What I want to highlight here is how much inner peace can be found starting with the pool. Swimming lays the groundwork for a happier life. Aside from the physical benefits of swimming, our whole body is supported by the embrace of the water.

“I feel most at home in the water. I disappear. That’s where I belong.” – Michael Phelps

Inner Peace in the Pool

The aerobic nature of swimming, like other forms of aerobic exercise, increases the endorphins and other chemicals in our brain that decreases stress and anxiety levels. However, it’s not just the physiological response in our brain that adds to our sense of inner peace in the pool.

Dr. Nichols talks about the viscosity, and pressure unique to our experience of the water, and our ability to experience the water in multiple dimensions. We enter the quiet space of the water relatively weightless and primed to let the outside world drop away. Then we swim, engaging in whole body exercise that works the large, smooth muscle groups in the body in an alternating, rhythmic pattern. When accompanied by the deep, rhythmic breathing required in a regular stroking mechanism, we are often able to swim in a semi-meditative state.

“Being on, in, around, or near water can calm our overactive minds while it imbues our senses. It does this by tapping into ancient neural maps and their associated neurochemical reactions. It can help us access the state not coincidentally called by another watery word, “flow,” allowing us to access the default network/daydreaming parts of our brains while restoring our ability to focus and perform cognitive and creative tasks with greater ease.” – Dr. Nichols

Inner peace is an elusive idea, difficult to define, and fluid from person to person. However, the evidence is clear that there is a path to such peace through the pool.

Molly Huggins

Molly is a member of our creative team, mom of four water-loving babies, and a fierce advocate for CPR training and really early swim instruction.

The post Find Inner Peace in the Pool appeared first on One with the Water.

A mother wrote me today that her child, “suffers from anxiety disorder and sometimes she doesn’t do too well on her own.” Her friend could not make it to the lesson, and thus neither did she. Over 60% of our clients can benefit from the knowledge shared by Dr. DaSilva.

What do you say to your child?

Introducing Dr. Gayani DaSilva

In my practice as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, the parents of my patients most often ask me, “What do I say to my child?”

These are well meaning parents who care deeply for their children, but find themselves at a loss for how to begin, maintain and resolve conversations with their children who struggle with illnesses like depression, ADHD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

When faced with the challenge of trying to connect with their children, parents are so focused on their child talking with them that they miss ways to make a meaningful connection that leads to increased understanding between the parents and the child. Using knowledge about neurodevelopment, psychological development, and psychiatric disorders, parents will learn how to use my ten tools of the trade to improve bonding, bolster their child’s self-esteem, and aid their child’s development.

A Psychiatrist’s Guide: Helping Parents Reach Their Depressed Tween will help parents learn to be cognizant of childhood developmental processes. By understanding the deeper needs of the child and the illness a parent can better support themselves in the process of raising their depressed or anxious tween.

The skills and tools presented in this book are applicable to parents of all children.

When you purchase the book at Smile.Amazon.com, Amazon will donate a small percentage to our non-profit.

Gayani is the author of the new book, A Psychiatrist’s Guide: Helping Parents Reach Their Depressed Tween. In bookstores Tuesday, June 13th, 2017.

Gayani dedicates her psychiatric practice to improving children’s health and wellness. Straight talk and practical expertise are her tools of the trade to address the mental health needs of children and their families. She wields not just her expert medical opinion; she advocates to achieve wellness for the entire family.

Dr. DeSilva obtained her medical training at Albany Medical College, internship at Brown University, and residency at Harvard University. She holds numerous awards and citations and currently is in private practice in Laguna Beach, CA.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Helping Parents Reach Their Depressed Tween appeared first on One with the Water.

This weekend I had the great pleasure of teaching an adult swimming lesson to a doctor with fear and anxiety of being in the water. This is by far my favorite type of client and lesson to teach, for several reasons. First, it’s a challenge that must be handled with loving care and I’m the perfect person for the job, and second, I know the end result is going to be miraculous!

