Love to Swim!
Goodbye friends... they say all good things must come to an end. We forever treasure our memories! Thank you!
About Swim Hanoi
Swim Hanoi was set up for private swimming lessons in Tay Ho, in September 2013 by Alexia Berta Demetriou.
In every single one of our students swimming journeys, our first and most important priority is the safety of all students and Instructors. All of our Instructor's are highly trained by an internationally recognised Institution and have many years of experience in teaching children and adults alike.
At the heart of our teaching method lies the happiness of the student. We believe that children as well as adults learn best when a bond of trust has been formed between the instructor and the student. Trust is the foundation of any new learning experience and we make sure we take the time to build a solid connection to our students before introducing more complex skills.
We love to have fun and be playfull and this is also how we love to teach. Through games and creative travels into the child's imagination we introduce new skill sets to help them not only Learn to Swim but LOVE to Swim. Each little breakthrough, each victory over a fear, is celebrated with lot's of claps and high fives and is a success for not only the student but the Instructor too. We take pride in what we do and we are genuinely interested in each student and their individual path to learning. We keep our groups small and build a feeling of community between the students participating in each level.
Flexibility , patience, understanding and support are the most important tools in our teaching. We make sure to give each student what they need and encourage their development in the water without ever putting the skill above the student. Through this we hope to facilitate a positive attitude towards the water and aquatic environments and a respect for enjoying them in a safe manner.
Swim Hanoi Swimming Sessions run throughout the year in two locations in the Tay Ho Area in Hanoi. During the colder months an Indoor pool is used to keep with the standards set by the American Red Cross Aquatics.
We constantly aim to develop our program and in early 2016 Swim Hanoi began offering Aqua Yoga, Yoga and Kids Yoga to our community.
Our Instructors
Alexia moved away from Hanoi in June 2017. After Alexia's departure, Anita took over the managing and teaching of Swim Hanoi until June 2018.
"It has been an incredible honour and achievement to bring Swim Hanoi to life and I will miss being part of the continuing journey of the children's swimming as well as our community. I know that Anita will be the best person to carry Swim Hanoi forward. She is not only incredibly experienced in the field of Swimming, her beautiful soul and her bright shining spirit are what make her a wonderful, caring teacher." Alexia Berta Demetriou (Founder, Director, Teacher at Swim Hanoi)
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"Thank you all for entrusting me with the opportunity to share these important swimming experiences with your children. I am also eternally grateful to Alexia for giving me the chance to work with her, to learn from her and to continue sharing the love for swimming with our students after her departure." Anita Wilczega (Manager, Teacher at Swim Hanoi)
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About Alexia Demetriou - Founder and Director at SWIM HANOI
What is there not to love about being in the water? Raised on a small island in the Mediterranean, it was impossible for me not only to learn how to swim, but to Love to swim. And as it is with things we love, we want everyone else to find their joy and love for them too. And so it began, the journey of teaching.
My initiation into teaching Swimming was in Japan in 2010. As part of the curricular program at the Osaka YMCA International School in Japan, I instructed children between the ages of 4 to 12, for 2 academic years. Since arriving in Hanoi in 2012, I have been teaching swimming ASA's at the United Nations International School for K1 and K2 students. Swim Hanoi was founded in 2013 and I am proud to have instructed several hundred students from 3 years old to 70 years old!
I specialise in teaching young (early childhood) children how to develop a love for water and learn how to swim. It has been a joy to see their progress and watch them grow into confident swimmers. It is one of the reasons I do what I do. My experience with young students as well as adult beginners, has taught me that the key to learning how to swim is to build a bridge of trust. Trust between the Instructor and the students and trust from the student towards the aquatic environment. It has been my philosophy and aim to not only guide my studentsto Learn to swim but to guide them to LOVE to Swim. Every breakthrough, every moment of joy, every success no matter how small on my studetns behalf is a breakthrough, moment of joy and success to me personally. The journey my students take is very personal to me and I find nothing more rewarding than seing my students become happy, fearless and competent swimmers.
Qualifications:
- American Red Cross, Water Safety Instructor
- American Red Cross, Fundamentals of Instructor Training
- Ashtanga/Vinyasa Yoga Teacher RYT 200
- Aqua Yoga Certified Teacher
- Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher with Life Bright International
- Yin Yoga Teacher with With-Yin Yoga
My teachers:
My Swimming instructor is the inspirational Ella Jaranova who leads the Aquatics Academy at UNIS Hanoi. I have trained at Sampoorna Yoga in India as an Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher and have taken guidance from Mary Irby in Aqua Yoga Techniques. In February 2016 I studied with Suzanne Vian on Life Bright International and became a certified Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher. My most influential teachers are Sebastian Pucelle and Murielle Burellier whom I began my Yin Yoga journey with.
First Aid & CPR:
For the last 15 years I hold FIrst Aid, CPR and AED qualifications. I' ve attended refresher courses every 3 years. My latest refresher course was in October 2014 when I attended the First Aid, CPR and AED certification training which was run by the Hanoi Family Medical practice (led by Dr Michael Santos).
Teaching:
All levels Swimming, All ages, Groups and One on One
Aqua Yoga Classes
Ashtanga/Vinyasa Flow at the Fitness Village
Kids Yoga and Mindfulness
Yin Yoga at Yoga in the Yard