Physique Swimming

With pools spread across eight locations in New York and New Jersey, Physique Swimming has taught countless adults and kids how to feel confident in the water. Here are a few other ways the schools distinguish themselves:

• Every instructor is Red Cross–certified. Physique's founder, who spent 25 years as a swim coach himself, requires that each of his instructors is certified in lifeguarding, first aid, and CPR.

• Instructors promote a positive atmosphere. They counsel parents on how to help their children feel good about swimming, including teaching parents to never show disappointment if their child isn't mastering a skill right away. They also teach parents not to compare their child to another kid or a mermaid. And when kids finish a swimming level, instructors give them a certificate of completion to remind them that they can achieve their goals.

• They use yoga to teach swimming. In addition to traditional swim classes, Physique offers a water yoga workshop that blends swim lessons with yoga to teach the importance of breath control.