We advertise on our adult lessons page that we can teach you how to swim in just under a handful of lessons by breaking it down to four aspects. The most important swimming skills are: Breathing, Balance, Kicking and Pulling.

For a person with a deathly fear of the water, the process of learning these skills is no different from any other person, and in fact, by teaching swimming in this manner, the path to success is shortened dramatically.

Adult Swimming Lessons – The Process

In this lesson, I spent the first 15 minutes teaching her how to blow bubbles with her nose, by humming her favorite song, breathing in through her mouth above water, and how to get into a meditative state by bobbing, which by slowing her heart-rate, decreases her anxiety. Sometimes, I have to use life-coaching techniques to help my clients to become present with me.

Anxiety Dissipated

Next, I had her continue breathing in this pattern while holding onto the steps and starting to move her legs and feet, just to get a feel for what it’s like to be in motion in the water, with support. We work on technique and ankle flexibility later. To move her legs, she must be in a prone position. Now we’re getting to the balancing part, and by giving her something to think about, moving and breathing at the same time, she’s now slightly distracted that she’s doing something she’s afraid of – letting go and letting the water support her.

We take short breaks between activities as necessary. It is not a quick and easy process to face fears. Sometimes I start with floating without kicking, it just really depends on the spirit of the lesson.

While kicking and holding on to the steps, or wall, I can now have her quickly let go for a blink-of-an-eye moment and quickly return to holding on. “Wait! What! Oh, wow, did you feel that?!” “How did that feel?” A smile comes across her face. We repeat that with increasing the number of blinks per moment. She still has not gone completely under water. So I had her physically force herself to try to submerge. For this lady, her response was, “I can’t, it is impossible.” And that’s when I had her. The more force you exert on the water, the more force the water is going to exert on you. This pushes you up and keeps you afloat. Ideally, it raises your hips to the surface. This works best when your muscles are relaxed.

Having eliminated the fear and the reason for the fear, we started with kicking, balanced on the water while breathing through the nose. I hold her hands the entire time until she’s ready to let go.

In only 45 minutes she proceeded to doing a competitive swimming drill taught by my University of Texas swim camp and former Stanford women’s head coach, the late Coach Richard Quick. In just one lesson, she went from having intense fear of being in the water, to breathing, balancing, and kicking 25 yards across the pool, with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen.

We did that multiple times, and started practicing side-breathing.

During this process, I incorporated many positive life-coaching high-fives with “I did it!”s. It doesn’t just work for kids! You can read more about that in our blog on effective praise.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Adult Swimming Lessons appeared first on One with the Water.

Well friends, we’ve told you who we are. We’ve told you where the money goes. Let’s

Our Mission

Most people who want to swim hardly know where to start, and struggle with fear and anxiety in the water. Unfortunately, many of those most at risk of accidental drowning are often the same people who don’t have the resources needed to be safe and successful in the water. We believe everyone should be able to learn the life-saving skill of swimming, particularly the most vulnerable members of our community, and we know you do too. At One with the Water, our mission is to train all our swimmers to be confident, courageous, successful and safe.

We know life with special needs can be unpredictable, challenging, and isolating. That’s why, in addition to our regular infant, child, and adult swim lessons, we developed an Adaptive Athletes program to train athletes from elementary age, through high school and beyond. Our coaches are certified and equipped to manage ADD & ADHD, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum, Down and CHARGE syndrome, Sensory Integration Issues, auditory processing disorders, amputation, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, spinal cord injury, obesity, and more.

Adaptive Athletes Training

When our adaptive athletes begin training, expert coaches assess their unique needs and design a custom training plan to build their awareness and confidence in the water. They learn what success looks like, both in competition and in life.

