The common complaint is there isn’t much information on swimming pools in the city. But there are several options to choose from, and Arjuna-awardee Nisha Millet has some good news in this regard.
The Kensington Swimming Pool at Ulsoor Lake has reopened, and Nisha Millet’s Swimming Academy will be overseeing the functioning of it. Nisha, herself, benefited from swimming when she was going through a bit of a low phase. “My husband and I decided to take care of our twins on our own, which was very ambitious,” she says as we sit overlooking the pool at Chancery Pavilion, where she conducts classes.
“But I was low on energy, and lethargic. I’ve never felt that bad in my life. I have always felt strong physically and mentally. That’s when my mother and my husband said you really need to get out and get back to what you love, which is swimming.” After about two months, Nisha resumed her passion. “I did some very light swimming for half an hour, I felt so energetic after that. It is one of the best cardiovascular exercises. You also burn fat and calories .”
She adds that swimming is also good for reducing stress and emotional well being. “Any kind of exercise is recommended for feeling low because it releases endorphins. I found it really helpful after my pregnancy. Otherwise, I didn’t really understand its importance. I took swimming for granted almost because I do it all the time. Throughout my 15-year-career, I have seen that any kind of anger, you take it and channel it into the pool. It is a way of calming me down.”
Nisha says once you enter the swimming pool, you instantly feel relaxed.
“One good thing about the water is that there is a lot of silence. It’s akin to meditation. The second you get into the water, you only feel 10 per cent of your body weight.When you are in the water, you have to focus on rhythmic movements and on your breathing that makes you tune out the rest of the world. For kids who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, paediatricians have recommended them to swim. You see the difference within the first two weeks.”
But what about those who fear getting into water? There’s hope for them too, says Nisha. “You can get into a shallow, instead of a deep pool. The first thing is to get yourself a good pair of goggles so that you can put your face into water. The first thing you teach people is to put their faces in and blow out through your nose. Once they have their goggles on and look under water that makes a big difference.”
Most of us have grown up hearing stories about being thrown into the deep end of the pool, and that’s how you learn swimming. But that is a misconception. “Take a little time to get familiar with the water,” cautions Nisha. “People sometimes want to learn swimming in a day. In India, we do one day of water familiarisation and then out of 15 days, 14 days we teach people how to swim. But in Australia, they will do about 10 to12 days of water familiarisation and a couple of days of introducing the swimming part. So now we are trying to do a week of water familiarisation. When you walk on land there isn’t much resistance. But in water you have to work a little bit harder and balance is a big issue. Once you can conquer that, it gets easier. Don’t watch youtube to learn swimming. Having a companion is the best. I never say you should learn on your own.”
Nisha coaches kids and adults, an asserts age is no bar to learn swimming. “We see a lot of increase in the 30 and 40 plus category. Our eldest swimmer is in his 80s. If anyone has a crippling kind of anxiety or depression, either find a coach in your area, or go with a friend or family member who is good in swimming. Initially start by walking in the water. Only when you start loving the water is when you will start learning. Once you get over these hurdles, you can swim once or twice a week. I recommend either morning or night.”
The Kensington Swimming Pool at Ulsoor Lake has reopened, and Nisha Millet’s Swimming Academy will be overseeing the functioning of it. Nisha, herself, benefited from swimming when she was going through a bit of a low phase. “My husband and I decided to take care of our twins on our own, which was very ambitious,” she says as we sit overlooking the pool at Chancery Pavilion, where she conducts classes.
“But I was low on energy, and lethargic. I’ve never felt that bad in my life. I have always felt strong physically and mentally. That’s when my mother and my husband said you really need to get out and get back to what you love, which is swimming.” After about two months, Nisha resumed her passion. “I did some very light swimming for half an hour, I felt so energetic after that. It is one of the best cardiovascular exercises. You also burn fat and calories .”
She adds that swimming is also good for reducing stress and emotional well being. “Any kind of exercise is recommended for feeling low because it releases endorphins. I found it really helpful after my pregnancy. Otherwise, I didn’t really understand its importance. I took swimming for granted almost because I do it all the time. Throughout my 15-year-career, I have seen that any kind of anger, you take it and channel it into the pool. It is a way of calming me down.”
Nisha says once you enter the swimming pool, you instantly feel relaxed.
“One good thing about the water is that there is a lot of silence. It’s akin to meditation. The second you get into the water, you only feel 10 per cent of your body weight.When you are in the water, you have to focus on rhythmic movements and on your breathing that makes you tune out the rest of the world. For kids who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, paediatricians have recommended them to swim. You see the difference within the first two weeks.”
But what about those who fear getting into water? There’s hope for them too, says Nisha. “You can get into a shallow, instead of a deep pool. The first thing is to get yourself a good pair of goggles so that you can put your face into water. The first thing you teach people is to put their faces in and blow out through your nose. Once they have their goggles on and look under water that makes a big difference.”
Most of us have grown up hearing stories about being thrown into the deep end of the pool, and that’s how you learn swimming. But that is a misconception. “Take a little time to get familiar with the water,” cautions Nisha. “People sometimes want to learn swimming in a day. In India, we do one day of water familiarisation and then out of 15 days, 14 days we teach people how to swim. But in Australia, they will do about 10 to12 days of water familiarisation and a couple of days of introducing the swimming part. So now we are trying to do a week of water familiarisation. When you walk on land there isn’t much resistance. But in water you have to work a little bit harder and balance is a big issue. Once you can conquer that, it gets easier. Don’t watch youtube to learn swimming. Having a companion is the best. I never say you should learn on your own.”
Nisha coaches kids and adults, an asserts age is no bar to learn swimming. “We see a lot of increase in the 30 and 40 plus category. Our eldest swimmer is in his 80s. If anyone has a crippling kind of anxiety or depression, either find a coach in your area, or go with a friend or family member who is good in swimming. Initially start by walking in the water. Only when you start loving the water is when you will start learning. Once you get over these hurdles, you can swim once or twice a week. I recommend either morning or night.”