. The frequency of swim clinics varies by location; sign up for swim clinics in the Life Time app.

Stroke Clinics

These one-time events typically last two to three hours and are for those who have already learned how to swim (they’re designed for children ages 5 and older). Participants focus on improving specific swimming skills or strokes. Check your club schedule for exact dates and sign up in the Life Time app.

Swim Team

Life Time’s swim teams are for children ages 5 and older who are interested in swimming as a sport. This continuous program is for those who are ready to be part of a team and take their swimming skills to the next level; it includes specialized training and regular competitions.

While the exact practice frequency varies by age group, there is a minimum of two sessions per week. The program offers a tryout if you’re unsure which group is the optimal placement for your child. Sign up for a tryout or register for a specific team level in the Life Time app. (Learn more: “What You Need to Know About Life Time’s Swim Team.”)

The post 5 Reasons to Keep Your Kids Swimming All Year Long appeared first on Experience Life.

Protect your kids and help them become more comfortable in the pool with this handy list of gear from Jen Rezac, director of kids and aquatics education for Life Time.

1. Properly fitting, bright-colored swimsuit

Swimsuits easily stretch out over time — even just over the course of the summer. And because kids tend to grow like weeds, trying to fit them into hand-me-downs can be tempting. Make sure your child’s suit isn’t baggy anywhere on their body. You want it to be tight enough not to wrinkle, but not so tight that it restricts their range of motion or causes discomfort.

“The right swimsuit makes all the difference for kids in the water,” says Rezac. “It ought to feel like a layer of skin — you barely notice it’s there. If it’s a struggle to put it on when it’s dry, it’s not meant to be.”

And when it comes to swimsuit color, the brighter the better. Neon colors are great for identifying your child easily, especially if there are a lot of people in the pool. Try to avoid white, light blue, or dark colors like navy or black that aren’t as easy to spot.

“I personally always put my child in a bright orange suit when we go swimming so I can easily identify him even during swim lessons,” Rezac adds.

2. Coast-Guard-approved life jacket

There are many options available for life jackets, but Rezac urges you to choose one that is Coast-Guard-approved and fits the weight limit for your child. Check the tag to find this information. When putting it on, be sure to buckle all the straps and pull up at the shoulders. Well-fitted jackets won’t ride higher than your child’s ears.

3. Coast-Guard-approved floating devices

“If your child uses floating devices, they also need to be Coast-Guard-approved,” says Rezac. “If you have to fill it with air, there is a greater chance for danger as deflating is possible.”

She adds, “Avoid any swimsuits that have ‘built in flotation’ — even if it’s sewn in. These don’t help kids learn to swim and they are not life jackets.”

4. Swim goggles

“The specific goggles you choose make a world of difference. Avoid goggles that cover the nose (like a snorkel) or ones that have just one thin strap in the back,” Rezac advises. “Always make sure they have a thick liner of silicone to cushion the skin around the eyes and create a waterproof seal.”

Rezac offers a few tips to check if your child has put on their goggles correctly:

• Look at the logo to ensure it’s not upside-down.
• To find the right tightness, have your child hold the goggles against their eyes, then adjust the strap. If your child takes the goggles off and has a ring around the skin of their eyes, it’s a sign they are too tight.

5. Hair tie or swim cap

“If your child has long hair that can get in their face while swimming, tie it back into a ponytail or bun. You can also have them wear a swim cap, but this can be a bit of a struggle with younger swimmers,” says Rezac.

The post 5 Swimming-Gear Essentials to Keep Kids Safe in the Pool appeared first on Experience Life.

“The coaches I grew up with helped shape and influence who I am today, and I became a coach because I wanted to share my knowledge and passion to positively impact others,” says Labuz. “My coaches helped me learn to handle setbacks and disappointments, how to be a team player and a gracious leader, and the value of kindness.”

We spoke with Labuz to learn more about what makes a great coach and how positive coaching can have a lasting effect on the lives of athletes.

Life Time Editorial | What is your favorite part about coaching?

Emily Labuz | Bringing people together. I love watching kids become friends and create a bond over swimming. When you’re a part of a community, everyone steps up to become the best versions of themselves.

LTE | What is one of your proudest moments as a coach?

EL | My proudest moments are watching athletes I work with achieve their personal and team goals. The pure joy and excitement they exude is priceless.

LTE | How does your coaching style differ from others?

EL | My coaching philosophy is simple: Focus on technique, work hard, be kind, listen, and bring lots of energy. Athletes respond to their coach’s behavior and will often model it. Being energetic and ready to work hard is contagious.

LTE | What are the benefits of joining a swim team for kids?

EL | Being part of an athletic team, no matter the sport, provides far more than just athletic benefits. Swimming, in particular, delivers the following:

• Confidence and motivation: Swimming competitively provides space for setting goals and building resilience and requires you to work for both your personal and your team’s achievements.
• Brain benefits: Swimming is great for the brain. Competitive swimmers spend a lot of time during practice counting strokes, adding times, and breaking down splits. This continuous focus helps swimmers develop concentration abilities for other areas of life.
• Life-long activity: Swimming is a low-impact, healthy activity that will always be available to you. You might join a master’s team as an adult or take up open-water lake swimming. Floating and playing in the pool are also great family activities and help encourage kids to stay active throughout their lives.

LTE | How do you keep your athletes motivated?

EL | Everything we do as a team ties back to our individual and team goals — and I’m big on clear communication about that. At every practice, my team knows how the drills and sets of the day are helping them get to where they want to be as an athlete.

