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Adult swimming technique courses in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa

Refine your swimming technique for smoother and more efficient.

Our adult swimming technique course helps you improve your freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke with a focused and goal-oriented approach.

The course aims to build swimming confidence and help you reach the Scandinavian definition of basic swimming proficiency. You’ll also practice turns and effective techniques to swim longer distances with ease and control.

  • Improve your technique with professional guidance
  • Swim more relaxed and energy-efficiently
  • Feel more confident in deep water
Contact me and book your session
As a swimming coach, Markku doesn’t just call out instructions from the poolside – he gets in the water himself to demonstrate proper technique and provides hands-on guidance. Having trained with Markku, I can warmly recommend his swimming coaching.

Hannu, 63 yrs.
(Translated from Finnish customer feedback)

Who is the adult swimming technique course for?

  • You can already swim at least 50 meters but want to improve your technique.
  • You want to swim more efficiently and smoothly, without unnecessary effort.
  • Your goal is to achieve swimming proficiency as defined by the Scandinavian swimming standard.
  • You want to feel more confident swimming in deep water and over longer distances.
  • You’re interested in learning better breathing techniques and effective turns.

If your swimming ability is less than 50 meters, the beginner swimming lesson for adults might be a better fit for your current level.

What is practiced in the swimming technique course?

Freestyle

Kicks

Effective freestyle kicks rely on relaxation – ankles and toes should be completely loose, as even slight tension reduces power. The kick should originate from the thighs and hips, not the knees. While swimming on your stomach, your heels should stay below the surface; when on your back, your toes should remain below the waterline.

Arm pull

In the arm pull, avoid pushing straight down – instead, lead with the elbow close to your side and pull straight back. Keep your wrist, palm, and fingers firm like a paddle to generate maximum propulsion.

Body rotation

Freestyle requires symmetrical rotation along the body’s longitudinal axis. Without proper rotation, effective breathing is impossible. Rotation occurs as an extension of the arm pull: when your left arm pulls, the body rotates right; when your right arm pulls, the body rotates left.

Breathing

Breathing is often the most challenging part of freestyle. Many swimmers have solid technique but struggle due to ineffective breathing. The breath must be a natural continuation of body rotation. Rotate the body enough for the face to clear the surface, and always inhale through a fully open mouth. A common mistake is lifting only the head, which causes the legs to drop and slows the swim.

Breaststroke

Proper breaststroke follows this cycle: arm pull, breath, kick, and glide.

Arm pull

The correct arm pull is done close to the chest in a heart-shaped motion. The angle between the upper arm and forearm should be about 90 degrees, and the hands press downward and outward at roughly a 45-degree angle. The arms are then brought back under the chest and extended straight forward with palms facing up.

Breathing

In breaststroke, breathing is done by lifting the head straight up and inhaling through the mouth.

Kick

Many swimmers use a “frog kick” that lacks propulsion. In the correct kick, the ankles remain flexed until the end, and the legs snap together simultaneously with the kick. A common mistake is delaying the snap and kicking straight back, which weakens the thrust. The kick can be practiced with or without a kickboard. With proper technique, one powerful kick can carry you across the pool.

Glide

The glide follows the kick, with the head submerged under water.

Backstroke

Backstroke (also known as back crawl) is an efficient swimming technique that allows continuous breathing, as the face stays above the surface. In proper backstroke, the head is fully tilted back (eyes can be underwater). The body rotates from side to side in sync with alternating arm pulls, and the kicks follow the same rhythm. The arm movements follow the “windmill principle”: as one arm begins the pull, the other arm starts the recovery.

What is swimming proficiency according to the Scandinavian definition?

According to the Scandinavian definition, a person is considered proficient in swimming if they can, after falling into deep water where their feet don’t touch the bottom, resurface and swim continuously for 200 meters – at least 50 of which must be on their back. This level of skill ensures basic swimming safety and the ability to move independently and with control in the water.

Book your first session

Book your own lesson

Book a private session or gather your own small group and start your journey toward confident and relaxed swimming skills.

Prices from €25 / person / hour.

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Frequently asked questions

This course is designed for adults who want to improve their swimming technique and achieve safe swimming proficiency. It is recommended that participants have basic swimming skills and are able to swim at least 50 meters.

It’s a great choice if you want to refine your freestyle, breaststroke, or backstroke technique, or if you’re looking to improve your breathing and body rotation in the water.

The course is intended for adults who already have basic swimming skills but want to improve their technique. If you can swim 50 meters, the course is right for you. If you’re unsure of your current level, feel free to contact me and we’ll assess it together.

The Scandinavian definition means that a person who falls into deep water can surface and swim 200 meters, with the last 50 meters on their back.

This standard ensures a basic ability to manage oneself in the water. The course aims to help you reach this level of skill.

This course is for adults who want to refine their technique – especially in freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke.

The beginner course focuses more on foundational skills and basic movement in water, while this one dives deeper into technique.

Despite its name, swimming technique instruction is not a fixed-length course. All sessions are offered as private lessons or small group coaching. You can start whenever it suits you – scheduling is fully flexible and based on your needs. We’ll progress at your pace toward your goals.

So go ahead and get in touch to schedule your first session.

Absolutely. This course focuses on improving breathing technique, and you’ll learn how breathing connects with body rotation and stroke rhythm. Often, better breathing is the key to improving your overall technique – so this is the right place for you, even if your breathing isn’t quite there yet.

You only need a swimsuit – and possibly swim goggles if you prefer.

Swimming technique lessons are offered as private or small group sessions rather than as a fixed course. You can begin whenever it suits you, and scheduling is fully flexible to match your needs.

Get in touch and let’s set a start date!