How to Do Back Float: Miracle Swimming 

i remember the first time i realized I could float on my back. I was 47 years old and it was magical. I took many swim lessons but I never learned to really swim but after watching this, I might try again (now age 56).

I am 32 years old and as far as I can remember, I had a fear of water because I almost drowned as a child. So I made a promise to myself that I would learn to swim this year. Just yesterday I floated for the first time, and then eventually swam from point A to point B. it is all about being comfortable. You are a great instructor. A little confidence goes a LONG and I am determined to get better!

how patient u r !!! that's appreciated . I wish my instructor has that patience

Melon Dash is one of the real heroes for folks who are afraid to swim. I've watched her in action and I've seen the results. Kudos Melon Dash!

this is absolutely the best thing to show someone who doesn't know how to swim..these simlified baby-steps are the building blocks to both practice and also to understand how things work..thank you very much, hope to see more in the future.

Thanks for this - very encouraging! I'm struggling with breathing, floating, basically everything. Just started a beginners class and am glad for this video. I need all the encouragement I can get!

This is wonderful. Everything is going at such a slow, easy pace. I kinda have some of these basics down but I still have some trouble being fully relaxed in the water, as well as knowing how to float without having the wall nearby like a subconscious lifesaver. My learning to swim would skyrocket if there was a class like yours in my town!

Thank you so much for sharing this. Way better than the back glide to back float that the 19 year old instructor is trying with us. I tense up when I try to float ON the water. Can't wait until next lesson to try this method!

I only started swimming like 3 weeks ago and I could do it by myself and it could swing 👌🏻😎

I learned how to float a couple weeks ago, It felt amazzzzzzing!... Was able to do it in about mins, I am able to put both hands behind my head as I do it all kinder stuff... It's all about relaxing, not going crazy when you feel water in your ear (This is was my main issue) AND keeping as much air in your lungs as possible to start... Not as afraid of the deep anymore as a result, just have to learn how to thread water and not use too much energy.... I can stay in the deep for about mins now.. Before soon as my feel not touching, I started to freak out and down I go in seconds. I learned it on the beach, and when I tried it in the pool, was okay but sunk faster (something else I learned), your body stays afloat better in ocean water.

I have used this method of teaching the back float for over 50 years. When I learned it, I knew it was a game changer, especially little ones who want to put their feet on the wall and push off which causes you to go under. This method also automatically teaches people how to stand back up by allowing your feet to touch. Love it!

Great coach with lots of love and patience

I just learned how to float on my back in my swimming class today!!!

Best instructor ever👍🏼😍

cant wait join your class in jan and finally conquer my fear.

I'm learn to swim through youtube video and your video was soo helpful! Thanx!

I enjoy watching your lessons, great job. I am a new to swimming lesson too, I watched a love of swimming lessons on youtube. Thanks for sharing

I'm 17 and I've had a fear of swimming and deep water for a few years, I'm slowly trying and learn to float and swim, I'll be watching this video a fair few times and remember the tips for the next time I go to my nearest swimming centre, wish there was a miracle swimming centre here in the UK if so I'd love to know where! I'm very keen to get over this fear and learn to swim.... I will one day, that is the dream

Learnt to back float with the help of this video...Thank You

I enjoy how you guys actually take your time in learning this and move very slowly when doing so. My instructions usually have my swim class do this out in the middle of the pool for some odd reason with very little support. Almost like a trial by fire type deal or something. We’re in this awkward custom made pool where it’s impossible to really hug the side of the pool due to poor designing, so we don’t really have much of a choice! They never truly showed us how to properly stand up out of this position either, so I wind up drinking water and falling almost every time I try it! Good thing I practice the recovery move on my own time. That’s really my biggest obstacle on that matter.

I have a lot of respect for you with all your patience.

such a beautiful video!

This is seriously the best video I’ve seen ever !

Very nice tutorial on back floating.....

I m from singapore since frim march 2018 i m watching your beginners swimming video at 59 i learn swimmi.ng its almost 3 months i follow your steps of doing and bring these video clips to the swimming pool. I always tell my fellow beginners i watched melon dash swimming videos and very swimming tips help me a lot .what tracy says i m floating and i also tell i m floating oh!!! thank God i m floating... thank u so much coach beautifully taught ..simple instructions ..we can understand .thank u so much God bless u

I am just learning how to float on my back!

This is a great video

This is very relaxing to watch! I think I need a nap

This is great. I am going to teach my wife this way.

Wish me luck, I am finally trying to learn to swim. Thanks Melon for this video.