LTE | What advice do you have for parents of a swimmer?

EL | Swimming is a life-long endeavor. Be patient and model that for your kids. Take comfort in knowing that when you drop your kid off at practice or at a meet, they are surrounded by a community of supportive friends and mentors.

Hear it From the Team

We also talked to several of Labuz’s swim-team members at Life Time to hear about their experience with the sport and their coaches.

Our swim-team panel:

• Emmie, age 14
• Elin, age 14
• Molly, age 14
• Joel, age 12
• Sophia, age 8
• Ava, age 14

LTE | What is your favorite thing about your swim coaches?

Emmie | Their positive and supportive energy. Our coaches come to practice excited to teach and are enthusiastic about our goals. They help us to see our progress and highlight our successes.

LTE | Why did you choose to join a swim team?

Elin | After a major injury, I found myself without a sport and a team. Swimming has always been something I enjoyed, so naturally I turned to it as an alternative. I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and part of a team, so I joined the Life Time Swim Team.

LTE | What is your favorite part about being on a swim team?

Molly | My favorite part about my team is the community I feel. My teammates are positive, upbeat, and motivating. They’re my second family.

LTE | How do you feel your skills have improved since joining the team?

Joel | It is a great feeling to be working out consistently. Overall, I have improved my endurance, swim more efficiently, and am faster. It feels great to be practicing regularly.

Sophia | When I first started swim team, I struggled to keep up with the intervals. My coaches encouraged me to keep trying. I practiced a lot and now I can make hard intervals.

LTE | What would you tell someone who is thinking of joining a swim team?

Ava | I would highly recommend joining a swim team. I have built so many friendships. When I started, I didn’t really know anything about swimming, but all my coaches taught me how to swim and created my love for swimming.

LTE | What is your proudest moment as a swimmer?

Sophia | When I won the 100-meter individual medley at a swim meet!

The post The Power of a Positive Coach appeared first on Experience Life.

One afternoon in July 2021, Tommy Blake, an 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran, walked up to Trisha Stavinoha, a Life Time Masters Swim coach in San Antonio, Texas, with a lofty request: “Can you teach me how to dive off those high swimming blocks? Apparently that’s what I have to do in order to start in my upcoming race.”

Blake, who has been a member at Life Time for more than 10 years, had been swimming since he was a kid. When a friend suggested he compete in the Texas Senior Games, he thought, Sure, why not? He had never swum in a meet before, and he had never done a dive.

Go-getter is just one of the many admirable terms you could use to describe Blake — he’s also a  loving husband, father, and grandfather. So nothing was going to stand in his way of training for the games: Not his age, not the fact that he has a pacemaker, and not the reality that he had to learn and master new skills in just two months.

Stavinoha, also an Army veteran, said her first thought upon hearing Blake’s request was, I cannot injure this American hero. She was fairly new to swim coaching and had not taught anyone of his age or how to dive off blocks yet. Now that she reflects on it, she says, “I should’ve had more faith in Tommy. Diving off blocks is really child’s play compared to his time in the Army.”

A Movement History

Blake started his 30-year Army career in 1963 as an infantry officer before going to flight school and planning, coordinating, and flying assault missions in the Vietnam War.

On his last mission, he was shot in his foot. The injury ended his tour in Vietnam, but he remained in the military as the reserve commander of a medical evacuation unit.

After years of healing, Blake, who had previously enjoyed running as a primary form of exercise, was able to run again. He kept at it for most of his life.

Recently, however, the pain became too much, so he decided to move his exercise regimen from the road to the pool. Swimming had always intrigued Blake: He recalls a day in college when he was strolling past the pool on campus and saw the swim team practicing. Blake walked up to the head coach and asked if he could join the team.

The coach was thrilled, but after learning Blake was already committed to the track and field team, knew the track coach would not be happy about sharing Blake with another athletic team. So, Blake stuck to his running endeavors.

Getting to Work

After Blake initially approached Stavinoha, she proceeded to watch Blake swim and had him complete a swim assessment to ensure it would be safe for him to learn the somewhat advanced skill of diving. She wanted to help Blake, and he was up for the challenge.

They started their diving practice the edge of the pool, with towels underfoot to protect his sensitive feet. Blake is naturally coordinated and has good body awareness, and Stavinoha knew he wasn’t starting from scratch.

She coached him to stretch his arms as far as possible while diving off the edge of the pool. Once she was comfortable with his reach, she moved him to some elevation. When it comes to diving, the higher you are, the harder you fall, so ensuring you have a good diving technique at a lower level helps eliminate potential injuries that come with elevation.

It didn’t take long for Blake to progress to the high block — he was ready on the first day. Although his foot hurt him when he dove, he still wanted to practice so he could compete to the best of his abilities.

Ready, Set, Dive!

The Texas Senior Games were held on September 11, 2021. Blake won the 50-meter freestyle event for his age group with a time of 00:44.430 seconds. “I was so surprised,” says Blake. “I expected to finish close to last and low and behold, I had won this thing. It was amazing.”

Blake’s performance qualified him for the National Senior Games, which will be held in Florida in May 2022. He’s planning to work on his flip turns and back stroke to prepare for the event. “He thinks he can place sixth or seventh,” says Stavinoha. “I think he can win.”

The majority of swimmers Stavinoha coaches are over the age of 50, and she loves working with them. “You have to keep an open mind with our Life Time members,” says Stavinoha. “Some of our older members are in way better shape than the younger members. Tommy is the epitome of someone who is experiencing life.”