In addition, swimming provides measurable health and therapeutic benefits for our special needs community in and out of the water. From better balance and gross motor skills, to improved speech and communication, our adaptive athletes are changing their lives by learning to swim. Their risk of accidental drowning plummets by 88%. Being a part of a team reduces isolation and creates positive peer relationships that carry over outside of the pool. They have the confidence to conquer their fears!   

Create Miracles

We know you want to be compassionate, involved members of your community. When you donate to One with the Water, you create real and lasting change in the lives of our adaptive athletes. They are confident, courageous, successful, and safe, thanks to you!

Remember, 

• $180 a month provides a child access to the life-changing swim team preparing them for high school and college!
• $275 a month teaches a special needs child the lifesaving skill of swimming.
• $5000 provides education and credentialing for our coaches.
• $10,000 provides six months of pool access.

And did you know tomorrow is #GivingTuesday? 

“#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season.

We’d love for you to celebrate your holidays this year by helping us create miracles in the lives of our adaptive athletes. DONATE TODAY and share this post with the hashtag #givingtuesday to be a part of this worldwide movement. Remember to tag us, too! 

Molly Huggins

Molly is a member of our creative team, mom of four water-loving babies, and a fierce advocate for CPR training and really early swim instruction.

The post One with the Water: Our Mission appeared first on One with the Water.

For me, fall is a season of rejoicing in the beauty around me, and a season of giving thanks. So today, we want to say “thank you” to you.

Thank you

To our friends, clients, and donors, we can’t thank you enough. When we started One with the Water from a dream, we knew we would be creating miracles in the lives of children and adults, but we didn’t anticipate how big and far it was going to go.

“One of the most important factors about the One with the Water swimming program is that we are creating long-lasting miracles in the lives of children and adults. For the children, we are teaching them to swim, and some go on to swim competitively. A whole new world opens up for them. We have several kids that started with us several years ago and have since qualified for their high school swim team! Overcoming challenges and fears through swimming has helped them to conquer the social challenges of their teenage years. And like the adults we teach, they too are learning to live a healthy lifestyle with a skill that they can use to better their mind, body, and spirit!”

~Coach Kenneth

It is a joy to partner with you all on this journey.

If some of you paused at the word donors, let me fill you right in! Did you know that One with the Water is a registered non-profit foundation?

The Foundation

At One with the Water, we don’t just offer swimming lessons. Our mission is to teach the life-skill of swimming to everyone, including children and adults with special needs as well as families with limited financial means, empowering them with confidence and accomplishment.

We are passionate about investing in local, regional and national partnerships. We work in close collaboration with community members, such as early childhood educators, teachers, and staff from other therapy organizations, to build strong, lasting relationships and increase the impact of our programs. 

As a non-profit, we accept grants and donations from community organizations, local businesses, and private donors. We offer need-based scholarships to persons with mental or physical challenges, including Service-Disabled Veterans, as well as to families struggling financially. We don’t close our doors to anyone who wants to learn to swim!

This month, we are highlighting the One with the Water Foundation and the cause we so strongly believe in. As a veteran, the wife of a veteran, and a fierce advocate for special needs children, this isn’t just words on a screen. They are the faces of the friends that I love. Complex, brilliant, courageous people with so much to offer the world. We want to save and enrich their lives through swimming, and we want you to help us. Stay tuned throughout November to learn more about our mission, our strategies, and our impact.

Contribute

But you don’t have to wait to make a difference! Partner with us today to teach economically disadvantaged children, special needs children, and Service-Disabled Veterans to become One with the Water. Be a hero and help us save the life of a child!

Molly Huggins

Molly is a member of our creative team, mom of four water-loving babies, and a fierce advocate for CPR training and really early swim instruction.

The post One with the Water: The Foundation appeared first on One with the Water.

One of the many life-improving reasons we teach swimming here at One with the Water is first to empower you, the client. Second, we want to build your confidence and awareness of the water.

A central part of our philosophy is providing an anxiety-free swimming environment. We want you to gain certainty and comfort in the water! One of our primary goals is to increase students’ safety and security level in the pool.

