I just recently celebrated my 23rd year of Performance High coaching!  It’s been quite the ride – 23 yrs of change, adjustment, challenge & learning.  One of my biggest adjustments has been to my coaching style.  Whereas I used to coach in a more top-down way (i.e., Let me tell you how to do X.), over the years I’ve migrated more & more to a counseling style (i.e., What do you notice about X?) of coaching.

Obviously, the top-down method very quickly provides clients with solutions whereas the counseling style takes a significantly longer amount of time to get to those same solutions.  But I truly believe that the slower route encourages better learning…primarily because clients are developing & improving their own self-awareness.  So important!

This is why I’m super proud of Stephen Longo!  He has really embraced the idea that developing awareness of what he is doing in the water will greatly enhance his learning.  I always say, “You can’t change it if you don’t know what you’re doing.”  And Stephen is well on his way to developing his water proprioception.  Way to go, Stephen!! 😊

In Stephen’s own words:

“Proprioception:
Perception or awareness of the position & movement of the body.

As a long-course triathlete I’ve been going to the pool & logging laps for years.  But despite all my swimming efforts, I had seen little improvement & had actually begun to dislike it.

In July 2023 I began swim lessons with Coach Michelle & I now look forward to each & every session!  The key difference is that we are focusing on self-awareness or proprioception in the water.  I can’t over-emphasize how important this has been to my swim improvement.

Through the use of targeted drills, videos, verbal cues & various proprioception techniques, I am finally beginning to master some of the fundamental skills required for efficient swimming.  I now see swim drills as a necessary rudimentary requirement.  But, in order to reap the benefits of those drills, they must be done correctly & with purpose.

I finally have the beginning tools of self-awareness & the ability to self-critique when swimming.  I now look at swimming like playing a musical instrument.  You must master the rudimentary parts if you want to make music!”

For more info on coaching, click here.  For info on adult swim lessons, click here.