By Nyasha Dube, Founder and coach of Alywin Swimming Academy, Alywin Khanye says swimming is more than just a recreational activity or competitive sport, but a life saving skill.
In an interview with Women’s Weekly Journal, Coach Khanye said he started the academy to impart survival skills to every individual or group across the country.
“I started training people how to swim because I have seen people losing their lives especially during rainy season,”
Coach Alywin Khanye, Alywin Swimming Academy
He added that he imparts life saving skills to people of all ages, the able bodied, persons with disabilities, among others.
Swimming, besides being a competitive sport, is also a healthy activity, a low impact workout which is good for the mind, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness.
It has also been proved to be a safer alternative of working out for people who are injured or pregnant women.
Swimming also lowers stress levels, depression and anxiety as it is a meditation sport, and can increase the flow of blood to the brain.
In this regard, Coach Khanye said introducing young children to swimming at a tender age is actually a good move.
“I also train kids as young as three years old and that is a good age for them to familiarize with water and learn safety skills,” he said.
Coach Khanye however said his academy is facing challenges such as lack of knowledge by communities, lack of adequate training facilities and lack of sponsorship.
“Most community members, active or inactive, lack enough knowledge on why swimming is important. They see it as a sport for the elite. However, I’m happy to be getting full support from women. The are coming in numbers and most of them volunteer to join adult training programs,” he said.
Learning how to swim has a lot of advantages which include personal safety, safety of others, improving health, reducing pain, enjoyment, increasing knowledge, among others.