Testimonies

from Mediterra Swim Students around the World

Swim Camp

I don’t think I thanked you properly for the mentoring you gave me in Kaş. I think your ability to break things down and explain drills in a relaxed, fun and easy to understand way is a real gift! It no doubt made a huge difference in how I absorbed the info and applied it. The fellow Swedish swimmers made the week all the more fun too! That training week will be a highlight I will remember for a long time! No longer do I feel anxious about training and attempting longer open water swims – I look forward to them!!

Dave B - Australia

Smooth Strokes Blog

You have been a tremendous help to me with your answers to my questions and also the wisdom in your blogs. Most of all I think you have helped me realize to take pleasure in simple accomplishments and the goal of trying to swim just a little better than the last time I was in the pool.

Sherry J - United States

Learning To Swim

Just letting you know that I didn’t back out at the last minute [of my challenge swim] and didn’t founder along the way. I am very happy to have completed the 1100yd swim on my 74th birthday. Thanks for cheering me on. That made all the difference … along with several months of patient coaching.

Pat - United States

Online Coaching

The greatest thing I have received from the relationship so far was the physical experience of mindful swimming. Terry talks about it, I read about it in your blog… With your encouragement, I did it, I felt it, and it opened my mind. I hope this learning will stay with me forever.

Isaac O - Mexico

Blog and Dojo Podcasts

I’ve always enjoyed Coah Mat’s blogs, but now that I have access to the podcasts it puts me in the perfect mindset on my drive to the pool. Funny how sometimes one particular word can cause the thought to stick mid way through my practice. Great work Mat.

Jamie - Canada

Swim Camp

Amazing camp [in Dominican Republic]- thank you for all you did to make it a tremendous learning experience and so much fun. Loved every minute!

Rebecca - United States

Podcasts in the Dojo

Finally last weekend i managed to download all your podcasts. Today, in the morning I listened to the very first. After work on the way home I listened to it again and again. At home now, I listened to the 2nd and the 3rd…
 
While listening to your 1st podcast I could not help saying “thank God my shoulder had been injured” as otherwise I would most probably not be listening to you [because that was the reason I sought you out]. And that feeling continued as I continued listening to the others. If I was a believer I would think God was sending me all these blog essays (and now podcasts) to help me out of struggling with particular problems at those particular times your essays arrived.
Unal - Turkey

Workshop

I appreciate the saying, “make a promise, keep the promise.” And you did (like not so many people) since you promised ‘a method’ to progress and you delivered.

Massimo - Italy

Live and Online Training

I look forward to seeing you for more practice sessions in the coming months! Thank you for all the great resources in the Dojo too. This really has been some of the best money I’ve spent in years, I’m really enjoying this.

Liz - United States

Swim Camp

Just a quick not to say thank you very much for a great week. It was the right balance of training v swimming for me, as needed a rest too. Your passion for swimming and TI is commendable and I found your instruction excellent, getting ‘the catch’ was a major breakthrough for me amongst lots of other small pointers.

Gavin M - United Kingdom

Private Lessons

I got to steal away to the pool yesterday by myself and swam laps just trying to hit different focal points. Caught myself catching up to and passing the people in the lanes around me. New experience for sure. Before I knew it 45 minutes had passed, I’d lost count of my laps and I could have kept going but the pool was going to close. Six lessons [with you] and I feel like a different person in the pool. Who knew? I catch myself wishing I was swimming at random times throughout the day and week. *grin*

Tara O - United States

Private Lessons

This was a fantastic experience! Thank you so much for your through approach to teaching swimming, going at my pace and positive encouragement. Your dedication and understanding made a big difference in my ability to trust you and the process. I look forward to future success in the pool and hope to take classes from you in the future.

Jennifer - United States

Video Analysis Service

Thank you so much for the analysis! I am extremely impressed with the depth, details, picture demonstrations, and the recommendations.

