Article in the magazine “Koita Mama”

Baby swimming is an educational programme that develops children’s skills through play in the water. It is addressed to parents and infants from 6 months to 3.5 years old.

It is scientifically proven that baby swimming strengthens children’s physique, respiratory system and heart function and improves their body posture. It helps them overcome their fears, gain confidence and become more social and independent. It is also a very constructive way to spend time with their parents and as is well known exercise keeps them from getting sick often!!!

The required documents for the enrollment in the courses are a medical certificate by a pathologist/general practitioner, a dermatologist and a gynecologist for the parents and a medical certificate by the pediatrician and three passport photos for the children.

Lessons take place in small groups at the swimming pool of Egnatia Palace Hotel in the center of Thessaloniki and are held by Nicolas Hatzigiakoumis, the programme manager of Ichtheis and one of the few and most experienced baby swimming instructors in Greece.

Source: Koita Mama magazine article

WELEDA supports us! Article in NATURA magazine

WELEDA was founded in 1921 in Switzerland by a group of doctors and pharmacists. Regardless of the various trends, the company has been operating for nearly eight decades “in harmony with nature and the human being” by using biodynamic farming for the production of its cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In the framework of searching for innovative ideas, socially sustainable projects and distinguished young entrepreneurs, WELEDA supports the work of Ichtheis Baby Swimming.

Baby swimming is an educational programme that develops children’s skills through play in the water. It is addressed to parents and infants from 5-6 months to 4 years old. It takes place in the spa center of Egnatia Palace Hotel, in a swimming pool that is treated with bromine and has a constant temperature of 31-32 degrees. Classes are held once a week in groups of three or four for a total of 30 minutes (based on scientific research).

The benefits of baby swimming are unique!!!

It is scientifically proven that baby swimming strengthens children’s physique, respiratory system and heart function and improves their body posture. It helps them overcome their fears, gain confidence and become more social and independent. It is also a very constructive way to spend time with their parents and as is well known, exercise keeps them from getting sick often!!!

Our little friends will have the opportunity to play, have fun and learn how to swim according to the latest methods and by the most specialized baby swimming instructors in Greece. At an age that very few activities are suitable for infants, baby swimming comes to fill this gap with a lot of fun and learning.

Parents will be able to spend a very productive and enjoyable time with their children in spotless and fully equipped facilities. The programme is addressed to all those who look for the best when it comes to their children’s education and entertainment and wish to share such an experience with other parents.

Programme Manager – Information: Christina Chrysochoidou

Education & Training Manager: Nicolas Hatzigiakoumis – Professor of physical education, swimming and baby swimming instructor, lifeguard, water ski trainer, personal and family gymnast. He holds two baby swimming certificates from the official Australian Organization for the Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety (AUSTSWIM), as well as degrees in first aid and diving.

Article by “Pigolampides sto klouvi” (Fireflies in the cage)

The benefits of baby swimming are unique!!!

It is scientifically proven that baby swimming strengthens children’s physique, respiratory system and heart function and improves their body posture. It helps them overcome their fears, gain confidence and become more social and independent.

It is also a very constructive way to spend time with their parents and as is well known, exercise keeps them from getting sick often!!!

  • Children who attend baby swimming classes are often able to swim before they even walk. As they advance their swimming skills, they learn how to synchronize, they become more resistant and strengthen their respiratory system.

  • The earlier children start with baby swimming, the faster they develop the necessary skills that will ensure their safety in the water.

  • The smooth and relaxing exercises in the water let them sleep better, longer and more peacefully. The parents of our little students are indeed telling us that their babies sleep better and longer after their swimming lessons.

  • Swimming offers great joy to children and allows them to develop a healthier and more dynamic personality.

  • Baby swimming helps infants develop their self-esteem and become more independent adults in the future. As they learn how to move freely in the water, they also increase their sense of well-being.

  • Parents are able to spend a very productive and enjoyable time with their children, especially at this age that very few activities are suitable for infants. That way, baby swimming builds stronger bonds between parents and children and, under the right circumstances, it increases cohesion in the family and the society in general.

  • Baby swimming is often their first experience with children of the same age. Thus they learn to socialize and interact with each other and they look forward to the next lesson. They develop their social skills much more than other children who do not participate in similar activities. Baby swimmers are thus more social!

  • Parents also have the opportunity to meet and discuss with each other about their common interests and beliefs. So children and parents socialize together.

  • Swimming classes from such a young age set a solid foundation for children’s later contact with all kinds of water sports.

Ichtheis Baby Swimming

Nicolas Hatzigiakoumis, the programme manager of Ichtheis Baby Swimming, is one of the few and most experienced baby swimming instructors in Greece. He is a professor of physical education specialized in swimming and holds two baby swimming certificates from the official Australian Organization for the Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety (AUSTSWIM). He worked for several years as a coach and then as a programme manager at Idria, which is the first and most specialized baby swimming club in Greece, under the supervision and mentoring of Margarita Kotzia in 3 different swimming pools in Athens (OAKA, Palini, Agioi Anargiroi). His long experience as a family gymnast of eminent personalities of Athens is another aspect of his multifaceted professional background.