Blake makes his health a priority. “I take some classes, like SHRED and yoga classes, and I also joined Trisha’s Masters Swim class,” he notes. “You’ve just got to stay active. All the men in my ancestry have died of a heart attack at about 60 years old. I had a heart attack about 10 years ago, had a triple bypass, and I have a pacemaker, but I’ve been fine ever since. If I hadn’t exercised consistently, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I have post-traumatic stress from my time in the war and being active helps with that,” he continues. “You’ve got to find something that you like to do, or you can tolerate doing, even if it’s just walking. If you’re at Life Time, they have all these incredible classes and things you can do, so the chances of finding something you like are good. Also, you’ll meet a lot of people, and as you get older, you need new friends. So, keep moving — that encompasses the whole thing.”

The post Diving for the Win: A Life Time Member Story appeared first on Experience Life.

Aside from many fitness and health benefits of swimming, there are also a number of reasons why swimming competitively can be a life-changing activity for kids as they grow and develop. We spoke with Life Time swim team coaches from across the country to discover what lessons they most often see kids learn.

Lesson No. 1: Developing a Work Ethic

Swimming, like most other sports, takes practice — lots and lots of practice. “Training to swim fast is hard, tedious, and meticulous work,” says David Sutton, senior swim team coach at Life Time Johns Creek in Georgia. “Being able to fall in love with the process is the key to success.”

There may be times when your child is resistant to spend all the time in the pool that’s needed to hone their skills, but their effort and dedication will pay off.  “When you make working hard your talent, you will never go without success — in the pool and in life,” says Kristopher Gagne, senior swim coach at Life Time in Houston, Texas.

Lesson No. 2: Growing Self Confidence

Mastering a new stroke or shaving time off a favorite event is bound to produce confidence in your child. Seeing positive results creates a sense of pride, as well as the belief in their ability for accomplishment, that kids can carry with them long after they leave the pool. Building confidence — particularly for young girls and boys — goes a long way toward growing into a happy, self-assured adult.

Lesson No. 3: Learning Sportsmanship

Everyone has good and not-so-good performance days, both in the pool and out — and being a humble winner and a gracious loser is not always easy. Recognizing and appreciating the efforts of your competitors, as well as your own, is healthy.

“Everyone has their time to shine — in practice and in meets,” says Heather Grieb, senior swim team coach at Life Time in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. “We compete with people, not against them.” Sharing in the joys as well as the sorrows of others brings a lovely humanity to individuals who can learn this lesson.

Lesson No. 4: Being Part of a Team

While kids compete individually against the clock at meets, they are often also part of a multiperson swim team. This means they contribute to the team total score based on how they place in their events. They can also participate on relay teams, which comes with a special camaraderie found only in team sports.

“Learning to work with your teammates is critical to the success of both the team and as individuals,” says Grieb. “Supporting one another through adversity and recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses helps create the strongest teams.”

Lesson No. 5: Cultivating Time Management

Homework. Chores around the house. Time with friends. All of this becomes a juggling act when you add swim practice to the schedule. Young swimmers are often forced to be efficient and productive with their schedules because they do spend so much time in the pool.

As kids grow into adults, the to-do list naturally only gets longer. Learning to manage time from an early age is an essential skill that will be beneficial as they continue to navigate added tasks, activities, and responsibilities throughout their life.

Lesson No. 6: Building Resilience

“In life you are going to go through so many ups and downs,” says Shane Fergus, senior swim team coach at Life Time Warrenville, in Illinois. “You will not drop time for most races in your swimming career, but it is very important that you trust the process and learn from it.” Having an unproductive practice or a disappointing race finish is bound to happen. It’s the ability to bounce back and try again that is important. Developing the aptitude to use those moments as motivation — rather than dwelling on the negative — will almost always result in greater long-term success.

Lesson No. 7: Developing Leadership Attributes

Tyler Fox, a senior head swim team coach at Life Time in Scottsdale, Arizona, believes everyone has it in them to be a leader. “Young athletes quickly identify which of their teammates are making the experience more fun and which are detracting from it,” says Fox. “In the pool as well as in work or life, we emphasize teaching kids to act with kindness and a positive attitude, as well as encourage other leadership qualities such as integrity, empowerment, and effective communication.”

Like life, swimming competitively comes with ups and downs — and many character-building lessons in between. Learning to handle those successes and disappointments, and building those skills and attributes, at a young age will aid kids as they transition into adulthood. Lessons learned in the pool can — and often will — benefit far beyond their time in the water.

The post 7 Life Lessons of Competitive Swimming appeared first on Experience Life.

Being a stronger swimmer not only helps keep your child safe in and around the water, but it’s also an excellent way for them to stay active and have fun. Splashing around, learning swim strokes, and the general act of swimming have additional heart and lung-capacity benefits for kids. Plus, they provide a full-body workout and help improve strength, flexibility, stamina, and coordination.

If you’re considering enrolling your child in swim lessons, you may have some questions. Learn what you can expect with advice from Jen Rezac, director of kids aquatics and education for Life Time Kids and Aquatics.

When is best to enroll my child in swim lessons?

Life Time Swim follows the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended guidelines for starting swimming lessons by age one. “The earlier, the better,” says Rezac. “At Life Time, we start lessons as young as four months old. Formal swim lessons between the ages of one and four years can help reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent.”

