NOTE: This review is based on an adult taking lessons…read more TL;DR: After struggling to learn how to swim for years, I finally took private lessons at Waterworks in Alhambra with Jesse--and it was the best decision I could have made. The sign-up process was smooth, the instruction was patient and professional, and the progress was real. I went from barely floating to confidently swimming all four strokes. Highly recommend for any adult who wants to finally make a splash and conquer their fear of the water. -- For years, I tried to learn how to swim (four different times plus a friend's attempt to teach me) but nothing stuck. I never had the chance to learn when I was young, and I knew it was an important life skill to have (just in case). After another group lesson didn't work out, I decided to take the plunge and invest in private lessons. They're more expensive, but after multiple failed group attempts, I realized they were worth it. After researching several schools, I chose Waterworks in Alhambra. Reading through instructor bios, I felt Jesse would be the best fit for me. And wow, that choice made a splash! Signing up was quick and straightforward. I started with a group package just to test the waters, and I appreciated the option to add more classes later. Scheduling a recurring time slot with Jesse was simple, and even when my first package was about to expire, the customer service team helped me renew seamlessly without losing my spot. Attending class was smooth sailing too. Since I already had an LA Fitness membership, I could skip front-desk check-in and head straight to the pool. After 18 months of working with Jesse, I can confidently say every penny and minute was worth it. From my first lesson, when I only knew how to front float and was still uneasy in the water, to now being able to swim all four strokes at an intermediate level, float comfortably on my back, and even attempt flip turns, the progress has been incredible. Jesse's patience and clear guidance made all the difference. He always took time to explain techniques, offer visuals, and ensure I truly understood each movement. Writing this during my final week of lessons feels bittersweet--I'm sad to stop, but thrilled to know I can now keep making waves on my own. Here are a few takeaways from my private lesson experience: - Set realistic expectations. You won't learn everything in one class. Swimming takes time and consistency, especially if you're just getting comfortable in the water. - Practice makes progress. On non-lesson days, I made it a point to practice. Jesse often checked in to see how I was doing and encouraged me to keep up the routine. He even mentioned that my progress stood out because of my consistency. - Arrive early. Lessons are only 20 minutes, so warming up and stretching beforehand helps maximize that time and prevent injuries. - Follow LA Fitness rules. Take a quick shower before entering the pool. Pop-up changing rooms are available if needed. - Dress comfortably. I wore a rash guard and swim cap for modesty and convenience, especially since many other swimmers were kids. Thank you, Waterworks, and thank you, Jesse, for helping me dive into swimming with confidence. This experience has given me a lifelong skill, and I'm proud to say I finally made some serious waves!

My son started swimming 2 months ago with no experience and being 3 years old. His instructor Dulce…read morehas been such a kind detailed and sweet makes the class fun even a 3 year old can follow rules, so much progress and so little time due to the fact that the teachers really dedicate themselves to teach them

