The New Canaan YMCA offers a variety of specialized aquatic programs to meet the needs of individuals with special interests, as well as special needs:

Synchronized Swimming: 

• Synchro Fish:  A non-competitive synchronized swimming program.  Participants will develop flexibility and learn basic synchronized swimming skills, including extension, sculling, and basic body positions.  In addition, participants will learn to swim together to music and learn a routine.  Practice commitment is one day per week.  Prerequisites:  No Synchro experience required.  Must be able to swim length of pool using freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke and be comfortable going under water.

• Synchro Stripes:  A non-competitive synchronized swimming program, this class is ideal for those who wish to continue developing their skills.  Participants will continue to build and develop skills learned in the Synchro Fish program.  This class introduces more challenging skills, including compulsory figures, routine elements, and team swimming.  Practice commitment is two days per week, with an optional third day.  Prerequisites:  For strong swimmers:  Flying Fish/Shark or equivalent.  Synchro Fish skills assessment, summer club experience, or demonstrated ability.

Youth SwimFit:  Ages 9 and up.  Under the direction of the YMCA Caimans coaching staff, this program is designed for the intermediate youth swimmer.  Focus is placed on the development of physical fitness and improved stroke technique.  

Special Needs:

• The Angel Fish:  A small group class for children with special needs and their parents (ages 2-6 and 7-12).  This class uses therapeutic techniques to strengthen muscles, normalize muscle tone, and modulate the sensory system.  Using the water’s properties of buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure, we will meet each child’s individual needs.  The focus will be on parent education regarding therapeutic techniques, basic swim skills, peer interaction, motor planning, and mostly FUN!  This class is run by Physical Therapists Aileen Tisser and Gina Bradbury and YMCA Instructor Javier Rodriguez. 

• TLC Salamander:  This is a “bridging” class especially for children with special needs who are ready to be introduced to a regular swim lesson format.  Class ratio is 2 instructors to six children.  Note:  All children must be evaluated by the Aquatic Department prior to registering to determine if this is the appropriate class for them.

• Buddy Swim:  For children ages 7-12, Buddy Swim is a class for children with special needs.  Led by a YMCA swim instructor, participants are grouped with two high school volunteers who will work directly with them under the direction of the instructor.

• MS Water Exercise:  A water exercise class for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.  This class focuses on improving muscular endurance and coordination through water-resistance exercises and is for individuals with mild MS who do not require one-on-one attention.

• Arthritis Exercise Class:  Come have some fun while you exercise in a class specifically designed for people with Arthritis.  Classes are held in the Y’s warm Rec Pool and are taught by a certified AFYAP instructor.

For more information, click here to view our current program brochure for session dates and class days and times.