Swim Lesson, Training, & Coaching Details

(For triathletes, scroll down to anecdotes- I help you build to a master's level endurance)

Swim Team & Triathlon Readiness

Our programming provides a fun, safe, and structured path for swimmers to improve both physical and mental well-being while building a foundation for competitive swimming.

Swimmers develop strong stroke mechanics, technique, and consistency, along with the focus and discipline of an athlete. For older kids, adults, and swim-team hopefuls, we offer advanced stroke refinement, triathlon training, and customized programs tailored to goals (whether that’s making a team, competing, or becoming a lifelong swimmer).

For competitive athletes, coaching extends beyond the pool to include run, bike, and swim performance, with proven results such as podium finishes, national qualifications, and measurable gains through personalized programming.

Swim Video Analysis (For Faster Progress)
If your goal is to reach a higher level—especially qualifying for major meets—video analysis provides insight you simply can’t see on your own. Small technical adjustments can lead to major improvements in speed and efficiency.

Packages include:
• Session 1: Pool time with above & underwater filming + on-deck coaching
• Session 2: In-depth video review with slow-motion breakdown and detailed feedback

Pricing:
• Single Session – $179
• 3-Pack – $450 (save $87)
• 5-Pack – $700 (save $195)

Swim Team / Masters Transition Program

For swimmers ready to move beyond lessons, we provide a clear next step. Focused and swim ready swimmers can be prepared for swim team in as little as two hours (over four weeks or two one-hour sessions).

Once swimmers are independent, they can join our Beginner Swim Team / Masters Group (Wednesdays at 4 PM or Saturdays at 1 PM). This is a small group of 3 or less that structures to bridge into team training; building endurance starting at only a half hour and growing to an hour as ready. This group focuses on endurance, practice structure, and confidence, helping swimmer's transition smoothly into competitive teams or triathlon training. Members are taught "swimming for life" and will even be grown to purchase a tow buoy and welcomed to attend an open water swim or two; first maybe starting in the shallow/"duck pond area." If they are a "team wanna" be, bring them to the short lap an additional day or two of the week, as this is what builds team level endurance.

Georgetown’s programming follows a swim readiness-based approach in-line with my if philosophies. They offer group lessons for 6m to 2 yrs, which are a better fit for this stage, as children often need 6–12 weeks to learn to 1.) put their face/head in the water and 2.)relax on their back; these are the key milestones that show they’re ready to easily transition into formal swimming. Here's their baby class (https://georgetowntexas.gov/parks/programs/aquatics/swim_lessons.php#collapse41830b0). Take advantage of this as babies have instinct to be naturals at swim readiness until six months (so the closer to that you work on this, the quicker they will be floating and even swimming). Group lessons 2 - 3 are usually the fit to keep building this AND for them to learn to listen and follow; the competition offered in a group helps as well.

We're very educated at this. My Facebook page shows how educated and how much time we spend educating around this. We drive daily at helping clients overcome fears to a creative/experimental phycology level (kids to adults). We start where GT stops, offering swim readiness for parents and their kiddos: focused on playful, positive water experiences, we teach you to play with your kiddos through songs, games, and creative movement; we pull out all the stops with even stickers and fairy dust! Due to demand, we group these kiddos simply because they take longer to get swimming and studies show the more you learn/collaborate the quicker they will progress. We also transition them to either Georgetown's group lessons cited above, or their own private lesson spot when ready.

Everyone should learn to swim as swimming is freedom, confidence, and joy. Drowning is also the leading cause of unintentional death for children under 5, so learning to float and even swim is life saving and changing, especially for the neurodivergent.  My lessons combine key elements:

1️⃣ Core swimming skills –  First we emphasize survival and self-rescue techniques; usually starting with floating and breath control and quickly advancing to confident swimming, often within just a couple of lessons. We teach all four strokes and propelling to build endurance and skill to a level that gets them to swim team or masters/triathlon level

2️⃣ Active parent involvement –  We ask parents to stay near the pool, or join in the water, so you can see and hear to help your child practice outside of lessons. Most kids progress within just a couple of our lessons because such collaboration is researched as mandatory to the quickest progress. Because we keep children swimming the entire time, your presence also supports safety and liability; fact is you can handle your child more than anyone else can and should (also due to safety reasons).

