Building Confidence in and Around Water
At the Y, swimming is a life skill. Our swim lessons prepare kids and adults of all ages to stay safe and have fun in the water, building strong and confident swimmers.
Swim Starters
Ages: 6 months - 3 years
Swim Starters is a beginner swim program designed for infants and toddlers accompanied by a parent or guardian. The program focuses on helping young children become comfortable in the water while developing swim readiness skills and learning important water safety techniques. The program consists of two stages, Water Discovery and Water Exploration, each building upon the skills learned in the previous stage. With the guidance of experienced instructors, children and parents gain confidence in and around the water while learning essential life-saving techniques.
Swim Basics
Ages: 3-12 years
Swim Basics is a crucial component of swim lessons, where participants are taught to be comfortable and confident in the water. Water Acclimation focuses on increasing comfort with underwater exploration and teaches basic self-rescue skills with assistance. In Water Movement, participants develop their swim skills through a variety of activities such as floating, gliding, and rolling. Lastly, Water Stamina helps build endurance through a series of activities that challenge their physical abilities. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, Swim Basics is the foundation of safe and enjoyable aquatic experiences.
Swim Strokes
Ages: 6-12 years
Swim Strokes is a program that incorporates exercises for moving through water using a variety of techniques. The different types of swim strokes include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. Each stroke offers its own unique benefits and challenges. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced swimmer, incorporating swim strokes into your exercise routine can provide numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
Teen and Adult Swim Lessons
Ages: 12-18 years
Whether you are just learning to swim, or wanting to improve your endurance and technique, our Teen & Adult Swim Lessons will help you achieve your goals! We offer older learners the following course options:
- Swim Basics
- Stroke Introduction & Development
- Stroke Mechanics
Excellent, Low Impact Exercise
Swimming is one of the best exercise options for every age and physical ability. The Y offers a safe and supportive environment for everyone to enjoy and excel in this highly beneficial activity. Why is swimming so great? First, swimming is a low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints, making it an excellent choice for individuals with mobility issues or chronic pain. It also offers a full-body workout, engaging muscles throughout the body and improving cardiovascular health as you burn calories and boost your metabolism.
Our swim lessons are designed to teach children and adults how to swim safely and confidently, while our aqua fitness classes offer both a fun and challenging workout for individuals of all ages. If you’re a confident and capable swimmer you’re invited to join lap swim and open swim hours at your leisure.
Relieve Stress and Find Your Zen
Swimming is a great stress reliever, and the rhythmic movement of swimming can help calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Many swimmers talk about finding a flow and cadence in the water that is almost unmatched in other sports. Swimming is also known to release endorphins, which are natural mood-boosters that can improve your overall mental well-being.
Safety in and Around the Water
The drowning rate in Washinton is higher than the national rate. The Y takes its role as the nation’s swimming instructor seriously. Our Safety Around Water program and swim lessons are designed to teach children how to behave responsibly around water, as well as how to swim safely and confidently – all essential skills. The Y also provides a safe environment for children to swim, with trained lifeguards on duty and strict safety protocols in place.