Swimming my Way to Mental Health and Well-Being
Sharing my Discovery
Recently, I had the privilege to share the story of how my Water & Well-Being Retreat idea came to be with a group of fellow entrepreneurs. I was grateful to share about my eye-opening journey of discovering something that had been right in front of my face. Enjoy the video below or read the story underneath.
The Backstory
My first job at age 16 was teaching swimming lessons, which was an easy choice since I had been a year-round competitive swimmer since I was 8 years old. I ended up enjoying teaching swim lessons and have continued to do it since then. After swimming in college and entering the working world, no matter what I was doing for my day job, I often taught swimming lessons or coached swim teams on the side.
Over the years, my favorite clients to teach have become adult beginner swimmers. Not only has felt worthwhile to teach people a survival skill, but it is also amazing to witness them discover the joy of swimming on their own for the first time. I’m consistently inspired by their bravery to learn something new as an adult. And yet, I have always looked at swimming as a physical skill to teach. Until last summer.
The Back-Backstory
See, a few years ago, I shifted careers from nonprofit management to beginning my own business called Sarah King Creates. Through this business, I guide those who serve others in remembering and nurturing their own well-being and mental health. The main way I’ve been teaching this is through creativity as a Healing Arts Practictioner and speaker.
Last Summer
Last summer, while in need of ways to fund my business, I once again picked up a couple of new adult beginner swim clients. Yet this time, I began to listen more closely.
After encouraging one client to relax his core in order to float more easily, he said to me, “Sarah, I don’t know if I’ve relaxed my core in 20 years.” About five lessons later, I got to witness this very serious man PLAY in the waves for the first time ever!
I started to see what had been in front of my face for decades. In addition to being a survival skill with numerous physical benefits, swimming is also an incredible tool for mental health and well-being. It dawned on me that I have benefitted immensely from the comfort that the water can give.
Water as a Comfort
I remembered that when I was 27, in the immediate aftermath of my family member taking his own life, the ocean held me and my tears. Day after day in the weeks right after, I found myself floating and crying into the water, releasing my pain into the waves. The lifeguards must have wondered what in the world was up with this lady.
I realized that being in or near water has been a space for comfort, clarity, and a healing balm for every major event, change, and loss in my life.
“The ocean held me and my tears. ”
The Problem & My Passion
Yet, I recognize that there are so many people who are missing out on this incredible tool and resource. The American Red Cross reports that 44% of Americans said they would fail a basic swim test. And these rates are even higher within historically excluded communities.
As a Speaker, Healing Arts Practitioner, former collegiate swimmer, and 23-year swim instructor, I am passionate about guiding adults to access the physical and mental health benefits found in swimming. By transforming something that used to be a stress-inducing activity into a tool for stress relief, adult beginner swimmers can experience new levels of freedom and well-being.
“transforming something that used to be a stress-inducing activity into a tool for stress relief”
My Invitation
So after realizing how this all aligns, I am thrilled to share that the inaugural Water & Well-Being Adult Beginner Swim retreat is next month, May 26-29th. This is an all-inclusive retreat experience here in South Florida that will include lodging, meals, swimming instruction and mindset guidance on dry land through breathwork, meditation, and slow forms of yoga to help combat anxiety, relax, and ease the path for learning a new skill.
This retreat is designed to be a small group with limited spots for high-quality personal instruction. If you would like to participate, click here to learn more and secure your spot!
Should you already know how to swim, I am also accepting sponsors who make a splash and reduce barriers for others to experience this gift. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please email Sarah at sarah@sarahkingcreates.com.