Beyond swimming, we also provide personal training and athlete coaching;  water can just be a part of that as it is some of the healthiest full-body/life-long cardio one can do.

Aging brings challenges, but regular movement can help prevent or even reverse conditions like: heart disease, loss of balance, and muscular decline. Our personal training focuses on just that- helping a client get to the basic prescriptions for daily health. We  blend creativity, corrective exercise, and functional strength for every age and ability.

- Certified through USA Swimming (League, Breaststroke, and Butterfly), ISSA, Stages, TriDot National Competitor on Freestyle, Yoga YTT, and Pilates Mat, and holding Child abuse/fingerprint checked, Lifeguard, First Aid, and CPR credentials

- Two decades teaching thousands of swimmers, from babies to triathletes, independently and with employers like Lifetime and the YMCA 

- Experienced working with clients on the spectrum; using life experience to build an empathetic and forward progressing bond with these families. (For low incidence, we refer to angels (those certified through Angelfish).

We help people move past fears and discomfort, building confidence and joy instead. Whether a client is nervous about letting go of floaties/steps/wall, learning to head/breath readiness, or you’re preparing for a new sibling’s arrival- I create a calm and encouraging environment that turns fear into fun. 

Let’s build confidence, strength, and joy, from four to eighty-four.
🏊‍♀️ #PersonalTraining #SwimLessons #Triathlon #Health #SwimFairy

— In Love,
The SwimFairy (Shannon Bryant)

Recent clients include:
• A swim team hopeful that needed to do band core work to be able to kick

• A runner recovering from a foot injury (we found pain-free cardio alternatives)
• A cancer survivor rebuilding balance and confidence
• A parent learning to swim alongside their child for the first time

• An adult athlete building explosive power, endurance, and conditioning 

• Coached a cross-country middle-school team to undefeated

• Many adults and parents/children come with an unwillingness/fear around putting their head in or relaxing on their backs so that they can progress to being taught to swim or even float and I educate, even publishing a book and blogging, to get them through.

Whether you’re four and learning to float or eighty-four and working to remove a cane, we’ll meet you where you are.
 

- Main pool is in Georgetown and I'm getting a pool in RR/Cedar Park in April.

- GT Rec has allowed my small business and your families the equity of their space! See this link for their pricing as you get a better deal through them since they set the pricing:  https://www.facebook.com/GTXParksandRec/posts/now-offering-private-swim-lessons-at-the-georgetown-recreation-center-%EF%B8%8Fmeet-shan/1289159043250847/ 

- Other (to travel up to 45 minutes to your pool:

• Group (3): $39 per for a 30-minute lesson/session
• Semi-Private (2): $59 per for a 30-minute lesson/session
• Private (1-on-1): $89 per for a 30-minute lesson

Due to typical space and attention, three is the max I will teach at one time.

When my older son was fearful of taking off his floaties, I scheduled lessons with a swim instructor for him. I called her The SwimFairy, which immediately caught my son’s interest. I told him that she would help him lose his fear of swimming without floaties. The idea of a SwimFairy that helps dispel fear while making learning to swim fun, accompanied by my passion for teaching swimming, took root. I thought the idea of a SwimFairy brought such immediate and successful results with my son, what a good idea and great name for my blossoming swim instruction classes. Thus, SwimFairy was born! My sons are now 21 and 24, so I finally created an LLC around this near-20-year old brand.

Booking:

• To secure your spot, please make payment at least 24 hours before.
• If you need to cancel, let us know as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we can't offer refunds for no-shows.
• Running late? No worries! We'll make the most of the remaining time.
• If your instructor can't make it due to illness or emergency, we'll reschedule your lesson.

Keeping Everyone Healthy:

For the safety of all:

• If symptoms like coughing, runny nose, or fever, please let us know. We may need to reschedule to keep everyone healthy.