While children won’t learn formal swim strokes that young, Rezac says getting children comfortable with the water early helps develop water competency and a healthy respect for water safety rules. “The kids who start lessons at a very young age are naturally more comfortable in the water and learn to swim faster once they are developmentally ready,” she says.

If your child is a toddler or older and has not yet started swim lessons, consider their physical and emotional maturity, their developmental abilities, and current comfort level with water. Most kids are ready for swim lessons by the age of three, when the focus is on learning respect for the water and basic survival skills, such as floating, bobbing, making forward progress across the pool, and safely exiting the water.

Always keep in mind that swim lessons are one of several important factors for families to protect children in and around water. Focused supervision, proper flotation devices, and CPR training in case of emergency are also key. 

Who teaches the swim lessons?

All Life Time Swim instructors complete 25 hours of training and experience regular, ongoing education with routine evaluations to be sure children are receiving the highest-quality teaching.

Each instructor receives CPR and First Aid Certification, and there is always a lifeguard-certified team member on duty — either the swim instructor or a lifeguard stationed in the stands, depending on the state’s requirements where the lessons are being held.

All team members at Life Time also undergo background checks so you can feel comfortable and confident in who is teaching your children.

What will my child do during their lessons?

Class sizes are small to allow for both ample practice space and as an added safety precaution, especially for beginner swimmers who are old enough not to have a parent in the water with them during lessons.

Activities and curriculum vary according to each child’s class level and individual progress. Older children may focus on mastering specific swimming skills or strokes, while younger kids may use water islands and benches to assist them throughout. These items allow the swim instructors to focus on first building quality swimming skills and adding distance later, when kids are ready.

How do swimming levels progress as my child ages or advances?

Rezac says the rate your child progresses through swim levels depends on their individual skill growth. “The beauty of our Life Time Swim programming is that you don’t have to wait for your child to pass all of the skills required within one level before they begin working on one of the skills from the next level,” she says. “We are a progressive program, so we begin the next phase as soon as your child has mastered the current one — even if they’re not technically enrolled in the next swim class level.”

For example, if your child is in a 101-level class but can already do an assisted back float, an instructor will not wait until they finish all the 101-level-related skills to focus on the next progression. They’ll begin working on the 201 back-float skill — learning to do it unassisted — immediately. The goal is constant progress for kids whenever they demonstrate readiness to move forward.

At which swim level is someone considered a safe, confident swimmer?

According to Rezac, children are considered safe swimmers when they’ve mastered the 401-swim level and confidently can swim the length of the lap pool for 25 meters on either their front or back without stopping.

What are the different skills required at each swim level?

You can view full class descriptions by age group on the Life Time Swim programming page.

Beginner: Levels 101 and 201 at each age group

The first ability level is for children who are not comfortable with fully submerging their heads and bodies underwater to swim and play. They are working on floating by themselves or lying on their backs in the water; they cannot do basic paddling on their own for approximately four yards.

Intermediate: Levels 301 and 401 at each age group

The second ability level is for children who have achieved paddling and floating on their own in the water. The goals at this level are to help them learn the basic swim strokes and for kids to be able to swim the length of the pool by themselves.

Advanced: Levels 501 and 601 at each age group

The advanced ability level is for children who are considered proficient swimmers. Swimming skills taught at these levels include completing the freestyle stroke with rotary breathing for 15 yards before also learning all four competitive swim strokes. Fine-tuning their stroke techniques and completing flip turns and legal finishes are also developed at this level.

How long do swim lessons last?

Our swim lessons are held weekly for 30 minutes, yet additional options are also available. Depending on the level at which your child begins swim lessons, they may continue to progress through our entire program until they are confident swimmers or until they complete the advanced-lessons stage and choose to qualify for swim team.

What differentiates Life Time Swim lessons from those offered elsewhere?

Life Time Swim offers a convenient, customized, and competitive program for children of all ages. Registration is available at any time — no sign-up deadlines to meet — with a wide variety of days and times available to accommodate your family’s schedule.

Once you are enrolled, your child’s lesson day and time remain consistent and are renewed monthly until you provide a 30-day cancellation notice.

Children are not required to pass a certain swim level before being allowed to progress to learning the next skill. Each child is tracked individually, and once a skill has been mastered, they begin working on the next phase — even if it’s a skill from the next level.

Life Time Swim also offers competitive swimming curriculum. Once your child has achieved proficiency, they’re eligible for Life Time Swim’s developmental, summer, and USA Swimming competitive swim teams — all in the same location as they took their early swim lessons.

What items does my child need to bring to swim lessons?

All swimmers will want to bring a swimsuit. And in some locations, a towel is also required. Check your club’s swim policy page for details. Goggles and a swim cap are recommended for children ages three and up.

Children under the age of three must be accompanied in the pool by a parent. If your child isn’t potty-trained, they must wear a swim diaper and tight-fitting rubber pants under their swimsuit.

During lessons, children may be provided with pool equipment to assist them as they learn to swim.

How can I help my child improve as a swimmer?

Children will make progress during their 30-minute swim lessons, but parents can help their children advance by putting their lessons into practice. Check club schedules for open family swim times to attend with your child.

This additional practice allows your child to show you what they’ve learned and explore their new skills in the water, while helping them progress more quickly. There are also practice tips and exercises kids can do with you at home.

How do I get my child started in swim lessons?