I love the patient the trainer has

I cannot swim and have a pool at home. My husband and kids love swimming and my eight year old is always telling me, "Mommy I will teach you to swim". She is so sweet

This worked for me!! Thank you :)

This video is very good and informative.

Hi Melon, impressed while watching your video. I'm doing my adult beginner's learning. completed 5-6 classes. now, I'm learning backstroke. watching your video gives lot of hope and confidence. my problem is how to gently recover back when doing backstroke. need your advice please.

I had been struggling with back floating and obviously swimming. Then I watched this video and it proved to be a game changer for me. I am indebted. I believe you must post similar coaching videos on freestyle swimming too, especially breathing while swimming free style. Keep good work up!

My favorite part was when the lady was "floating" and she didn't even realize it! That was so cool. I wish that I was able to join your class...it is sooo helpful. But, God Bless you for sharing your skills with us. It's good to know that we can naturally FLOAT even we are not in the "salty" DEAD SEA! LOL

Am in Netherlands 28yrs ,tomorrow am beginning my first swimming lesson ,but am a kind of person who panic when water touches my face even under the shower,this was nice 👍🏻

You are an awesome instructor! I wish you were with me when I was on my family vacation.... was in the water for two days and still can't swim. It's kinda hard to relax when the water is near you nostrils...lol. I guess practice makes perfect.

Thank you so much !!!

I will try..

Swimming is so fun when you know how to.

THANKS ALOT

I wish all trainers were like u. Good job madam 👍👍👍👍

How do you get back to standing position

I think it’s fun too lol so relaxing

Is there a vid on back float recovery?

Great Instructor , Patient Knowlegeable Tenacious .Wish all Instructors were like Her.

That was really cool 🤚

What is the most effortless way to recover from back float I wonder? I try to push water back with my hands while pressing down but it doesn't always work, particularly if your legs are way up over the water.

I need this class

It is very useful and easy explanation

When I’m floating on my back I’m super relaxed and I just feel on top of the world it’s the best feeling ever I can even float in a tub, lol

What do you ware? Wetsuits?

Love this!

Wonderful

Nothing is missing from your tutorials...those people that checked "thumbs down" are TROLLING to get negative responses. They are HATERS...TROLLS!

I am trying to follow instructions mentioned in the vdo

Dear Melon, I wish I could join your class, I am in India and i failed miserably in the swimming class that I took last summer. since then i used a kick board to help me feel safe. only last week did i realised that the water holds me up and I got comfortable gliding away from the edge of the pool. However I am scared of the deep end of the pool and when i watch your videos I really want to enrol in your classes. You are so right that being comfortable in the water is so important before learning strokes.

Thanks for this video i was trying back floating but i always drawned . I was very sad weather i will learn it or not But after watching this video just in 2 days i learnt back float . So thank you

Thnks a lot u help me s lot ..

can you put the whole thing including floatation and backswimming

I have a question if anyone can answer when you float on your back obviously you need air in your lungs to keep you afloat from what I heard the lady say, so can we breathe normally or do we have to I inhale deep breaths and exhale all of it out then do it again ??

Thanks a ton, i have learn back float from this vedio 😘😘😘. Could you please upload the vedio on treading in deep water as i am unable to do so

wish someone would do this in England

I always get water in my nose while dismounting from the back float. I know why. It's because I panic for some reason. Please help me

I wish I could take this class 🤗

I wish you were my swimming instructor 😔

What should we learn first back floating or front floating

What are te vest they are wearing

Ya I’m not thinking either of problems and such

I love it’s

I totally wish that I could receive this type of training.. Not available in my town. Most teachers force you to do this on your own without anyone supporting you. They feel that you should not have a "crutch so get out and do it!!!!,😡

Waowew I love your technique and trick 😍Please share some more techniques for beginners. I have aquaphobia but I wanna learn slowly but it instructor tells me everything in hurry and want me to jump in 7 feet of water. Right now I am just comfortable in 4 feet of water but having some breathing issues...