He also holds international degrees in lifeguarding, first aid, diving and water ski coaching and has attended numerous seminars on baby swimming and infant education.

His passion for sports, but especially his love for children (he is a father of two) are the main reasons why he decided to become an educator and then devote his life to baby swimming by starting the most organized baby swimming programme in Thessaloniki.

Source:

Fireflies in the cage

Swimming under the microscope of science

Scientific study results on the effect of swimming on the human body

BY OLGA TANTOU, ARTICLE IN NEWSPAPER “EPIKAIRA”

In a few days, on 23 July, is the 186th anniversary of the first swimming school in the world, which was founded in Boston USA. In the midst of the summer and just before our prolonged trip to the beach, “Epikaira” discusses with experts and presents the latest scientific studies on the benefits of swimming. Health benefits: “Frequent swimming, as well as other forms of mild exercise (walking, cycling) contributes to the prevention of and rehabilitation after cardiovascular diseases,” notes interventional cardiologist and former director of the Cardiology Department of the General Hospital of Athens “G. Gennimatas” Antonios D. Vrachatis. It is worth noting that, based on a research conducted at the University of Texas, swimming benefits elderly people by lowering their blood pressure and improving the function of their blood vessels. Mr Vrachatis stresses that “besides lowering the blood pressure, swimming increases the protective ‘good’ HDL cholesterol, reduces body weight and insulin resistance and increases the antithrombotic and antiarrhythmic activity as well as the collateral circulation. Thanks to buoyancy and the reduction of body weight, even patients with heart failure can exercise in the water.”

In addition, swimming benefits patients with diseases of the spine, such as spondiloarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation, osteoporosis and scoliosis. Rehabilitation physician Evangelos Manavelas points out that “swimming strengthens the muscles of the whole body, as they all exercise simultaneously. Moreover, it increases flexibility ― particularly to patients with spondiloarthritis ―and as it is a mild type of exercise thanks to buoyancy, it protects joints, bones and muscles. Lastly, aerobic exercise in the water reduces stress and sympathetic pain. “

Regarding infants, there are numerous scientific studies which have showed that swimming is beneficial for their health. A specific study conducted by the Medicine school of the University of Tasmania in Australia reveals that children who suffer from asthma can enhance their physical condition, as well as their heart and lung function.

During his discussion with “Epikaira”, pediatrician Kostas Kommatas noted that “children with bronchial asthma, who often avoid other sports, should be encouraged to do swimming, as it gradually strengthens their respiratory muscles and increases their self-confidence”. He added that “it is easy to see why swimming contributes to children’s health. First of all, the body becomes lighter inside the water, so the smooth pressure exercises evenly all the joints. It also protects them from accidents, while the constant movement of the body (which becomes more intensive when appropriate) strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory system”.

A study of significant interest, which was conducted by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research, reveals the important effects of swimming, not only on health, but also on the cognitive skills of children. When children start swimming at an early age, they tend to develop their cognitive and language skills faster than children of the same age who don’t swim. More specifically, it has been proven that swimmers have better performance in oral expression, reading, counting and drawing lines and shapes. “Children who participate in learn-through-play programmes (i.e. baby swimming programmes for infants from four months to four years old) become more intelligent, as they perform combination exercises (e.g. moving the right hand with left leg) that enhance the exchange of information between the two brain hemispheres. Thus, children develop a more intelligent and creative way of thinking,” explains the professor of physical education and programme manager of Ichtheis Baby Swimming, Nikolas Hatzigiakoumis. He also tells us that “many parents have seen psychological improvement in their children. They are healthier, thus happier. Through swimming they learn how to set goals (for example, perform a specific exercise) fight to achieve them and at the end succeed, something that reinforces significantly their self-esteem and their sense of independence. Also, interacting with other children at such a young age makes them more social.”

Swimming and muscle mass

During a study conducted by the Department of Kinesiology at the Indiana University in USA, scientists compared swimmers with other types of athletes aged from 20 to 88 years old. It was found that swimmers had in all cases a higher percentage of muscle mass.

Did you know that 93% of Greek waters are ideal for swimming? According to the 2013 Annual Report of the European Environment Agency, 93% of bathing sites in Greece meet the minimum water quality standards, exceeding the average of the European Union. Additionally, water quality is excellent at 78% of the sites.

Precautions in order to avoid danger when swimming

Interventional cardiologist and former director of the Cardiology Department at the General Hospital of Athens, Antonios Vrachatis says that “swimming (and training in general) is not a panacea, thus it is necessary to take some precautions so that it does not become dangerous instead of beneficial and pleasant. Simple symptoms, such as dizziness, vomiting or even a cramp while being in the water, can cause drowning. Thus patients with a heart condition, especially those who are under hypotensive or antiarrhythmic medication, should not swim alone or right after eating. When the water is cold, they should enter gradually, as there is a risk of coronary spasm and they should avoid going to isolated beaches that are difficult to access and thus expose themselves to high temperatures during the summer.