Community Highlights: Meet Teela Branson of iheartswimming

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teela Branson.

Hi Teela, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have had a lifelong connection to swimming, beginning with learning basic skills from my mother without the benefit of formal lessons. As a child, I informally taught neighborhood children, and at age 14 I joined a swim team, where I unexpectedly began teaching swim lessons professionally. I quickly discovered a passion for instruction and, due to financial necessity, left competitive swimming to focus on teaching. Over the next two decades, I worked in aquatic instruction alongside other roles, developing deep expertise and a strong commitment to learn-to-swim programming and drowning prevention through extensive hands-on experience and continuing education.
Eleven years ago, as a single mother managing multiple jobs while caring for a chronically ill child, I founded iheartswimming to create financial stability and address overwhelming medical expenses. I left my other positions to build a business grounded in my passion for teaching, personal life experiences, and professional training. Today, iheartswimming is celebrating its first decade in operation and has grown from a sole proprietorship into a six-figure business with over a dozen staff members, two operating locations, and a third location currently in development.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many businesses, we have encountered numerous challenges throughout our journey, including initial startup hurdles, financial constraints, and staffing demands. We have also navigated periods of growth and development while successfully sustaining operations during a global pandemic.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about iheartswimming ?
iheartswimming boasts a team of highly experienced instructors with a primary focus on water safety and survival swimming skills. Many of our instructors possess over 30 years of teaching experience.

Our program prioritizes survival skills, emphasizing the ‘Flip, Float & Follow’ methodology. Students learn to efficiently flip onto their backs to float and breathe, then navigate to safety. This foundational skillset is then expanded upon, developing endurance, functional swimming abilities, and refined stroke techniques.

All iheartswimming instructors are certified lifeguards, CPR/First Aid/AED certified and are fully insured.

Our dedicated staff possesses the expertise to cater to diverse student abilities and needs. Many members of our staff are certified Adaptive Swim Whisperers through Swim Angelfish, the leader in adaptive aquatics training.

At iheartswimming our goal is for you to heart swimming too!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We actively collaborate with organizations both locally and nationwide and are committed to supporting partners across our community. For all inquiries, please contact info@iheartswimming.net.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://iheartswimming.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iheartswimming2?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iheartswimming2?mibextid=ZbWKwL