非常满意这家游泳馆！Blake校长非常专业很有耐心，会根据孩子的具体情况来调整教学方法，氛围也很轻松有趣，孩子每次上课都非常开心，进步也非常明显，环境非常整洁，工作人员服务态度也非常好，课程安排也很合…read more，值得推荐！！ I'm very satisfied with this swimming pool! Principal Blake is very professional and patient. He will adjust the teaching method according to the specific situation of the child. The atmosphere is also very relaxed and interesting. The child is very happy in every class, and the progress is also very obvious. The environment is very clean, and the staff's service attitude is also very good. It is worth recommending!!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but the sheer lack of professionalism and the blatant double…read morestandards at this swim school have forced my hand. 1) Hypocritical Cancellation Policy: They enforce a strict rule where students must request a sick day at least 24 hours in advance, or the class is completely forfeited. However, the school thinks it's perfectly acceptable to text you 2 hours before class to cancel on you without any advanced notice. The respect for time only goes one way here. 2) Constant, Questionable Cancellations: We have two kids enrolled with two different unfixed coaches. Yet, we have had classes canceled multiple times with the generic excuse that the "coach is sick." It is statistically impossible for two different coaches to be sick at the same exact time 4x in a row. On one occasion, we drove all the way there and showed up on time, only for the front desk to bluntly tell us, "We need to cancel your class today," with zero explanation. When we confronted the administration, they finally admitted they were just understaffed and they didn't update that on the system. So for the same time-slot, they only have one coach available for my 2 kids. Mind you, I paid 2 different packages for my 2 kids. They won't even let you share a package between siblings. 3) A Nightmare for Working Parents: so far, they have done nothing to fix their staffing problems, and every other week we receive yet another last-minute cancellation notice. As working parents, this constant instability completely throws off our schedules. Trying to constantly rearrange work and family logistics around their unreliability is exhausting. We paid in advance for these classes, but we can't even get them scheduled because the school is so unreliable with their staff team. To make matters worse, they have also increased their prices. For the terrible level of service and constant headaches they provide, their new rates are a complete joke. To be fair, we would only recommend this place because our coaches are nice.

Elle Rohs is an exceptional swimming instructor who consistently demonstrates a strong…read moreunderstanding of the material. My daughter has been having lessons with her and I have noticed the consistent improvement. Her enthusiasm and dedication make her a joy to teach. Elle's progress has been remarkable, and she continues to exceed expectations. I highly recommend her! Alexa is an amazing swim instructor! Her patience and expertise have helped my daughter gain confidence in the water. She creates a supportive and fun learning environment, making each lesson enjoyable and productive. I highly recommend Alexa for anyone looking to improve their swimming skills.

Instructors are good until they're not. Had to ask the one instructor to stop tickling my kid in…read morethe water REPEATEDLY. Finally when it sunk in the third time, third lesson, he responded, "but that's how I get his attention..." From then on he would YELL at my 8 yr old son, lol. Secondly, they can cancel on you and make it into a makeup lesson when their own instructor cancels and then I'm blocked out from using that make up lesson unless I can use it right away. THEY are controlling this! And at $72/lesson....for 20 minutes. And now they are telling me Im losing three classes altogether unless I BUY more classes. These guys are not about the parents. Not about the kids. It's just a business. Ridiculous!

My kids have been attending swimming classes at this location for the past few months. We've had…read moresuch a great experience! Alex and Jade are amazing -- super patient, encouraging, and great with kids. They make lessons fun while still helping my kids build confidence and skills in the water. Highly recommend!

I was looking for private adult swimming lessons and contacted Swimphi through the contact form on…read moretheir website. I got a call back within a day and was able to schedule lessons that same week, which I really appreciated! I love how they have all the information clearly laid out on the website so I know what to expect when I get there (even directions with pictures on how to get from parking lot to the pool, which was super neat)! I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to swimming but my coach made sure I felt comfortable and safe in the water. My coach brought all the equipment needed for the lesson so it's super hassle-free. I was initially intimidated by the deeper end of the pool but my coach has always been very patient and encouraging and stayed right next to me the whole time to make sure I'm safe. I mentioned I was preparing for an upcoming trip since it will involve a lot of water activities and my coach really catered the lessons to my needs. I genuinely appreciate how patient my coach is, if I don't get a particular technique right away, we would try different variations and my coach would always remind me of the key points to remember. In the Pasadena location, it's an indoor pool that's heated and there are changing rooms available. Onsite parking in the lot is another plus! Highly recommend Swimphi to anyone looking for adult (or kids) swimming lessons in Pasadena!

So thankful to have completed 6 weeks of ISR with Alina for our almost 2 year old! Alina is so…read moreconfident, caring & patient with these little ones. We don't have a pool at home, but we frequent the beach, family member's pools and are planning to go to hawaii at the end of this year. Every day for 6 weeks is a commitment, but definitely worth it knowing your little one has this survival skill under their belt.