Try our virtual swim assessment to help you learn which level is best for your child. Go to my.lifetime.life/swim, log into your membership account (or create an account if you don’t have one already), and select the “Register for New Lessons” button. You’ll then be able to answer a series of questions to help determine your child’s level — or, if you know which level you’d like to choose, you can skip the questions and go straight to the registration.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Life Time Swim Lessons appeared first on Experience Life.

Life Time offers options for kids (and adults) to learn and play in the pool. They can start by gaining the safety skills they need, then advance to participating in recreational or competitive programming.

We asked Alicia Kockler, senior vice president of Life Time Kids and Aquatics, to answer some commonly asked questions about Life Time Swim so you know what’s available.

What types of programs does Life Time Swim offer?

We offer group, semi-private, and private swim lessons for ages 4 months through adults. After they gain the skills they need through lessons, kids ages 6–18 can join our recreational or competitive swim teams, while adults can participate in our master’s swim program.

Don’t let the name “master’s” intimidate you: As long as you can swim two lengths of the pool without stopping, we’d love to have you join us. People join the master’s program for various reasons. Some are looking for a low-impact workout, for instance, while others are training to improve the swim leg of a triathlon.

All of our programs are offered year-round except for our summer recreational swim team.

Can both members and nonmembers participate in Life Time Swim?

Our swim programming is exclusively for Life Time members. The only exception is our standalone swim school in Maple Grove, Minn., which is open to both members and nonmembers.

Is Life Time Swim available at all Life Time locations?

We have programming available at many of our Life Time locations, but not all of them. Check your club’s programs page to see if swimming is offered at your location.

How long do kids typically participate in swim lessons?

That depends on how old your child is when they start lessons and how consistently they attend. We recommend enrolling your child in swim lessons as early as possible. Research shows that when children start to learn to swim before the age of 1, they react more naturally to the water because they remember the water environment of the womb.

However, your child can certainly be successful in lessons if they start later. Consistency is really the key: It’s better to come once a week for a full year than it is to come three or four times a week for a few weeks during the summer. Swimming requires muscle memory, so if you aren’t regularly practicing, the progress you make one summer could be lost by the time you get to the next summer.

We suggest attending a lesson once per week so your child maintains that practice. The nice thing about our lessons at Life Time is that you pick the day and time that works for your schedule. If your kids’ activities change throughout the year, you can always move your child to a class on a different day or at a different time, we just ask for 30 days’ notice.

What qualifications and credentials do Life Time Swim instructors have?

All of our swim instructors complete a 20-plus hour training and certification program to ensure they’re equipped to help your child learn to swim in the best way possible. We also require them to be CPR certified.

Many of our instructors are also certified lifeguards, while all of our swim coaches are required to hold that certification. All team members at Life Time also undergo background checks so you can feel comfortable and confident in who is teaching your children.

What other safety precautions are taken?

Children’s safety is our No. 1 priority. In addition to the training and certifications required for instructors, during swim lessons, we either have a lifeguard on duty or an instructor in the pool who is lifeguard certified. Just because a child is a good swimmer doesn’t mean that accidents can’t happen, so we ensure our team members are equipped with the right level of training to respond if it’s ever necessary.

When families come to the pool to enjoy family swim, we follow a 25:10 rule: If a child 11 years of age or younger cannot swim 25 yards or meters — the typical length of our lap pools — without stopping, then a parent or guardian must remain within 10 feet of the child at all times while they’re in the pool.

When kids participate in swimming during summer camp or school-break days, we require all non-swimmers to wear a life jacket and employ a 1:3 ratio of team members to non-swimmers to ensure everyone’s safety.

What differentiates Life Time Swim from other swimming programs?

First of all, it’s convenient. Parents can choose a day and time that works for their schedule and cancel or change that at any time by giving us just 30 days’ notice. Other siblings can also partake in lessons at the same time.

Secondly, our programming is customized. Instead of a set session timeframe, your child will progress through all of our levels, moving to the next skill or level when they are ready rather than having to wait until the start of a new session.

And lastly, we offer competitive options. Once kids graduate from our lesson program, they can go right into our USA competitive swim teams, which offer further conveniences that other teams don’t, such as consistent practice locations and times.

Are there any benefits parents can take advantage of while their kids are swimming?

During swim lessons or swim team, parents are not required to remain on the pool deck, so they are welcome to use that time to fit in a workout, dine in the LifeCafe, or enjoy a service at the LifeSpa.

If the parents have other children who are not in swim lessons or on a swim team, they can take advantage of the up to 2.5 hours per day of childcare that’s included in a Junior Membership. Many clubs also offer a Kids Academy with classes that kids can partake in.

Kids who participate in our summer camps are able to complete their swim lessons during their camp day, which means parents to have one less activity to fit into their busy schedule during the evenings or on the weekends.

How can interested parents sign up or learn more?

Visit my.lifetime.life/swim. Click “register now” and log in with you member login. If you click “register now,” you’ll be asked to answer a few questions about your child’s swimming ability. A recommended class level will then display for you, along with open days and times for lessons. You’re able to complete the registration process right there and we will charge the monthly swim lesson fees to your membership account.

To register for or learn more about swim team or adult lessons, visit my.lifetime.life/swim and choose “swim team” or “adult swimming.”

The post Life Time Swim 101 appeared first on Experience Life.

No matter the reason, Swim Team can be a great option for keeping kids moving, helping them learn about healthy competition, and having fun. To help you decide if Swim Team is a good option for your child, we reached out to Jen Rezac, director of kids and aquatics education at Life Time, to get her insights on some commonly asked questions about the offering.