Sources of Anxiety

There are many valid reasons people are anxious and afraid of the water:

• First, some people have an instinctive fear of drowning.
• Some of it is learned from parents and loved ones who themselves are afraid of the water.
• Another source is from fear of the unknown when looking at deep, dark water.
• Some fears are present because of previous water-related trauma.
• And finally, some students come ingrained with improper methods of swim training.

When discussing anxiety and fear of the water, it’s important to remember that there are two types of anxiety. Cognitive anxiety describes the thought processes involved, such as worry and concern about drowning. Somatic anxiety is the body’s physical response. Examples include racing heart, upset stomach, and tight muscles.

Relieve Stress and Swim Freely

At One with the Water, we provide an anxiety-free swimming environment that helps relieve the body’s physical symptoms. As a result, when your body relaxes, it helps to reduce the cognitive fears that so many people bring to the pool.

• First, we make sure you have the proper equipment before and during your lesson.
• In addition, our supportive, highly trained professional coaches are trained and equipped to teach children & adults with ADD & ADHD, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum, Down and CHARGE syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Sensory Integration Issues, auditory processing disorders, amputation, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, spinal cord injury, obesity, and other disabilities.
• We select our pool locations for their spaciousness, amenities, and comfort. We provide plenty of room to teach our semi-private and one-on-one sessions. Also, we offer swimming instruction in the privacy of your home for infants, babies, older children, adults and special-needs clients. Finally, we tailor each lesson to meet the students’ specific needs.

Start today with life-saving swim instruction and feel your confidence bloom!

Have you already experienced what swimming can do? Partner with us today. Help teach economically disadvantaged children, special needs children, and Service-Disabled Veterans to become One with the Water! When you donate now, you can contribute to reducing the risk of drowning for children by up to 88%. In addition, your donations help us to provide essential therapeutic and emotional support for children and Veterans with disabilities. You can be a hero, and help us save the life of a child. Want more details? Visit our foundation page to see how you can be a hero and save lives.

Want more details? Visit our foundation page to be a hero!

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Anxiety-Free Swimming Lessons appeared first on One with the Water.

Although I initially dreamed of turning my engineering skills into those of a NASA astronaut, as fate would have it, I was destined to be in hospital facilities management. I gravitated toward the VA, perhaps following in my family’s footsteps, as my grandfather was the first Merchant Marine to receive a burial in his local Federal Cemetery, my uncle is buried in the Pu’owaina Crater “Punchbowl” in Honolulu, HI, and my father and youngest brother are Veterans.

My service to the United States was not in the form of military duty. This year would have been my 16th anniversary as an engineer for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In August 2011, I took a leap of faith to implement a change to become more involved in the lives of Veterans. I am truly honoured to have served Veterans at the VA but now I serve the Veterans in a different capacity – I help them to overcome their fears, anxiety, and PTSD, by coaching them in the pool. For some, that requires teaching them how to swim. For others, it’s giving them a template to live a healthy lifestyle. Our program works for all levels and abilities. Whether a swimmer has PTSD from being in the military or having had a traumatic childhood experience, we can help them to overcome those fears.

Today, we offer our gratitude to all Veterans and thank you for your service to this great country. I present to you the program below in hopes that you’ll find us when you are ready to take your leap of faith and make a splash!

Utilizing Swimming as a PTSD Therapy in Los Angeles

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event, and while it can affect any person, today most people experiencing PTSD are Veterans who have returned from active duty. Many Veterans have experienced or witnessed violent acts that can have a deep and lasting emotional impact which can evolve into PTSD. The events that cause PTSD don’t necessarily have to involve physical harm; instead, events can involve severe stress, fear or the threat of harm so significant that for years afterward, seemingly unrelated events can trigger an extreme stress response that can be so devastating, it can interfere with the activities of daily living. In addition to war Veterans, individuals who experience physical or emotional abuse, kidnapping, assault, mugging, car or plane accidents and even natural disasters like flood or earthquakes can develop PTSD.