Alina is a great instructor. I was reluctant to put my 6 month old boy in so early but it paid off…read morein the end. He was able to float on his back in 6 week. She was patient and kept the schedule on time. 10 minutes is more than enough for your little one. Will definitely return next season to continue ISR swim classes.

Great YMCA that I love going to. Lots of equipment, classes, community info/activities, and even a…read moreheated pool (which I love). I've never been to the location and found it too crowded (like a lot of other gyms) I only wish this YMCA was also open on Sundays. Great and friendly staff as well. Tip: The parking lot is smaller than their demand, but there is plenty of street parking

The customer service is hit or miss. Some are very friendly and knowledgeable, some are not. It…read moreseems fairly inconsistent depending on when you go and what kind of information you're asking for and from whom. The facility seems very clean, but there are some seating areas that probably need replacement benches and the existing ones shouldn't be in use. There seems to be a good variety of activities to choose from, but the website and app are not very user friendly.

My child takes recurring lessons with Janness. She has been wonderful at getting children…read morecomfortable in the water. Less than a year ago, my daughter hated putting her face in the water. Now, she loves being in the pool and has learned so much. Janness is patient and makes the lessons fun. We've also had good experiences with Zachary and David when we've had to schedule make-up classes.

David is a very Good swim instructor to i like how Patient he is with my child and he is very…read morepolite to

Baby is still a happy kid. He loves him swim school! A stronger swimmer than yesterday!read more

No better swim school. I think every instructor we have had had been excellent. Each had their own…read morestyle but the progress my child made in the private lessons with learning different strokes was phenomenal. The lessons were engaging and fast paced. . Quann, the owner, is really knowledgeable and helpful.

Anna at Hall Swim Academy is an excellent teacher…read more Two years ago, my son (who was 7 at the time) was going to another swim school and was doing ok but advancing slowly. As part of that school's safety training, they threw him in the water wearing street clothes. He was doing ok for about 30 seconds but then panicked and started to sink so one of the teachers had to jump in and pull him out. (It was partially my fault since I mistakenly had him wear long pants that absorbed water). Anyhow, he freaked out and got very scared. We continued to go to that school for several more weeks but he stagnated with his training and the teacher became frustrated and tried to push him too hard so he had a melt down. Fast forward two years, I started taking him to the Hall Swim Academy west LA location about 2 months ago and he started trying again to learn how to swim with Anna. Anna is extremely kind and patient with kids. She demonstrates what she wants him to do and corrects mistakes in his floating and swim strokes and has him repeat as necessary. She is able to recognize how much to push and when to give him more space and repeats instructions as necessary. He loves going to swim class with Anna and is motivated to learn so he can swim with his friends at summer camp. Yesterday, he had two major breakthroughs. He spent most of the class in the pool without wearing goggles which he previously refused to do. Then, on his own, he decided he wanted to try the swim test. So, he put on street clothes over his swim suit, jumped in the water, floated on his back for 20 seconds and then easily swam to the side of the pool and climbed out on his own. He was so proud of himself for overcoming his fear and is now looking forward to his next class with Anna. I am very grateful to Anna for her kindness, professionalism, excellent teaching skills and being such a good motivator. Thank you!!

Hall Swim Academy was awesome! We have a pool at our house so learning to swim was non-negotiable…read more My son went from afraid of putting his face in the water all the way to a confident swimmer. The whole team is fantastic, and Elena is especially amazing!

Came here a few times. It's not bad. The elliptical works well. At least one of them wasn't working…read morethough. Not a super huge space and can get crowded. Didn't have to wait to use any of the weights and machines though (around 5:30-6pm week days). There's a free parking structure. It can get pretty packed.

The best thing about this gym is that it is 24hrs and reliable enough for me to get a workout in…read more Other than that, just another 24hr fitness that follows it's usual standards of being dirty and messy and unorganized. The dumbells and plates are all over the place by the time it is night. Bathrooms are filthy. Needs round the clock janitor service.