What are the benefits to enrolling my child in Swim Team?

There are four primary advantages I’d encourage parents to consider:

1. It instills life skills. Learning to swim — and being a strong swimmer — is a crucial, life-saving ability. The World Health Organization estimates that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide. Swimming also teaches attributes such as dedication, perseverance, and goal setting that can benefit individuals well beyond their swimming days.

2. It improves fitness. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that works the entire body, focusing on endurance, strength, and flexibility. If you develop healthy habits as a child, it can lead to staying active as an adult.

3. It teaches teamwork. Swimming is both an individual and team sport. At meets, swimmers compete individually for their best times but also contribute to the team total score based on how they place in their events. They can also participate on relay teams.

4. It offers a community. Many of our swimmers build a second family on our teams. They form strong friendships with their teammates which improves their social well-being.

What differentiates Life Time’s Swim Team from others?

We offer consistent practice schedules and locations in our top-of-the-line facilities. Many other teams must rent space, therefore are subject to the days, times, and locations that are available.

In those instances, parents often need to wait in the bleachers while their child practices. At Life Time, parents do not need to be present, and can choose to leave the building or use the time to get in a workout, schedule a spa service, or relax in our lounge areas. If you have multiple children, your other kids can enjoy the Kids Academy while their sibling swims, or even learn to swim themselves in our swim-lesson program at the same time. In locations that feature LifeCafe, you’re also just steps away from a healthy grab-and-go meal option after practice.

There is also no fundraising, and your child practices in their home pool but competes at meets with all the other Life Time swim teams in the area.

Which ages and abilities can Swim Team accommodate?

Children are typically 5 years or older when they join Swim Team, and there are different levels available for different abilities. Those who join don’t even need to have grasped the basic foundations of swimming or be able to swim the length of the pool in freestyle and backstroke. They will learn those skills.

What are the different Swim Team options available at Life Time?

• Summer Swim Team: This is the perfect introduction to the program. It’s fun and laid back, yet children still get a chance to compete.
• Developmental Swim Team: This is a great option for those who just completed our swim-lesson program and want to experience team swimming. It’s year-round and offers an introduction to meets.
• USA Swimming Team: This is also year-round and is our most competitive option. These swimmers compete against other teams who are part of the USA Swimming Association.

What credentials do Life Time swim coaches have?

All of our coaches are required to be Lifeguard Certified. Those who work with our USA Swimming Team also have their USA Swimming certification. Many coaches additionally have their American Swimming Coaches Association certification.

What is the time commitment like?

The Summer Swim Team is held multiple days a week over a period in the summer. Most practices last 45 minutes to one hour. Swim meets are typically held once a week.

The Developmental Team practices are typically held two or three days a week, lasting 45 minutes to one hour. Your child can continue on the team as long as they’d like or until they’re ready to move to the USA Swimming Team. Swim meet occurrences vary, but usually take place a few times throughout the school year.

The USA Swimming Team, depending on the level, can occur anywhere from three to six days a week with practices lasting between one to two hours. Swim meets are usually held one to three times per month.

How do I know if my child will enjoy Swim Team?

They’re always welcome to try it! Summer Swim Team is a limited-length program, while our year-round teams can be started and canceled at any time with provided notice.

Beginning your child in the right level will make a significant difference in their perception of Swim Team. We recommend starting them in the Summer Swim Team or Developmental Swim Team. Both require a tryout where we’ll place your child in the best level for their ability.

What precautions are being taken to keep Swim Team kids safe?

Safety is our number one priority at all times. We follow state and USA Swimming guidelines. All Life Time Swim competitive Swim Teams are Safe Sport Recognized.

Do I need to be a Life Time member for my child to participate in Swim Team?

Yes, Swim Team is exclusively available for Life Time members.

Where can I sign up or learn more?

You can find more information and contact details at mylifetime.life/swim.

The post What You Need to Know About Life Time’s Swim Team appeared first on Experience Life.

Organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics have cited concerns over higher risk of drownings related to the pandemic, whether due to caregivers who are tasked with doing more than ever, or kids who have increased access to bathtubs, pools, or other sources of water at home. One key layer of protection is strong swimming skills.

As the weather cools and families look for worry-free recreation outside of the home, the indoor pools at Life Time can offer a safe space for children to experience the fun of the water, as well as gain important swimming abilities.

We asked Jen Rezac, director of swim programming for Life Time Aquatics, to answer some common questions she’s receiving from members who are considering bringing their families back to the pool areas of our clubs.

What does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say about the safe use of pools?

According to the CDC, “There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of recreational waters.” The organization also states: “Swimming and other water-related activities are excellent ways to get in physical activity and health benefits needed for a healthy life.”

What is Life Time doing to ensure its pools are a clean and safe space for swimmers?

Rezac outlines a number of safety and cleanliness measures that include the following:

• We use chlorine chemicals in our pools, which when properly used, “should inactivate the virus,” according to the CDC.
• The chemicals in our pools are tested every four hours to ensure we’re maintaining proper disinfection levels.
• Our HVAC systems have been updated to enhance our air quality, bringing in fresh, outside air into our pool area.
• High-touch surfaces are frequently cleaned and disinfected using an EPA-registered, virus-killing disinfectants. (This is what’s in the spray bottles our staff uses.)

How about the swim programming — what changes has Life Time made so parents can feel confident enrolling their kids in lessons or teams?