Weather Watch:

• We'll keep an eye on the weather and communicate with you if conditions look questionable.
• If lightning is detected within 10 miles, we'll reschedule. Any unused time will be added to your next lesson.

Preparing for Splash-Off!

To ensure a smooth and fun experience:

1. Arrive 15 minutes early to get ready.
2. Bring goggles for a more enjoyable experience.
3. Tie back long hair to keep it out of your face.
4. Have a cozy towel ready for after the lesson.

Safety First:

• Children should only enter the water when their instructor says it's okay.
• We encourage safe, respectful behavior from all our swimmers.
• Please stay nearby during lessons if your child is under 12. Your presence helps your child progress faster as it allows for instant feedback. I even welcome parents in the pool. I’m that transparent, plus, it supports safety and liability.
• Remember, we're only responsible for your child during their scheduled lesson time. This is often relevant because parents try one kid and then bring their others (since we're so good at teaching streamlining and refining all their strokes).  We can't watch one child while teaching their sibling, and vice versa. 

We can't wait to see you at the pool! If you have any questions, just ask your SwimFairy instructor. Let's make some waves together!

Infant-Toddler Focus:

• Provides a positive water experience with songs and play, providing readiness for swimming and basic water skills. Not a survival/self-rescue course.

Suggestions:  Buy my SwimFairy book off Amazon ( Amazon.com: SwimFairy: A Story for little ones learning to feel safe in the water (SwimFairy Readiness to Swimming): 9798255087242: Bryant, Shannon: Books) to read with your child to help them prepare for their swim lesson. This is especially important for the neurodivergent as this kiddos like to know what to expect around new things such as swim lessons. But in the meantime, here are some suggestions:

• Arrival: Arrive 15 minutes early to prep your child.
• Gear: We discuss in your paperwork and at your first lesson, some gear that is helpful to your child's learning.
• Towel: Have a towel ready for when your child exits the pool.

Here's what the last triathlete helped said about his first lesson: 

“After just one session with Shannon I was able to:

1.) Understand how to rotate my body and breathe more smoothly 
2.) Take a longer pull with an effective paddle/hand pull
3.) Kick using the right muscles in the leg
4.) Get a steady rhythm to the breathing within the stroke to know when to take a breath.
With just a few technical adjustments, I already feel much more comfortable in the water.”
(Clinton, first-time Ironman)

Another mom client said she was spending over $400 a month for a swim school with Tots in their name and her babies never got anywhere. I have her oldest swimming, and at a level three within like four lessons and that usually takes them like a whole block of eight lessons times three at a swim school. 

Before that, a son was apprehensive, but I quickly had him saying that he was having fun and within one lesson the mom said he was swimming!

Yet another, a middle school, didn't get onto Nitro's team first try; within two hours/two lessons, I had taught her all her strokes well, so she was able to get on the team.

Even earlier, I met an adult triathlete. With the running times he mentioned, he is extremely competitive. Even though his swim form was quite decent, he said he felt like he was drowning. I focused on the couple of small improvements he seemed to need to reduce his drag. But mainly had him do the catch-up drill, to ensure he was getting enough room and time to breathe and taking the time to relax his stroke in a prone glide. He was also worried about his endurance, so I scheduled him in Lifetime's adult master swim program.  

Lastly, one six year old was brought to me with a lot of fears; first lesson couldn't get her comfortable on her back or to get her face in. Second lesson, she started to move toward and even do some of these things. But most importantly, the mom's goal was for me to get her swimming by their vacation, so this is all the time they got with me. Well, guess what- she started swimming while she was on vacation; it took a snorkel, which to me says that the submerging and breathing may have been rushed or even skipped. But I have a feeling she will get there because she is in the water and that is often all this takes is more time in the water. But just focus on getting their heads full emerged and relaxing on their back, playfully, and they all get there. If it take one try or 6 - 12 weeks, that's what they needed! Don't rush it, just play and have fun! 

- Looking to offer meditation classes and workshops to de-stress teachers and help them de-stress and focus their students.

- Ask me about in-home yoga parties and yoga triathlons, too.