More About: Sylvie Dumaine
Beginning in 1998, I performed nightly in Cirque du Soleil's premiere water show for 18 years. I have been a synchronized swimmer since the age of 7, and have competed and coached internationally. I graduated from the University of Montreal with a B.S. in Physical Education for children, where I taught water activities to children with special needs.
I am now the mother of 2 beautiful girls. My love for water has transitioned from the stage to teaching the ISR technique to infants and children.
I have been a Certified ISR Instructor for 11 years, teaching over 800 children. I am excited to expose youngsters to the ISR Self-Rescue technique, and I am committed to ISR's mission of "Not One More Child Drowns."
FAQs
If more frequent but shorter lessons are better, then why don’t you teach 7 days/week?
Everyone needs a little break from learning to process the information and in this case to give muscles a
chance to recover. In addition, you need to be able to spend time with your family, as does your
instructor. Weekends are family time. Periodically, if weather or other issues have cause lessons to be
canceled for numerous days, your instructor may choose to offer make-up lessons on a weekend. This is
strictly up to the instructor and based on the availability of parents.
Is it the baby fat that makes them float?
Actually, the primary factor in a baby’s ability to float is the ability to take air into the lungs. To maintain
this access to air, the child must adjust his/her posture. The difference in positioning for an adult can be
inches. For a baby, this adjustment is reduced to centimeters. If a child’s body posture is just a few
centimeters off, it can make the difference between the face being submerged or the child having access
to air.
How is it that babies can learn to respond to the danger of water when they fall in?
A baby does not need to perceive danger or be afraid to respond appropriately to being underwater. If a
baby has learned to roll over and float when he needs air, he doesn't need to perceive danger in order to
respond in this manner. He needs skill, practice and confidence to calmly deal with the situation.
How do you teach them to hold their breath?
Breath holding skills are taught beginning with the first lesson. We shape breath control using highly
effective positive reinforcement techniques. We continue to reinforce these breath-holding techniques
throughout every lesson.
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