We have several different programs available to suit your family’s needs and comfort level, including both group and private swim lessons, as well as our Swim Team.

For group lessons, we are maintaining small instructor-to-swimmer ratios, and keeping children in the same group from week to week.

Private lessons are a great option for those who want to minimize exposure to other individuals. These lessons can be set up so it’s only your child or family and an instructor in the water.

If I’m trying to limit my child’s risk factors outside of the home, is swim programming really something that’s important to prioritize?

Yes. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and a leading cause of death for kids up to age 14. The CDC states that for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency care for near drowning. This statistic is tragic because drowning is preventable.

Swim lessons provide an important layer of protection: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that formal swim lessons decreased the risk of drowning for young children by 88 percent.

Parents can also take comfort in the safety of pools and pool areas. The CDC says they are “not aware of any scientific reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds.” They also state that, “Proper operation of public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds, and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus.”

What happens if someone who had COVID-19 was in the pool while they were infected?

The situation is no different than when you are on land; there would only be concern if you were in close contact with that individual. The CDC has no evidence that the virus can spread through the water when proper chemical levels are maintained.

Is Life Time enforcing capacity limits in the pools?

These rules vary state by state, but in locations where there are government guidelines for capacity, capacities are enforced. Capacity counts are done on a frequent basis and for the entire club, not just the pool area. If your club reaches capacity, you will be notified when checking in. Our aquatics facilities are spacious and typically have a large swimmer load, even at reduced capacity, so there’s usually plenty of space for all.

Where can I find out more about Life Time’s safety efforts, and swim programming and the pool areas at my club?

You can learn more about or register for our different swim programming options here, and find pool hours here.

The post Your Questions, Answered: How is Life Time Keeping its Pools and Swimmers Safe? appeared first on Experience Life.

Beginner Level

If your child is enrolled in swim lessons at Life Time, this includes levels 101 and 201.

The first ability level is for children who are not comfortable with fully submerging their heads and bodies underwater to swim and play. They also don’t yet have the foundational skills of floating by themselves or lying on their backs in the water, and cannot do basic paddling on their own for approximately four yards.

What to do at home:

Help your child become more comfortable with going underwater and floating with these supervised bathtub exercises:

Underwater exercises

1. Using a cup or the shower head, gently run water over your child, starting with his or her feet, arms, belly, and back, then moving on to their neck, face, and head.
2. Don’t be afraid to have “big splashy movements” together. Splash water onto your own face and show your child how you blink and wipe it away. Then, gently splash water onto your child’s face and encourage them to mimic your behavior.
3. Have your child practice gently dipping their face in the water. Start with putting one cheek in the water, then turn his or her face under the water to the other side.
4. Once your child is comfortable, encourage him or her to try blowing bubbles out the nose underneath the water.
5. Sink toys beneath the water and have your child practice picking them up.

Floating practice

Instruct your child to lie face up in the bathtub and to look up, raising their chin slightly. If this is uncomfortable, assist your child by putting your hand behind his or her head or lightly pressing up on the back. Make sure your child keeps his or her hips elevated to keep them on the surface of the water. Encourage making a “big belly,” as if they just ate a large meal. Once your child is ready, gently release your support.

Kicking

Practice kicking on both their front and backs while in the bathtub or laying on the couch or bed. Look for pointed toes and correct form if needed.

Paddling

In the bathtub: Have your child cup their hands slightly with their fingers together. Have them reach out and pull the water toward them using the palms of their hands like they are scooping their favorite ice cream toward their belly.

On the bed: Have your swimmer lie on the bed with their head and arms hanging off the side while you hold their feet to keep them from falling. Make sure they keep their face down while paddling their arms in front of them.

Elementary backstroke

Help your child become comfortable paddling on his or her back by practicing this swim stroke on a flat surface. We like to call this one “chicken, airplane, soldier” to help kids remember the shapes they make.

1. Start lying on their back with their hands by their sides.
2. Slowly trace their hands up their sides to their shoulders in the shape of chicken wings, then extend their arms straight out from their sides like an airplane.
3. Keeping arms straight, your child should push their hands back down toward their sides like a soldier standing at attention.

Log rolls

This basic skill teaches children how to breath with their face in the water. It’s the introduction to rotary breathing for freestyle swimming.

1. Have your swimmer lie on their back on a flat surface.
2. Instruct them to roll from their back onto their stomach while facing the same direction they roll.
3. Ensure they don’t use their hands to push on the flat surface for assistance.
4. Try this exercise three to five times in a row.

Intermediate Level

If your child is enrolled in swim lessons at Life Time, this includes levels 301 and 401.

The second ability level is for children who have achieved paddling and floating on their own in the water. The goals at this level are to help them learn the basic swim strokes and for kids to be able to swim the length of our pool by themselves.

What to do at home:

Streamline kicks

This exercise helps make sure children are kicking correctly from the hips with straight legs and pointed toes. It also ensures the body is in proper alignment to help strengthen their swim strokes.

Direct your child to lie on the floor on their stomach, extend both arms over their head, then raise one arm above the ground while lifting the opposite leg. Switch arms and legs and continue repetitions while aiming for controlled movements. Then, have your child try this same exercise while lying on their back.

Freestyle

For this swim stroke, the focus is on getting your child’s arms out of the water and helping them become comfortable with rotary breathing.