Because PTSD is a stress-related disorder, engaging in activities that help reduce stress or provide an outlet for nervous energy can be very effective in helping PTSD sufferers cope with their condition. Many medical studies have shown that aerobic activity like swimming can play a pivotal role in a post traumatic stress disorder therapy program by helping those who suffer from PTSD battle depression and anxiety so they can achieve a healthy mind and body.

Benefits of our custom PTSD therapy swimming program

Our PTSD therapy swim program is custom-designed for each individual and provides the following physical and mental health benefits:

• Swimming activity releases endorphins – the body’s natural mood-elevating chemicals
• Improves stamina, strength and endurance
• Improves self-esteem and self-confidence
• Increases energy levels
• Helps to develop discipline
• Get away from it all and lose yourself as you become “one with the water”
• Achieve your weight loss goals

A Customized Approach To PTSD Therapy

Our PTSD therapy in Los Angeles includes completely customized swim programs for individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress. The Program is specifically designed to help PTSD sufferers improve their swim skills, increase their physical fitness and reduce their stress. One with the Water® knows that each swimmer is different and we are dedicated to working with you to develop a PTSD therapy swim program that will meet your unique, individual needs.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Veterans Receive PTSD Therapy at Los Angeles Swim Program appeared first on One with the Water.

We cordially invite you to join us on Friday April 1st to hear the story of Maggie Newcomb as she performs stand-up comedy and teaches you about Bipolar I Disorder. Then join us on Saturday April 2nd for a full day workshop on creating a mentally healthy life and family.

Topics to be covered include:
* Understanding mental illness and how to talk about it
* Strategies to build a healthy lifestyle to prevent mental and emotional challenges
* Creating a mindset for rebuilding, recovery and long term stability
* Soul Blazing Communication
* How the Parent Can Be “Psychologically Used” by the Adolescent

Panel Members

Maggie Newcomb
Keynote Speaker Maggie Newcomb, M.A.Ed., is a speaker, comedian, and writer. After years of performing stand-up comedy, Maggie now uses humor to speak honestly about living with mental illness. She also draws on her years of experience working in adult education to teach people how to accept their own mental illness diagnoses and embrace lives of true stability.

James Tobin, Ph.D.
A former Division I NCAA competitive swimmer, James Tobin, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with adolescents, parents and families. He is recognized for his engaging workshops designed to help parents navigate their child’s journey toward emotional and psychological independence. Drawing from 15 years of clinical practice, Dr. Tobin views the inevitable turbulence of adolescence as an opportunity for all family members to achieve self-insight and relational freedom.

Lisa Haisha
As the founder of the Soul Blazing Sanctuary in Sherman Oaks, California, Lisa is recognized as one of Hollywood’s top counselors and humanitarians. Lisa’s Soul Blazing workshops have been attended by Hollywood producers, A-list actors, and individuals seeking transformational change in their personal and professional lives. Lisa has dedicated her life to helping others fulfill theirs by bringing Soul Blazing to audiences around the world.

Comedy Charity Event

Friday, April 1, 2016
Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049

Suggested Donation: $100

Comedy Charity Event & Day Workshop

Friday, April 1, 2016
Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Workshop & Lunch – Creating a Mentally Healthy Life & Family
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049

Suggested Donation: $175

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Comedy with a Cause appeared first on One with the Water.

Community Impact and Outreach through the Combined Federal Campaign

30 April 2014 – Los Angeles – One with the Water, a non-profit swim school providing life-changing swimming lessons to children and adults, including those with special needs, received news today of acceptance into the Federal employee donation program – the Combined Federal Campaign, for both Southern California and Arizona.

