Well for me it used to be literally, but now it is the learning I am doing about the new job and continuing to push myself and learn new things.
So this weekend it has been back to the lockdown days and 9 hours on Zoom.... but what a revelation it has been.
As always with courses it is not necessarily the content, although good, it is talking to and listening to the other participants that is often enlightening and sometimes inspirational.
Saturday I decided to set up the office in the caravan to have some quiet, well it eventually turned into a sauna but the course and the participants made up for it.
I was doing the Advanced Aquaphobia coaching course and listening to the other candidates, their stories, how they had got into it and why there were doing it was humbling. I will not go into detail about individuals but suffice to say one had been in the forces in Iraq and another in the met police and both had life changing events lead them to swimming.
The course itself was fantastic and led by the brilliant Mike Burman who has set up and led on the Aquaphobia program a process where by we as coaches guide people through overcoming their fear of water enabling them to go on and enjoy aquatics.
The most shocking statistics were that 12.8 million can not swim in the UK and that 5.5 million will not have a bath or a shower due to a fear. Well the good news is this can be overcome with a little help and guidance. Secondly and thankfully this is changing it is bad experiences with school or childhood swimming that has led people to not swim, teaching in the right way is something I am passionate about.
On Sunday after a lovely open water swim I joined the IOS CPD on teaching children with learning disabilities. Again a very interesting course that opened the eyes. It was the talking in breakout rooms, gleaning ideas and how to differentiate engage and progress all swimmers that will be invaluable. It is also surprising
who has a learning difficulty and the key is not letting it hinder:
This is where the 1 - 1 nature of my classes will provide invaluable, I can tailor the sessions exactly as required for the individual.
I have also joined the STA this week and will be following their learn to swim program, this will enable me to offer for a nominal fee the official certificates and badges to all of my clients.
Just to end a hectic weekend tonight I have my lifeguarding exam ensuring that I remain fully qualified.
Much more in the pipeline - exciting times ahead......
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