I just want to say a big thank you for this video and ask some questions -- from an instructor perspective. I actually intentionally no longer teach adult lessons (my current pool doesn't offer many to begin with) because I don't have adult-appropriate vocabulary (some of the kid stuff just ends up patronizing) or the understanding of the physics and biology to be able to teach effective lessons. While practice obviously makes perfect, making mistakes around four year olds is always easier for me than around other adults/adults who are older than me. So hearing the way you've described thing and how you walk through the skill here, as well as seeing how you physically supported people (vs. having to support the whole body, which becomes uncomfortable for everyone real quick lol) was very informative for me. I do have some qs about the back float with the feet down -- it sounded like this is the end goal for the feet, not a starting point. Is that correct? If so, why is that the end goal vs. feet higher? (As I'd assume if someone will kick for forward propulsion while on their back.) I can gather the difference in floating position is based on body type or natural balance point/center of gravity, but I can't figure out any of the relevant details to tell if this is/isn't the most appropriate position. I don't know if y'all are able to answer that to a stranger on youtube or if that's giving too much info, but I know understanding it would help me as an instructor. (I actually ended up here because, though I only teach kids, I have an 8yo boy who just keeps struggling to float on his back, even though multiple instructors have tried all of what we've got.) Thank you all for the informative video and channel, and for doing what you do! Being able to swim is so, so important (as I'm sure you know), and there is a dreadful lack of programs for adult beginners, with even fewer that are actually useful and not just "well this is how we teach seven year olds so it probably works the same."

My family is taking a swimming lesson ( beginner) and the back float is included in the program. May I know the importance of back float?

Good

Great drill, what's the next step ,do i kick to being my legs ups?

Nice

I always try to swim and float but it is so hard

As of today there are 287 "thumbs up" reviews and 26 "thumbs down." I can understand thumbs up, but why would someone say thumbs down? What is missing from this video?

I can float in the water but both of my feet tend to go down which makes me paddling my legs to keep them afloat. What can I do to keep them afloat without paddling or fluttering? Please advise.

I'm in NYC and trying to learn how to swim after 50+ years. Are you by any chance have classes in NYC?

I just started adult swimming lessons and we tried the back float. I couldn't for the life of me. I was made to believe my whole body -legs included had to float. I wish I could join your class. Where are you located ?

Hi, I am enjoying your video..The problem i have is I am able to float well at the beach on my back for a longer period than in the Pool..what can i do more to stay longer in the pool..Thanks Frank from Ghana.

good

I am so scared of water and I just am not able to overcome that. I would really appreciate a kind advice on this.

hi... any classes available in minnesota..

My 8 year old son has been taking lessons since he was 5. He is in prívate lessons now and does ok when he is in Water where his feet can touch the bottom and he can float on his own in the shallow end. But it seems he is developing a fear of deeper water. For instance he will Jump off the diving board at the deep end and swim to the side by him self as long as there is a "noodle" tied around his waist. Take the noodle off and he wants assistance. What do you think can be done to wean him off the noodle at the deep end?

Can this technique be used with a young child? I have just watched my 5 year old grandson at his fourth swimming lesson. He is confident on his back with a noodle float and generally so in the water. However the teacher then gave the children one of those slim rectangular floats to hold with two hands on their chest - a much less stable arrangement to my mind. He was waiting for his turn to be set off and had a go himself - he very quickly rotated on to his front and despite still holding the float was in some difficulty. This went unnoticed by the teacher in the water and no lifeguard was in sight - thankfully, he twisted round and kicked for the side about 2 metres away and got to the side - he could barely touch the floor of the pool. He had a similar experience later in the lesson, but the teacher was nearby and helped. It is inherently dangerous exercise I think and it has knocked his confidence. We live in Shropshire and have noted that teachers using this technique do not live near us - please could you advise me if one does start to work locally. Is there any written material that might help me use the technique with my grandson if you think it is appropriate for children. I think the video is fairly self explanatory though.Thank you.

hi teacher, i m an aquaphobic since childhood but want to learn swimming. now i m 35 having a back problem and an enlarged nasal bone which constricts a clear and easy breathing. it is possible that i can learn to swim and save myself incase of any untoward incident or natural calamity? i m thinking of getting myself enrolled in a swimming class. what should be my plan of action and what things should i keep in mind? your help will be appreciated.

Hi, i'm trying to teach my friends how to float on their back. their upper body is floating fine, but their legs sink and they want their legs to float too. any suggestions? thanks in advance!

If i could come to a miracle swimming centre, How long could it take me to master the comfort in water and enjoy swimming not just strokes in water

Watch you tube videos attentively, that is sufficient to learn swim and float.Everything is available in you tube videos.

Hello Melon this is a very helpful video, i can float on my stomach, but when i try to float on my stomach my legs start to sink. It would be great if you can suggest me anything. Thank you.

I'm starting lessons tomorrow, and I have an extreme fear of letting go when it comes to floating on my back. I have no problem with floating and stroking on my stomach, but my back terrifies me. Any suggestions for relaxing and letting go?

Well for me it's a different case. Today I realised that I can sink while trying to float on my back😂😂

what kind of swim top are you wearing? thnx...

That indian guy :D

I learnt in 20 minutes 😎😎