Congratulations! Your application to participate in the 2014 Combined Federal Campaign of Southern California has been approved by the Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC). Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to make your charity available to the federal donors in our area.
Charlie Carey
Director, Socal CFC

The Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) of the Arizona Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) has ACCEPTED your organization’s application for participation in the 2014 CFC.  Thank you for applying to participate in the Arizona Combined Federal Campaign.
Lt Col Donald Bohney, USAF
LFCC Chair
Arizona CFC

Combined Federal Campaign Participant

The mission of the Combined Federal Campaign CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

One with the Water swimming programs heal children and adults, including Service-Disabled Veterans, by providing compassionate swimming lessons to those with physical and psychological disabilities and terminal illnesses.

To teach anyone to swim. Specializing in children with unique physical challenges, cognitive or visual challenges, Autism Spectrum, Down and Charge syndrome, cerebral palsy and spinal Bifida to name a few. Scholarships are available to students who cannot afford to pay for lessons.

Website: http://onewiththewater.org/
Phone: 323-364-Swim (7946)
Rate: 9.0 %
EIN: 45-3172555
Taxonomy Codes: O Youth Development, E Health Care, N Recreation & Sports

Our Impact – Individuals and Communities

One with the Water®’s approach to swimming lessons goes beyond individual capacity building to include investments in partnerships – local and national. By working closely with dedicated community members such as early childhood educators, teachers, and staff from other local therapy organizations, One with the Water builds strong and lasting relationships within the local communities to ensure long-term sustainability of our work.

When designing Community Impact and Outreach programs, One with the Water completes a thorough assessment to understand both the needs and assets of the community. One with the Water meets the needs of any ethnic or religious group. We are highly sensitive toward our very diverse community. It is our top priority and highest goal to reach as many people as possible who would not otherwise be able to afford swimming lessons and give them the life-skill of swimming. Swimming is not only the most healthy form of exercise, but it is also the most affordable and accessible form of exercise in the world.

By integrating cultures, each program leverages community resources in consultation with expert educators, local partners, and community members, including parents and children.

One with the Water is highly sensitive toward a very diverse community.

Our programs:

• Foster the physical, mental, and social development of children to teach important values and life skills, especially the life-skill of swimming;
• Educate and mobilize communities around health and disease and prevention and care;
• Teach conflict resolution and peace building skills. Participation in regular activities facilitates the healing of communities and reintegration of children affected by conflicts; and
• Create change and have a sustainable impact. We work in partnership with local organizations to build community infrastructure through the engagement of local staff and volunteers.

One with the Water’s Swimming Lesson Programs incorporate a methodology that uses swimming as a tool for learning in four areas: education, health, conflict resolution, and community development.

One with the Water offers Corporate Community Outreach with Added Value Corporate Sponsorships

One with the Water believes in the power of human potential. We are looking for corporations that seek to leverage the size and reach of their brands to effect positive long-term changes that empower and support communities like One with the Water.

Through the One with the Water Corporate Sponsorship Program, your company can aim to deliver focused areas of impact through innovation, partnership, advocacy, and movement making, with a stable source of funding to allow for a portfolio of innovation to scale and flourish. One with the Water has partnered with CoachArt and Serve the Warrior to provide free swimming lessons to young patients with chronic illnesses and their siblings, and to Service-Disabled Veterans and their family members.

To add value to your sponsorship, One with the Water will:

• Include your company’s information in our Monthly Newsletter – “Between the Lane Lines” – to our 12,000+ members
• Publish your company’s information and logo on our website
• Teach our Members about your company and its wonderful community service

You can start today and we will tell our members about your company and all of the wonderful things you accomplish through community service – a win-win for everyone!

Contact us today to start your Leave a Message Here.

It’s as easy as clicking here to start your sponsorship program today!

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to assist us

One with the Water® is proud to be listed as a legitimate 501(c)(3) non-profit with GuideStar Exchange Gold participation level, a symbol of transparency and accountability provided by GuideStar, the premier source of nonprofit information. Visit our GuideStar page for more information.