Jamal - Azerbaijan

Coach Mentoring

Mostly though, I am grateful to you for letting me observe you teach. Your years of mindful swimming and deep thinking and refining TI principals come through in a uniquely artful and spiritual way the times I’ve shadowed you. It’s deeply comforting to know you know how to make this way of swimming accessible by virtue of all the effort you put into your swimming and the way you live your life. I feel like ‘m learning how to be present to what the situation calls for at every given moment. You are a great role model.

Jill - United States

Private Lessons

Thanks Mat, the notes and the workout suggestions are very helpful. I really appreciate the thoroughness and the effort that you put into these post-lesson notes [on the Dojo].
Andrew - Florida USA

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

​At the early age of 62, I purchased the TI DVD set and learned to swim free-style. After swimming for a couple of years in Oaxaca, Mexico, where TI coaches are not available, I felt the need to seek help.​

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

​As time went by, I began to enjoy swimming but I was not satisfied with my swimming efficiency. I knew I was slow, and I also knew that I could do better. I could sometimes hit a reasonable [stroke count], but it was associated with a lot of effort, and could not be sustained for more than 25 meters. ​

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​TI is not the only source for swimming education, and I utilized several. TI stood out in the way it broke down the instruction to small manageable bites.​

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

​I found Coach Mat through his blog, and being an ex-engineer, I was attracted to his engineering-like approach to swimming.
We had several interesting discussions on the mechanics of the sport.​

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

​Understanding the mechanics, I could be more intelligent in modifying and improving my technique. I gradually improved my SPL and under coach Mat’s guidance found the EASE in each improvement.​

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

​I swim faster and with more ease, driven by Coach Mat and TI’s priorities on balance and streamlining.​

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

​Coach Mat has an excellent ability to describe a motion or a d​rill in exact detail. When I have a good mental picture of the expectation, I find it much easier to learn the skill. Even if at times the learning does not happen immediately, patient persistence brought that “Aha” moment, as the skill clicked into place. With time, even the more philosophical approach of mindful swimming becomes understandable. The improved technique, the emphasis on ease, and increased mindfulness will improve your swimming, and much more importantly your enjoyment.

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

​I was working for about three years before I met Coach Mat [asking] for help.​

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

The traditional teaching process was the obstacle. It gave me no joy, no results. It taught me how to struggle. ​

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​Swimming without struggling. Swimming for pleasure and joy.​

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

​Competence. He is very calm and shows great passion for his work.​

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

Every improvement I’ve ever experienced is due to Coach Mat and TI (and myself, of course, because you must be ready to learn). Particularly now I know how calmness and serenity help you learn better and so swim better. That’s why I now focus myself in releasing the resistance in my whole body before swimming. And it is so good to combine swimming with yoga, pilates, tai chi, meditation.​

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

A lot! Honestly, at the beginning I couldn’t even imagine it! And even if I swim for myself and for joy (never been a racer), I’m so happy when people tell me how good at swimming I am! One day I surprisingly found myself telling “You’ve learned how to swim, so you will learn how to live”. Because life is about learning. Wonderful learning.​

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

Swimming helps you get fit and keep fit. But the secret is that you develop joy in swimming and you will bring that in your day-to-day life. Joy brings clarity and you will feel better and better. When your mind is clear you feel peaceful and decisions are easier to make. My body changed a lot since TI because before I was simply moving my body in the water while now when I swim  it’s like to perform gym in the water. That’s a very big difference.
 
You are so lucky to have Coach Mat in Oregon! We want him back to Europe!

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

I purchased the TI training videos online, worked with them on my own for about two months, and then I felt the need for more personal help to better understand the TI principles and to practice them in a more systematic way. The progress went incomparably faster after I got into Mat’s online training program.

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

Thinking backwards, I now realize that there were much larger obstacles at that time than I could understand. At that point I thought that I was too slow as a swimmer and spent too much energy producing too little results (propulsion and speed). I now realize that I was struggling with huge balance and stability issues that I could not see until the TI made it very clear to me.

