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There are many ways to enjoy the water, but being able to swim efficiently, with strength and endurance, allows lap swimmers to rejuvenate the body while the mind rests.

“When you’re swimming it’s a meditation; it’s so quiet and it gives you time to think and not be bothered,” said Heidi Voss, swim teacher for both children and lifeguards at the YMCA.

Voss swims laps in the Y pool as part of her training routine for an August triathlon. She decided to enter her first triathlon due to her passion of both swimming and running. What also drives her is that she misses competing now that she’s out of high school. As a swimmer for RHS, she swam mostly sprints in freestyle and breaststroke. Now she’ll be swimming a quarter mile distance in open water, with a 5K run and a 13 mile bike ride.

Val Foley, a cycling and aerobics instructor at the Y, is also swimming laps to get ready for a triathlon.

“Swimming is so cooling and relaxing,” says Foley.

She swims after her exercise workouts in the wellness center, and finds that it “stretches out your muscles and gives you freedom of movement.”

Many of the lap swimmers that use the YMCA’s pool were on swim teams when they were younger. Some, like Ken Schuman, have also coached swimming. Ken swims laps at the Y almost daily, and feels very fortunate to have a facility like this in our area.

“I feel that I can get an over all good workout swimming laps, and it’s one way of using all your muscles without the strain.”

Ken’s wife Barb, who met him at a swim meet at a Milwaukee YMCA when they were in high school, also uses the pool for staying in shape.

“There are lots of lakes in our area. Swimming is a great way to exercise and not get too stressed. It’s very relaxing,” said swim teacher Emma Juon.

states Hannah Bowen and Tara Priebe, also swim instructors, think learning to swim well is important for the recreational sports that they enjoy. Tara goes boating, tubing and water skiing. Hannah has her own reason to enjoy swimming: she doesn’t like wearing shoes when she works out…”so I just love swimming!”

Marcia Obukowicz, a YMCA member who swims morning, noon and night at the Y pool, has loved the water since she was a child. “I was always under water as a kid”, she says. “When you’re suspended in the water all of your muscles are being used because there is resistance all around you.” She enjoys swimming laps at the Y, and says “When you’re in the water, you’re in the flow!”

The ability to swim with confidence and ease is part of why lap swimmers love the water. Both children and adults can learn to swim more efficiently and gracefully. The YMCA offers group swim lessons as well as private lessons for all ages and abilities. Call the YMCA today at 362-YMCA.

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swimmingfan wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:31 PM:

" Heidi Voss and Tara Priebe are such great swimmers. They can swim very well. They are such an inspiration to all swimmers all over the world. Thank you Heidi and Tara. "

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