Swim With Phyn

I was quite pleased with the instruction given in the pool. I didn’t notice any overpowering chlorine in the 2 semesters I participated. The changing facility isn’t exactly proper, but it gets the job done: a couple folding tables for the kids, and a few stalls with curtains for adults. I was put off by the overall cleanliness of the place.
It’s stated that the facility doesn’t have a housekeeper come by, so they ask to clean up after yourself. Cleaning up after yourself is fine, but it only goes so far. There are community toys in the waiting room, as well as the pool, and I question how often, if ever, those are cleaned. Granted, as a parent, if you find a toy disgusting, then don’t let your kid play with, but we all know that doesn’t happen. You’re in the water and toys go from one kids mouth to another, so it would be nice to know that they’re disinfected periodically.
My biggest complaint is the fact that the place has carpet! That place is a staph infection waiting to happen. Parents and kids walk around bare foot. I always elected to wear sandals. If it was tile, then it could be bleached every night, but I do understand that this is an owner/​operator facility and remodeling might be out of the question.
As I stated before I attended for 2 semesters, so my issues obviously weren’t too great to not re-​enlist after my first semester here, but the more I came the more grossed out I was by the environment. Although the love that my boy had for the pool out weighed my level of grossed-​out-​ness.

Lessons an adequate introduction, but nothing spectacular. Teacher favors kids who excel, but not those who have fears. Pool, toys, & facilities became increasingly disgusting over swim semester. Clearly visible black colored mold on ceilings, inside swim fins, and inside swim caps. Pool facilities kept increasing in the smell of chlorine to the point where the air alone hurt my adult eyes. My last straw? The day the walls of the pool under the water were actually pinkish and slimy! ??? I called the owners and complained and their response? Oh we put chlorine in all the time.
Save yourself time and look elsewhere… Or go check it out for yourself!

Having been a competitive swimmer, someone who taught swim lessons myself and a past life guard, it was very important for me that my son become water safe and comfortable in water. I have been nothing but happy with Julie at Swim With Phyn.
We started our son with group lessons at 5 months old. When that little the group lessons are instructor guided. She tells you what to work on, and how to do so. The important thing I learned right away was to trust Julie to actually show me the techniques with my son. I could then mimic on my own with confidence. By the time my son was 9 months old he was propelling himself forward under water for 2 – 3 feet! Kick, kick, kick… it was awesome! He knew where his ‘safe spots’ were, and was on his way to knowing how to get there on his own.
Now, at 22 months, he has been in the more structured group lesson format. There is a set curriculum. I love it. Not only do I know what to expect, but so does my son. He knows what comes next and I think that builds confidence. He can swim for 5 – 6 feet with his head under water, and is starting to get his head up for a breath now and then. He knows to, and can, grab the side of the pool, and ‘monkey monkey’ (move down the wall) on his own an entire length of a 25 yard pool! It is amazing! He knows how to do ‘tigger jumps’ off the bottom of the pool, which allows him to push up for a breath if he happens to fall in the pool. I see improvement each week.
I will say, he went through a tough stage, fighting lessons, resisting new things, and generally being a pain. But we stuck it out, Julie helped us with some ideas and different options at times and he came around.
One last comment; when comparing my friends kids who take lessons elsewhere and my friends comments about those lessons, I have learned that Julie definitely pushes the kids and parents a bit more. She gets the kids to submerge (usually it is the parent’s issue and not the kids anyway) sooner as well as being fairly firm in the rules of safety setting up safe water play and awareness from the beginning.

My family LOVES Swim with Phyn! I started going there for open swim to «test the waters,» so to speak. My daughter, Reese, was only three weeks old and the water was the perfect temperature. The facilities were also warm enough for my little newborn. Julie is very knowledgeable and has so much interesting information to share about babies and how their reflexes work. Reese was hooked. Newborns are fussy. But, Reese loves her swim lessons so much that as soon as we walk in the door, she calms down and, as Julie always cues, is «ready to go swimming.»
The swimester sessions are 30 minutes. There is a cap on how many little ones come in so we always get attention and Reese is always kept busy floating, going under water, rolling, and playing with toys. She knows her cues on when to «hide her eyes» and Julie’s upbeat attitude always makes Reese smile even if she got a bit of water after experimenting (like when she found her feet and wondered if she could still float with a foot in her mouth!). Julie always remembers where Reese is individually (and not as a group) and pushes her to do new things every session.
Julie’s focus on safety is also very comforting. Of course, I would never leave my infant unattended near a pool, but I know that as she grows older, she will be well-​aware of when she could get in the pool and what the safe zones are so she could get out.
As for the reviewers that were not pleased with her «books» or «professionalism,» I’m quite baffled by it. Julie is a great swim instructor and when I asked about an Axxess discount, she immediately pointed me in the right direction to her assistant. Her Swimester sign up specifically requires parents to agree that they will NOT post on facebook their personal absences or requests for makeups. It says to either email, call, or text Julie personally. I’ve texted Julie and she responds! I don’t get it. You pay for a swimester and you go to class. If you miss a class, you have the option of going to a make-​up session.
There are signs in the lobby area telling you when the next makeup session is. I’m actually impressed she allows for makeups since each class is reasonably priced and I would gladly pay a fee for a makeup session if I missed a class. I’ve witnessed parents upset that she can’t accommodate their schedules after they have signed up for a swimester. There was only one occasion when Julie asked if she could change the swim time for, what I thought, was a legitimate reason. I was there when all of us in the pool said it was okay. One parent forgot the following week and showed up 30 minutes late. Julie STILL accommodated her by giving her a private swim lesson.
Reese loves swim. We love that Julie is so accommodating, even though sometimes I feel bad that she offers to have us drop in at a different time if we weren’t able to make it as I don’t believe she should be responsible for our absences. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

It was really important to my husband and I for our daughter to be comfortable in the water. We really wanted to get a jump on swimming lessons. After asking friends where we could begin swimming lessons for an 11 week old the overwhelming response was Swim with Phyn. We signed her up and are so happy we did. Julie is a phenomenal instructor and is very knowledgeable on infants and swimming. The class size is perfect. My husband, daughter and look forward to our classes!

Just as an added note, this is nothing against Julie as a person. As I noted, she was really nice and kind and good with the kids.
My main issue was the lack of professionalism, mostly from a recordkeeping perspective but also in communication (on her Facebook page right now, for example, there are dozens of parents saying «X won’t be at class today because he is sick» and «Can I do a makeup?» Is Facebook really the place to do this? Having a formal system for this would make more sense.) And I felt that she gave some preference to some kids and families. It isn’t an awful crime, but just my opinion.
I’d also like if reviewers could specify if they have private or group lessons. I’d imagine that those that have had private lessons wouldn’t be as credible when discussing how the group lessons operate.
FWIW, Ross C. (and his kids) are related to Julie.