If you’re a parent in Chicago wondering, “When is the right time to start baby swim lessons?” — the answer might surprise you: as early as 6 months old. At Chicago Blue Dolphins, we’ve seen firsthand how starting early not only builds water safety but also creates joyful, confident swimmers…
Drills aren’t just for kids. In fact, adults often see the biggest breakthroughs when complex strokes are broken down into smaller pieces — balance, breathing, recovery — and then rebuilt into smooth, confident swimming. Why Drills Matter Swimming has too many moving parts to fix all at once. Trying to…
For many families, swimming is thought of as a summer activity. But here’s the truth: the most progress happens when kids swim year-round. At Chicago Blue Dolphins, we see it every day—children who keep up with lessons all year long learn faster, retain skills better, and grow more confident than…
Every year, our adult learn to swim classes in Chicago help adults take their first confident strokes—some in their 20s, others in their 60s and beyond. Whether your goal is fitness, safety, or pure enjoyment, you can learn to swim at any age. Start With Comfort, Not Speed Before laps,…
Do you want your child to not only feel safe in the water, but also thrive as a confident swimmer?Swimming isn’t something kids master in a single lesson—it’s a journey. At Chicago Blue Dolphins, we guide that journey step by step, giving your child the skills, confidence, and love of…
We’ve been teaching adults how to swim from scratch for over 20 years, and the most common thing that we hear is that new swimmers are timid about going to the pool to practice. It makes a lot of sense. You are scared of the water, all of the skills…
As a swim coach it pains me to say: No triathlon was ever won in the swim leg. But a triathlon can be ruined by a bad swim. If you feel like your swim mechanics are a performance limiter, start working on your swimming mechanics now rather than in the spring. …
On Social Media last week, I opened up the floor to friends and followers to ask any swimming question. I did my best job to answer each one, but there were some answers that were beyond the scope of a comment. One friend posted the following question: When I swim,…
The Balance-Streamline-Propel (BSP) Pyramid is about as a close to a unifying icon that the Total Immersion school of swim coaching has in its repertoire. Terry Laughlin, the founder of Total Immersion Swimming, referred to the elements of the pyramid for over 30 years. When he created the icon several…
By Anna Petit-Bruner, Editor, Chicago Blog Dolphin It’s a cold December day in Chicago, but I’m sweating in the waiting room of Chicago Blue Dolphins. Why? Because I’m only minutes away from sitting down with a legend — nay an icon — a very pillar of the swimming world. I’m…