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

Two things made it very attractive to me: The TI’s philosophy to be very economical about spending energy, and yet producing very powerful movement in the water. It was important to me as I started swimming when I was 45 and I was not getting much stronger physically at that age, but still wanted to make swimming faster and more enjoyable. The second thing – TI opened a door for me to swim in open water. No other approach in swimming in the past ever gave me the confidence and endurance to do that.

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

Mat absolutely loves what he does. I am a business coach in my professional life, and I see a lot of things in common in our approaches with Mat, each of us in our own areas of expertise. Mat gets excited to see the success of his students, I saw it in his eyes as he gives feedback and inspires people, and this is extremely important in the learning process. There was an episode in the open sea when we swam as a group and hit a point where waves and current got stronger than anything I had before. At that point Mat turned to our group and took a few moments to say things that gave people the confidence that they can make that swim a safe and enjoyable experience. That was an extremely important moment of that day.

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

I greatly improved my body position in water, which gave me much better balance, and as the result – much easier swimming. Another pleasing improvement is the confidence and ability to swim in open water – something I dreamed about before.

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

In addition to what I mentioned earlier, I decreased the number of strokes I take in 25 meter pool by 4 strokes in a few months, bringing it into my “Green Zone” stroke count.

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

TI changes the entire perspective of how the forward movement in water is generated – it is not about pushing water back, but it is about piercing the water and propelling the body forward. This will be a wonderful discovery for everyone who will practice TI. In addition to swimming techniques that are thoroughly introduced in Mat’s [Master Class 1K] course, participants will be able to develop the ability to concentrate and hold the attention on body position in water for longer time. My ability to concentrate and pay attention increased dramatically during the practice using the TI method, and the technique has improved because of that.

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

Five years.

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

The obstacle I faced was as philosophic as it was physical. Other swim coaches taught that swimming involves great amounts of physical effort to the point of exhaustion and pain. I could never accept this dreary version of swimming.​

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​It’s not so much Total Immersion that I’m attracted to. It’s the particular coach who can translate the body knowledge in a way that resonates with me.

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

When he demonstrated something on dry land I could see he could swim in a way I wanted to swim:with fluidity, and it seemed, joy.

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

Within the first ten minutes of the first workshop I took from him, I learned the two beat kick. This improved my balance and also gave me awareness of my entire body while swimming. Prior to that, I felt disassociated from my legs.

Once I dis-habituated  myself from the four beat and six beat kick, which felt like chaotic flailing, I experienced the stretch from my fingertips, down though my arm, my spine, my leg and into my toes. Calmness ensued. And grace. Then, I could attend to other aspects of my stroke.

And so I learned at the first workshop with Mat how to learn. I asked him,  How do I ignore all the other stuff I want to work on? And he said to put those very pressing things on the back burner. Know they are there. But focus on one thing. 

And who doesn’t want to come off as graceful? Strangers have come up to say my swimming is beautiful. That’s cool, but what’s even better is to have an outlet for the learning of an activity that is fun and feels good.

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

Mat taught me how to teach myself. An essential feature of TI is learning how to focus the attention. A teacher gives you a focal point and after that it’s up to you to feel what you are doing, assess, correct, try again with the feedback your body gives you and move on to the next focal point. I am becoming the swimmer I want to be, focal point by focal point.

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

My mind is connected to my body and my body is connected to the water. This means everything to me. Before learning from Mat, I did not feel connected to certain parts of my body, nor did I feel supported my the water. Every time I get in the water I learn something new, about me and the water. Before I met Mat, I was repeating the same old patterns of movement and thought for years.

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

About 5 years. During that time I was trying to learn by myself. If I have to summarize those years of swimming with a one word I would say ‘struggle’. I had to rest for every 50 meters.

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

I was becoming breathless and tired. No matter how I try to ‘imitate’ the elite swimmers in videos I was unsuccessful at the pool. My stroke count did not change no matter how much efforts I put in.​

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​At that time there was ‘sweet spot’ drill. I was able to do that drill without any coach assistance just by watching videos. That gave me confidence. I thought that I could do it. Then I learned about ‘patient arm’ and as soon as I apply it my stroke count reduced. Then I decided to find a TI Coach in my country. For my luck (and for my other TI friends in Turkey) Coach Mat was close to us.

