Y celebrates 100 years of swim instruction | Sports | Summerville Journal Scene

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Y celebrates 100 years of swim instruction

Published Tuesday, September 30, 2008 12:38 PM

Summerville Journal Scene ®

The fall season is upon us, meaning children and families in the Lowcountry are beginning to spend fewer days at the beach, lake, water park or pool. While swimming is an ideal activity for families, providing fun in the sun and quality time spent together, it is also an important tool in the ongoing fight against rising levels of obesity in South Carolina. Known as “America’s Favorite Swim Instructor,” the national YMCA organization recently celebrated 100 years of teaching Americans not only how to swim, but also how to maintain health and wellness in spite of our busy lives.

“With nearly 60 million adults and 9 million children obese or overweight, increasing levels of physical fitness for children and families has becomes of increasing importance to our YMCA,” said Justin Bryan, Summerville Family YMCA’s Aquatics Manager. “Learning how to swim is not only an important part of growing up, but it is also a fun form of exercise and a great first step in preparing kids for a lifetime commitment to physical fitness. Swimming is an ideal form of exercise because it tones the entire body while providing an excellent cardiovascular workout, and strengthens the heart muscle while improving delivery of oxygen to muscles.”

Since 1906, when George Corsan, a Detroit YMCA fitness instructor, revolutionized the way people learned how to swim, YMCA aquatics staff have been unrivaled in their training and expertise. Today, with more than 2,000 pools across the country, YMCAs are the place where Americans go to find the most trusted instructors of swimming lessons and lifeguard training. Tens of millions of people across the United States have learned how to swim at the YMCA, including Olympic medalists Mark Spitz, Greg Louganis and Janet Evans, as well as President Ronald Reagan.

“Swimming lessons provide children with essential skills to be safe in and around water,” said Bryan. “In addition to building character and self-confidence, children learn about leadership, safety and rescue skills, and water activities. These important survival skills allow parents and children to enjoy a lifetime of both fun and healthy activity at pools, beaches and water parks.”

Swimming is also an ideal exercise for Baby Boomers and other older adults who want to maintain their fitness, but may need to give up high-impact or repetitive-motion activities such as running, cycling and aerobics.

This year, the Summerville Family YMCA is set to help children and families throughout the fall and winter months by providing swimming lessons to children and adults, water fitness classes and competitive swim programs for area youth.

The Summerville Family YMCA provides recreational programs and services to area families, children and adults, ranging in ages from infant to senior. The YMCA is for people of all faiths, races, ages, incomes and abilities. Financial assistance is available. Visit www.summervilleymca.org or call 871-9622 x 100 for more information.

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104 East Doty Avenue | Summerville, SC 29483 | 843-873-9424 office | 843-873-9432 fax