Women Only Swimming or Mixed Classes: Choosing the Right Setting

Plenty of women want to learn to swim, or swim better, but feel uneasy about the setting more than the water. Who else will be in the pool? Who will be teaching? What will everyone be wearing? These are fair questions, and the answers shape whether you keep coming back.

This guide sets out what women only swimming offers, what a mixed class offers, and how to choose between them. Neither is the right answer for everyone. The better choice is the one that gets you into the water and keeps you there.

Women only swimming suits you if worries about body image, modesty or being watched would stop you from learning. A mixed class suits you if the setting does not bother you and timing or price matters more. Either way, tell your coach about any worries before the first lesson, and wear purpose-made swimwear that follows your pool’s rules.

Why Many Women Hold Back From the Pool

Worry about being seen in a swimsuit is common, and it keeps some women out of the pool altogether. In a survey of 1,000 mothers by the leisure operator Everyone Active, more than half said they had been put off teaching their own child to swim because of a fear of being seen in a bathing suit.

Other worries are practical. Some women have never swum as adults and do not want an audience while they start. Others need a setting that fits their standards of modesty or faith. None of these is unusual, and none should stop you learning.

What Women Only Swimming Changes

The main difference is the setting. When a UK leisure operator, Serco Leisure, introduced women only classes across 20 centres, it added poolside robes, towel hooks and female poolside assistants for nervous swimmers. Weekly numbers rose from about 150 to nearly 500 women.

Research points the same way. A 2022 study of women only sessions in Denmark found that participants valued freedom, pleasure and relaxation there, and treated the sessions as a form of self-care. For many women, the relief of not being watched is what makes learning possible.

What a Mixed Class Offers

A mixed class suits many swimmers perfectly well. If the setting does not worry you, the choice often comes down to practical things: which class fits your week, where it is held and what it costs. A mixed class can also be an easy option for couples, friends or family members who want to learn together.

What matters most in any class is the teaching. A patient coach, a clear plan and room to ask questions will help you progress whoever else is in the pool.

How to Decide Between the Two

Start with the question that decides whether you will turn up. If you would feel tense or self-conscious in a mixed group, you are more likely to skip lessons, and skipped lessons are how progress stalls. In that case, a women only class is the sensible choice.

If you feel relaxed either way, choose on timing and teaching instead. Some women also prefer to be taught by a woman, whatever the group. Our article on the teaching style of a female swimming coach explains why that matters to some learners.

Getting Ready for Your First Lesson

Nerves before a first lesson are normal. One simple step helps: meet or speak to your coach beforehand. When Nottingham City Council ran female-only swimming sessions for Muslim women, participants were encouraged to meet the instructors before the first session, so they knew what to expect with registration and lockers.

Tell your coach what worries you, whether that is deep water, putting your face in or being watched. A good coach adjusts the lesson to you. If long hair is a concern, our guide to swimming hair care covers what to do before and after each swim.

What to Wear to a Lesson in Singapore

ActiveSG’s public pools set rules on swimwear, and they focus on what you cannot wear. The ActiveSG rules for its swimming complexes do not allow street wear, undergarments, translucent or non-colourfast materials, attire with hard or metal objects, or shorts without an inner lining in the pool.

Purpose-made swimwear with more coverage, such as swim leggings or a full-length swimsuit, is designed for pool use. If you are unsure whether an outfit is allowed at your pool, ask before your lesson so there are no surprises at the entrance.

Questions to Ask Before You Book

A few questions will tell you whether a class suits you. Is the class women only, and is the coach a woman? Is it a group or a private lesson? Which pool is it held at, and how busy is that pool during the lesson? What should you bring, and what happens if you miss a session?

If fitness is part of your goal, it also helps to know what regular swimming can do. Our article on how swimming changes a woman’s body covers what to expect over time. If you are in your 40s or 50s, our guide to swimming for menopause covers what changes at that stage.

Learning With Splashiee Mermaids

At Splashiee Mermaids Swim School, women can learn in private or group ladies swimming lessons, whether you are a complete beginner or want to refine your strokes. If you would rather be taught by a woman, you can also learn with a female swimming coach.

Whatever setting you choose, the aim is the same: a class where you feel comfortable enough to relax, listen and try. Once that is in place, the swimming itself tends to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are women only swimming classes just for beginners?

No. Women only classes suit complete beginners and women who can already swim but want to refine their strokes. The difference is the setting, not the level, so it is worth telling the school your current ability when you book.

Do women only sessions always have female staff?

Not always, so it is worth asking. Some programmes make a point of it: Serco Leisure added female poolside assistants to its women only classes, and Nottingham City Council noted that running female-only sessions depends on having enough female instructors.

Is it normal to feel self-conscious in a swimsuit?

Yes, very. In a survey of 1,000 mothers by the leisure operator Everyone Active, more than half said a fear of being seen in a bathing suit had put them off teaching their own child to swim. Many women start lessons with the same worry.

Can I wear full-coverage swimwear at a public pool in Singapore?

The ActiveSG pool rules list what is not allowed rather than what is: street wear, undergarments, translucent or non-colourfast materials, attire with hard or metal objects and unlined shorts. Purpose-made full-coverage swimwear is not on that list, but check with your pool if you are unsure.