Today we’d like to introduce you to Alanna Bernstein
Hi Alanna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
All I have known my whole life is the smell of chlorine and being in a bathing suit! I grew up on the Jersey Shore and learned to swim at the age of 3 in my backyard pool. I loved the sport of swimming so much that I took it to a serious level and swam competitively during my youth, high-school, and college years. I have achieved many personal victories with the sport; like qualifying for the New Jersey Junior Olympics at the age of 10! I also had to accept the harsh reality that my time as a competitive and collegiate swimmer would soon come to an end. But, with every ending comes a new beginning- and that’s where I take pride in what Alanna’s Aquatics has become! With a degree in psychology, and always wanting to be a teacher- I decided to mix my two passions in one and offer a learn to swim program to the Knoxville community. In the summer of 2020, I was known as “Swim Lessons with Alanna” and would only see about 2-5 swimmers a week! I was a mobile swim instructor and traveled to families and offered lessons in their backyard or community pools. By the end of that summer, my numbers doubled and the demand of lessons were so high that I had to find a way to offer my lessons as a year round learn to swim program. When I knew I had secured an indoor heated pool that would allow me to continue my lessons year round, I decided to rename my business to what it is now known as, “Alanna’s Aquatics” and have been a small business for almost 6 years now seeing close to 50 swimmers a week!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I like to consider myself lucky. Offering a service to such a large community, like Knoxville, can seem very intimidating. There are many talented swim instructors and swim schools in our Knoxville area and to know I am in the same category as many great individuals who put the same passion and drive in what they do is a huge honor! I do think you gain more experience and knowledge as you continue your journey. Most days I face struggles, but I’ve turned those into lessons to do better and be better. I know success can look different to others and I like to remind myself that everyday I can only improve. So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road–but it hasn’t been difficult, either! It’s actually been a lot of fun! I think the biggest struggle I have faced along the way is trying to manage my time better. I obviously want every single family that has inquired about swim lessons, but I have to be limited on how much I teach in the water. Also, when you are in the industry I am in, when pools are over-used we can face maintenance issues, which can cause a mishap in my scheduling, but I’ve learned to not focus on things out of my control!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Alanna’s Aquatics is known as a year round adaptive learn to swim program for all ages. What does this mean? Most programs require students to retain skills within a few weeks. I believe in approaching my students with less trauma and pressure and allowing them to grow and learn at a pace they are comfortable with. Results may take a bit longer, but allowing the swimmer to feel confident and comfortable is key and makes lessons much more enjoyable! I think what sets me apart from others in the Knoxville area is my positive energy and warmth that my students and families feel immediately. I try to make my lessons personal to the needs of my students instead of pushing them to where they don’t want to come to the pool. My psychology degree and childcare experience has helped me understand children differently. You really need to think outside the box when working with children and it’s important that you know how to get on their level of understanding. I find so much joy in teaching, I celebrate the small milestones in lessons- and believe me there are so many worth celebrating! I want my students and families to know that learning to swim is not an easy thing to conquer. The hard work and dedication from my students is very admirable. They work so hard in the water! I take pride in what I do, I always want to learn more and perform better. What I am most proud about my business is the recognition from my swim families and the Knoxville community to be placed in the top three for swim lessons for the last three years! It’s a huge honor to be recognized and placed, but it is also a huge honor to be up against so many talented instructors and swim schools. Lastly, I take pride in knowing that my small business is growing! I celebrated a huge milestone by hiring an assistant instructor, Miss Marley. Marley has been such a huge asset to this business, and this extra growth would not be possible without her!
What makes you happy?
Truthfully, teaching makes me happy! I think my favorite part is when my swim parents send me videos and pictures of me teaching and you can just see the complete joy written on my face. Little do my students know, but they are helping me heal and are part of the joy I feel when I teach. I lost my mother in October 2022, and during such a grieving season of my life, the incredible support I feel from my swim families is what keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alannas_aquatics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alannasaquatics