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

​At the workshops that I attended I had two roles as a student and as an assistant. As a student I enjoyed him explaining why’s of every drill. His way of teaching has a taste of self learning capability. His way of video analysis, explanations and suggestions encourages students for self learning and improving by themselves following the workshop. This is like rather than giving a fish teaching how to fish. As an assistant on the other hand I had a chance to observe his instant solutions to students experiencing varying difficulties. With my basic knowledge I was able to show and help students but as soon as the student faced different problem I was blocked and did not know what to say or do. But As soon as I turn back to Mat and ask about it he would create a solution right a way and propose student specific drill. I am amazed of his creativity and improvisations. He is inborn problem solver. Even when we have problems with our Tempo Trainer or underwater video camera he is ready to solve. May be because of his engineering background he is very comfortable at problem solving.

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

If we compare swimming with an iceberg I was able to discover the massive part hiding under the water with Mat. Even in casual conversations with one sentence or an example related to the current context, it enhanced my understanding. Besides swimming technique I was able to enlightened and started look differently to the water than what was before. If I have to give an example I can say that I recovered from my deep sea fear with his one sentence in his blog saying that “if there is fear then there is courage”. The day before my 7.2 kilometer Meis-Kaş swim we had a short swim session in the rough water and after his explanations now I enjoy rough water more than calm water. And his final sentence after the summer open water camp saying that “We showed you that the sea is not a dangerous environment for you”, now I look at the sea different than before. I am addicted to his blog writings.

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

Especially completing his Training Plan 5K program I am now able to swim much longer distances with much more ease. Just to give a fresh example. Last week I finished the 5K program. I decided to redo the same program see if there is an improvement. With my first tempo practice I have a note saying that I had a hard time finishing. The distances were 800 + 1,800 and I had to rest about a minute in between repeats. Yesterday I did the same practice with distance 1,280 + 2,880 meters with about 20 secs rest in between repeats. My comfortable tempo was 1.25. It is now 1.15.

After practicing with several of his ‘101 Focal Points’ [a resource in our online Dojo library] in my long distance swims I can recall focal points by observing my swimming and apply right at the moment. It is a kind of composing music. I am able to compose my swims. It is not just swimming any more more than swimming it is a kind of creative action.

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

Again with the Training Plan 5K program, in 15 weeks I gained 2 kg of muscle mass, and I don’t want to leave the pool after the practice. I don’t have any special talent, I am sitting at an office desk the whole day. So any body can first enjoy the water and swim longer distances without getting tired and as a byproduct get fit.

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

3 years.

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

Not knowing what I was doing wrong [in my own practice].

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​The effortlessness. It just makes sense all the way. I love the focal points and being immersed with what I am doing and learning and practicing.

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

Mat is very knowledgeable and has a very systematic approach to teach body proprioception so that you can be your own coach. He is good at working on and detecting faults, weak spots, and incorrect actions.

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

He helped me to realize that my left side is weaker and how I was doing things completely different than the more efficient right side. He helped me improve my incorrect breathing.

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

I am still working on my improvements!

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

It was after nearly a year of swimming (not continuous) and 62 years of living . Swimming was just a boring opportunity to do some urgent needed body-work. Most of the time I did breaststroke. I would do freestyle (if it may be called so) for not much more than 25 meters.

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

Obstacle was freestyle generally. I felt swimming was a necessary but boring activity. My goal was to achieve 30 Cooper points weekly… with some points coming from breaststroke swimming. ​

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​Some former students presented me tiny booklet “Pilloud: Erfolgreich Kraulschwimmen” One point hit me at once: They started first drills on the back(!?) From this point of view it’s sad that this is not taught any more. But in my youth I learned a little how to play chess from an impressive book from Tarrasch. The first one who started to teach playing chess with only three figures. This booklet seemed to be the Tarrasch of Freestyle Swimming. There in I found some links to TI and the real journey started. ​And working in freestyle swimming flashed from boring to highly interesting. TI Head Coach Terry’s book followed, and reading the TI Forum, trying to lead myself. And first improvements came fairly quickly.

