The Villages - June 2021 - 19

" When we're in the water, I like to
lighten things up, " he said. " I start out with
a set of rules, " Number one, don't say you
can't
do something.
Number two, I want
you to have a good time. I tell students, 'If
you drive me to drink, it's Johnnie Walker Black.
Remember that.' "
With beaches and swimming pools aplenty, how
does a Florida resident maintain a fear of water?
Sheppard says it often stems from childhood or a
near-drowning experience.
" Maybe a parent threw them in the water, like a
lot of parents did when attempting to teach kids to
swim, " he said. " And that might work sometimes,
but when it doesn't, it's very destructive and
counterproductive. My job then is to get them over
the fear. "
Armed with years of experience and a passion for
helping people achieve their goals, Sheppard is the
right guy for the job.
" I started in college - back in the late '60s, "
he said. " I got a swim instructorship and did some
teaching, but after getting into my professional
career, that went by the wayside. "
Around 2010, Sheppard got back to teaching at
a swimming pool in Alexandria, Virginia.
" I taught children and adults but decided that the
adults were much more challenging because they'd
had years of bad experiences - bad habits and fears
to overcome. I began concentrating on adults then. "
In 2016, Sheppard moved to The Villages and
promptly inquired about teaching. There was no
swimming program at the time, so he started one
and currently teaches twice per week. Keeping
classes small, with just six students at a time, allows
for more personal attention and interaction with
swimmers.
" It's a building process - it's mechanics but also
getting comfortable and relaxed in the water, " he
said. " Some students have a death grip on my arms
- they're stiff as a board. But I talk them through
it and most people relax. When I pull my hands out
and hold them up, their eyes bulge when they realize
they're floating. "
Each session consists of six classes, and some
students are quick learners while others repeat the
classes for continuity.
Don Sheppard,
Enrichment Academy
swimming instructor
MAGAZINE
19

The Villages - June 2021

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The Villages - June 2021 - Cover1
The Villages - June 2021 - Contents
The Villages - June 2021 - 1
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