Grants and donations to One with the Water® pay exclusively for pool space, insurance, and instruction for Veterans, children, and families with limited financial means. And, due to the help of supporters like you, we have been able to give out over $75,000 in scholarships to needy students and changed the lives of over 1000 swimmers. Thank you for your support!

Current and Prior Year Sponsors 2014 Sponsors & Donors – Become a Sponsor or Donor Today!

2013  2012  2011

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Community Impact and Outreach through the Combined Federal Campaign appeared first on One with the Water.

Special Needs Swimming Lessons

At One with the Water®, our research and teaching has showed us that swimming is highly therapeutic and satisfying for people with special needs, including Autism, and we have developed an approach to teaching swimming that works very well with the unique needs and challenges students with Autism experience.

Our students enjoy their swimming lessons much more than other types of classes, and they typically display fewer instances of the disruptive or self-soothing behaviors associated with Autism. This is due to our special training for connecting with students with Autism, combined with the unique qualities of swimming itself. Because swimming is a gentle, rhythmic activity with immediate sensory feedback and self-generated rewards, it actually seems to soothe and focus students with Autism much more effectively than other activities and dry-land therapies. As Tsui mentioned in her article:

The reflection of where you are: in essence, a status update to you, and only you. The experience is egalitarian. You don’t have to be a great swimmer to appreciate the benefits of sensory solitude and the equilibrium the water can bring. Swimming may well be that last refuge from connectivity, and for some, the only way to find the solitary self.

And even Diana Nyad, now famous for swimming from Cuba to the United States, told the New York Times in 2011, that,

Swimming is the ultimate form of sensory deprivation. Diana Nyad

All kids and adults are able to experience this sensation, or lack there-of, by being in the water. Our students progress so quickly that most start competing in mainstream activities. One child this past weekend, competed at the Santa Monica Swim Center and after his 50 yard freestyle, yelled, “That was awesome!” He didn’t have any competition, however, just the thrill of the crowd cheering, his ability to accomplish a 50 yard swim and enjoy it, was enough satisfaction for finish feeling elated. And we haven’t even shown him his 1st place ribbon yet!

Teaching Families to Swim

We can tell you this until your face turns as blue as the water appears to be, but until you come and try it for yourself, bring your children, bring your family, you may not comprehend it. We invite you to join us for a free swim, try it out, let us introduce you to being One with the Water®. After all, One with the Water®’s motto is “teaching families to swim.”

One with the Water’s Swimming Lessons Programs incorporate a methodology that uses swimming as a tool for learning in four areas: education, health, conflict resolution, and community development. We are highly sensitive towards our very diverse community. It is our top priority and highest goal to reach as many people who would not otherwise be able to afford swimming lessons and give them the life-skill of swimming. Swimming is not only the most healthy form of exercise, but it is also the most affordable and accessible form of exercise in the world.

Serge Dedina, a local Southern California native of Imperial Beach, wrote, in a Letter to the Editor regarding The Joy of Swimming,

Many children in under-served communities are unable to experience the “sensory solitude and the equilibrium that water can bring” because they lack access to low-cost or free public swimming pools and lessons. As we debate the issue of inequality, let us remember that there is nothing that illustrates the immoral division between the haves and the have-nots as much as the ability to swim with joy and safety.

One with the Water® fills that need, with specially-trained instructors and a nimble, low-overhead, non-profit model of operation. Generous grants and donations from compassionate donors pay exclusively for pool space, insurance, and instruction for kids and families with limited financial means. I want to personally invite you to join us, and to extend my sincerest thanks to all that have supported One with the Water® in the past and those that will in the future. And to any person, child or adult, special needs or fears, we invite you to take the plunge, jump in with both feet, and check out this new world we experience every day. It’s nice and quiet, and relaxing, or it can be a great workout to help you stay healthy and live a long and prosperous life.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

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