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

​My wife and I were not sure, where to spend a late summer holiday week. I found a Mediterraswim.com link and Mat was free for this week and so kind from first email’s start.

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

That’s hard to say. My first lessons as student fell into the great felt time when I could go to aerobic freestyle swimming (longer terms than 6-10 minutes). Most impressive in our first lessons were the following things:

– Mat really, really is the kind guy I hoped after our emails.

– Mat had answers to all swimming questions I could even think about; or at least he had some overwhelming ideas how to work on and find the answers myself…

– Mat logged all failures or inabilities as ‘just data’ and [treated them as] welcomed feedback to guide my improvement. He guided me into the best mood before, while and after our lessons, whatever happened.

– Odd: My MOST pleasing moment ended in coughing at the pool’s edge. It came this year when Mat coached me in an online training course. I had to swim some laps with faster SR than I like (around 1.20 seconds). At one moment it hit me: My whole body felt gently wrapped in silk. GREAT!!! It has been so great that I forgot to breath, choked some liters and had to stop to cough. THIS made even more addicted to TI than I’ve been before. Tried to reach that state more often. Sometimes it happens in parts, seldom and too short around the whole body. But it’s so worthy that I’ll write down some of my experienced steps sometime in near future…

– My wife and I joined two different weeks in Turkey with open water camps. It was the first open water time for me. Impressive how Mat’s suggestions always fit my situation 100% and most times led to further discoveries. He always watched over our well being in unknown places.

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

Swimming never has been boring anymore. [Expanding] from 25 meters to some kilometers is a real change. I found a recovery stroke (in a ‘long’ swim I’m now able to change pace and, if necessary, I can slow down and go on without stops). With Mat’s help my technique improved well enough to have be accepted to and complete my TI Coach training successfully.

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

It turns out that swimming is a complicated, but highly interesting and good activity which will refresh your mind and body. Take any [swim achievement] goal and find the enjoyable path to go (or swim) toward it.

About how long were you working on your swimming skill before you approached Coach Mat for help?

More or less 3 years. Trying to learn TI-swimming from books and videos.

Before discovering TI, how would you describe the obstacle you personally faced in trying to learn to swim better?

Before TI Swimming I found swimming quite boring. I used to swim regularly for health reasons, but one hour of swimming felt very long. Mainly I swam breaststroke; one lap of 25 m freestyle already was very exhausting, I was just struggling. ​

What primary thing attracted you to the Total Immersion approach for your particular needs?

​The method. I immediately felt attracted by Terry Laughlin’s clear theory about swimming and the small, intelligent steps (drills) to bring it into practice.

What primary feature attracted you particularly to Mediterra and TI Coach Mat’s instruction? 

​He is a very kind person and works patiently with all students: experienced or beginners, young ones and old ones, male or female. I am a 63 year old woman with some physical problems, and it felt so good, that Mat took my problems as serious as the problems of the younger and much more athletic students. 

Under Coach Mat’s guidance, what was one of the most pleasing improvements you experienced?

After 2.5 years of practicing slow, exact movements, suddenly my swimming became quick. This really has not been my main purpose. Suddenly it happened. It really felt great. 

Or, asked in another way – how have your swimming capabilities changed since you have been guided by Coach Mat and TI?

Now I can swim freestyle in a very relaxed way. Even in open water – more than 1,5 km- and I am not disturbed by changing circumstances.

What pleasing changes (in body, mind, skill, etc) would you encourage another adult like you to expect from training with Coach Mat and TI for a season of time?

When I started with Coach Mat, I was more or less like a turtle. Now I am used to a long and slim bodyline. The mental aspect of keeping a focal point during practice attracted me from the beginning and this makes, that I never felt board during my swimming since then. I enjoy, that I clearly know, with which part of the stroke I am dealing with, and that I have the calmness of mind, to clearly observe what I am doing. To me it feels like meditation in movement. Really cool!
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