Russian Twists are great for establishing the foundational rotation movements. Grab a toy or unopened canned item from your pantry to use as a weight, and follow these instructions to help your child complete this exercise:

1. Sit on the ground and have them lift their feet a few inches into the air, keeping knees bent, and leaning back a little until they’re balancing on their sit bones.
2. With feet lifted and item in hand, they should twist from side to side for 10 to 45 seconds, touching their left and right sides.

To increase difficulty, add a side-to-side head turn to help your child improve their balance.

To help them advance to rotary breathing motions of the freestyle swim stroke, have your child lie down on the floor or a bed on their stomach.

1. Keeping their forehead down, left arm at their side, and right arm overhead, switch the placement of their arms by scooping their right arm down while lifting their left arm overhead. Continue in a fluid motion.
2. To add the rotary breathing motions, have your child start turning their head onto their left ear as the right arm comes down to their side. Their head should be rotated to the side but not lifted.
3. Mimic taking a quick breath in, then return head to face-down position and blow out as if blowing bubbles underwater.
4. Cadence should be similar to: Left arm, right arm, left arm, right arm with head turning to breathe.
5. To increase the difficulty, add flutter kicks while practicing the rotary breathing and stroke technique.

Backstroke

This straight-arm drill helps your child with the mechanics of the backstroke arm positions. First, have your child lay flat on their back with their arms and hands down at their side. Raise one arm overhead with their thumb leading straight up. Be sure the arm remains straight and passes close to your child’s ear. Try it with the other arm, then work on alternating arm positions for 10 to 12 repetitions.

Breaststroke

Help your child learn this stroke by starting with the whip kick technique and following these instructions.

1. Have your swimmer lie stomach-down on the bed with hands pulled into their chest, elbows bent, palms flat to the mattress, and legs hanging slightly off the edge of the bed.
2. Starting with legs straight together and toes pointing toward the floor, have them bend their knees and draw their heels up toward their bottom.
3. Keep knees in place while they open and push their ankles out as if drawing a circle with their feet. Complete the kick by bringing their heels back together as legs come back into straight position.

Once your child is comfortable with the whip kick technique, it’s time to add the arm movements.

1. Have your swimmer lie with their stomach slightly off the bed and practice their “pizza arms”: Move arms from straight together overhead, pushing out to the sides and down in a large circle, then bring them back together at their belly button. Don’t let their hands go down past their hips.
2. Lie them on their stomach on the floor or bed and practice saying “kick, glide, pull” in succession while performing the movements of the arms and kick together.
3. When practicing the motion, have them add the whip kick as their arms reach forward, then pause with their body straight and stretched from hands to feet (as if in a glide).
4. Practice the arm pull while their legs bend to begin the whip kick.

Butterfly Stroke

Have your child pretend to be a dolphin or a mermaid while lying on any flat surface. Have them kick their legs while keeping feet together as if they have one fin instead of two legs — this is the dolphin kick.

Once your child has a handle on the dolphin kicks, have them start practicing the arm technique. Your child can lie on the floor or a bench for this exercise.

1. Reach arms out straight in front while making a triangle shape with their hands — pointer fingers and thumbs touching.
2. Keeping hands relatively together, pull arms down and underneath the body, bending the elbows, and making a diamond shape. The four points of the shape should be the hands, left elbow, chest, and right elbow.
3. When the child’s hands reach the waist, separate the hands and swing them out to the sides while keeping them at the same level as their body.
4. Swing forward until their arms reach straight overhead, then make a triangle with their hands again.

Advanced Level

If your child is enrolled in swim lessons at Life Time, this includes levels 501 and 601.

The advanced level is for children who have learned how to put the strokes together and can swim backstroke and freestyle about the length of a pool. At this level, the purpose is to help children swim greater distances, increase their endurance, and be able to swim all four strokes — freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly — the entire length of the pool.

What to do at home:

Rhythmic breathing

Practice the movements of bilateral, rhythmic breathing by repeatedly performing these movements to gain muscle memory.

1. Have your child practice while lying down, as if in the water, and performing the freestyle stroke arm movements as if they were swimming.
2. Simulate the arm movements while kicking and repeating the count sequence of “one, two, three, breath.” Every number is a stroke, and every third count is when they turn their head to the side and take a breath.

Perform arm rotations in the air

Many of the basic swimming strokes can be practiced outside of the water. Have your child practice the arm motions of each stroke — freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly — while they are sitting or standing at home. Make sure to encourage them to fully complete each arm rotation as if they are actually swimming. This practice helps improve their coordination on the more difficult swim strokes.

Practice kicking on the floor

Young children often struggle with keeping their legs straight during flutter kicks. Your child can practice this skill while lying on the floor. Spend time helping them practice making small, swift movements with their legs during the kicking sessions. If they are small enough, you can also take these lessons into the bathtub so that your child learns how to move with water resistance.

Watch swimming videos

Observation is an essential part of learning how to improve your child’s swimming skills. During your free time, watch videos of professional swimmers with your child. Make sure to use the appropriate names for each stroke and discuss together what you see the swimmers doing well.

Over time, you’ll notice your child picking up the vocabulary used in competitive swimming, which increases their ability to understand what their swimming coach may tell them to do during their lessons.

Dryland training

Endurance is key to swimming at the advanced level. We recommend exercises such as pushups, jumping jacks, sprints, squats, and crunches. Stretching helps loosen joints and makes the body more flexible as well. If you need a lot of stretching, we recommend the yoga classes on demand. 

The post At-Home Swim Exercises for Kids of All Ability Levels appeared first on Experience Life.