Conquer Your Fear of Water: An Innovative Self-Discovery Course in Swimming

by Melon Dash

Have you tried to learn to swim? Fear prevents it! For adults, overcoming fear is the key to learning to swim. You can overcome fear without doing frightening things. Learn how to rely on yourself for your safety rather than on the bottom or the side. That is the meaning of learning to swim. Perfect technique? That's for efficiency after you’ve learned to be at ease. First, master the nuts and bolts of being comfortable in water. Once you feel comfortable, you can learn basic skills like floating, getting up from a float and the numerous other skills taught with no stone left unturned. Learn all the essentials, proven over 37 years and unavailable elsewhere. Strokes are not relevant and are not taught. You’re in good company with the vast population of adults that has a fear of water over their heads--109 million adults in the U.S. All can learn to swim if they start at the beginning and skip no steps. The steps just may be something you never considered!

300 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2006

About the author

Born in upstate New York, Melon (Mary Ellen) Dash swam competitively as a child and teenager, through four years of college at U. Mass./Amherst, nonstop into the present.

As a graduate teaching assistant in the 70s, she noticed that half of her Beginning Swimming students every semester were unable to follow her instructions because lessons were too advanced. Yet the course was called, "Beginning Swimming."

The problem was that students were afraid. They didn’t know how the water worked and they were afraid to try things because they might sink, panic or drown. There were no words or thoughts in her Water Safety Instructor training that addressed these students’ needs.

They needed something that had never been taught in traditional swimming lessons: presence of mind. In 1978, that wasn’t on the radar.

Five years later, faced with the question, “What shall I do with my life?” she decided to start a swim school for adults who were afraid in water. She created a new way to teach swimming based on a system that allowed every student to be completely present at all times, thereby preventing panic. When people are present and comfortable, they can learn. Her system has never once failed.

She has trained sixty-five instructors worldwide, produced a how-to video, written a how-to book, Conquer Your Fear of Water, appeared on the Today Show, CNN Headline News, in New York Times Play Magazine and countless other national publications and radio shows. She speaks at the World Aquatic Health conference, the National Aquatics Council, United States Swim School Association, and American Swim Coaches Association meetings. Her proudest achievements are her five thousand adult graduates including SCUBA divers, lap swimmers, triathletes, snorkelers and swimming instructors, and her teaching method which she believes may change the bedrock of all teaching.

She resides in Sarasota, Florida where she swims with a Masters team, advises her non-profit Miracle Swimming for Adults, Inc., and is working on her next books. Her favorite toys are her Macintosh and her bike.

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a week of swimming camp where I improved somewhat and realized I'm uncomfortable in deep water I decided to try to figure this out. One of the coaches at the camp teaches Dash's technique and recommended I look into it. So I read this book and watch the accompanying DVD. All of it makes sense. Now I'll have to put what I've read and watched into practice. One can only hope...

[Sudhir Kalyanikar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most swimming instructors, when told I was afraid of water, just told me not to be afraid and to relax. Duh! If only it was so easy, I would be relaxed and unafraid, right?

I think this book starts at the most basic level of swimming for a section of adults like me - the "afraid of water" level and takes it from there. Been reading this for a couple of weeks and I find it very logical.

I think this is going to work and I will finally overcome my fear of water and start swimming.

[Tramaine Gillus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clear and concise explanation of the principles of water and how the body water behaves in it. And it reassures the reader/learner that they should not rush themselves. That should take their time and only move on when they are comfortable and ready. It's such an empowering message.

This is how adult swimming should be taught. Period.

[Karin Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book and swimming program. Helped me immensely.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book at a mini-class that introduced the philosophy of transpersonal swimming. Learning to stay in control and keeping it fun before learning to swim are the bedrock philosophies. Definitely intriguing approach to swim education. Looking forward to someday mastering these skills in an accredited course!

[Brett]

Ili's gonna teach me how to swim this weekend.