Meet Our Swim Coach
Meet Swim Coach Kalina
Nationality: Bulgarian
Living in The Netherlands since: 2021
Languages: Bulgarian, English, Russian, conversational Spanish
Pool location:
Profile:
Growing up, I spent my summers camping with my parents by the sea, starting at 6 months old. It was my favourite part of the year, and I couldn’t wait to get back in the water, which is why I also started swimming in a pool at an early age. At 7 I joined a synchronized swimming team, where I stayed for 8 years. There I built my technique across all four competitive swimming strokes and learned how to work with the water instead of fighting it. Nowadays the water is still my safe space, so I am constantly looking for excuses to be near it: I compete in swimming and water polo with my association and go surfing whenever possible. I love helping people discover that swimming is a skill that gives you calm, confidence, freedom, and a lot of laughs.
I am pursuing a master’s degree in applied cognitive psychology at Utrecht University.
Coaching style:
To me it’s important to make sure that everyone feels at ease in the water. I am patient and encouraging and use what I’ve learned in my psychology degree to find a personalized approach to each student. I love sharing my enthusiasm for the water and swimming and breaking skills down step by step so that I can see that my students are motivated and enjoying the process.
Specialties:
My background in synchronized swimming gives me a unique perspective of the balance and body position in the water, which I enjoy sharing, grounded in solid technique across different strokes and exercises. I am also very detail-oriented, so I love making small adjustments that lead to big improvements, helping students build cleaner technique and real confidence in the water.
''Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.''
- ALL YOU NEED IS THE FIRST STEP, WE'L TAKE CARE OF THE REST! -
Our range of swimming classes for adults
Which class suits you best? Select from beginner to advanced swimming lessons. We offer classes suitable at different levels, from classes for beginners to classes for those who want to refine their technique and increase their stamina.
Water introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 1 of 5
No swimming ability or afraid of water? Start your journey here at ground zero!
- Overcome fear of water
- Get comfortable in shallow water
- Learn to float and move freely
- Build basic water confidence
Water introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 1 of 5
No swimming ability or afraid of water? Start your journey here at ground zero!
- Overcome fear of water
- Get comfortable in shallow water
- Learn to float and move freely
- Build basic water confidence
Stroke introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 2 of 5
Ready to move past water play? This level focuses on turning your water confidence into real swimming skills.
Requirement: Completion of Level 1 or basic backstroke ability
- Learn the 4 basic strokes
- Improve breath control
- Build up stamina in shallow water
- Transition from water play to structured swimming
Stroke introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 2 of 5
Ready to move past water play? This level focuses on turning your water confidence into real swimming skills.
Requirement: Completion of Level 1 or basic backstroke ability
- Learn the 4 basic strokes
- Improve breath control
- Build up stamina in shallow water
- Transition from water play to structured swimming
Intermediate
Difficulty: Intermediate
Lessons range: 3 of 5
Participation in this level requires the ability to swim comfortably in shallow water. Discomfort in deep water is acceptable.
Requirements include: knowledge of all four basic strokes.
You can swim in shallow water but still improving technique or confidence.
- Refine technique for all 4 strokes
- Improve efficiency and endurance
- Get more comfortable in deeper water
- Work on swimming longer distances without breaks
Intermediate
Difficulty: Intermediate
Lessons range: 3 of 5
Participation in this level requires the ability to swim comfortably in shallow water. Discomfort in deep water is acceptable.
Requirements include: knowledge of all four basic strokes.
You can swim in shallow water but still improving technique or confidence.
- Refine technique for all 4 strokes
- Improve efficiency and endurance
- Get more comfortable in deeper water
- Work on swimming longer distances without breaks
Advanced
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 4 of 5
No issues in deep water and able to swim more than 100 meters without exhaustion? This level is the perfect match. The goal: getting fitter and stronger through swimming as a weekly workout.
You swim 100m+ without stopping and want cardio & progress.
- Swim in deep water with full confidence
- Increase swimming stamina and speed
- Improve stroke power and breathing
- Prepare for diploma-event and/or sports-level training
Advanced
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 4 of 5
No issues in deep water and able to swim more than 100 meters without exhaustion? This level is the perfect match. The goal: getting fitter and stronger through swimming as a weekly workout.
You swim 100m+ without stopping and want cardio & progress.
- Swim in deep water with full confidence
- Increase swimming stamina and speed
- Improve stroke power and breathing
- Prepare for diploma-event and/or sports-level training
Sports Class
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 5 of 5
Take swimming skills to the next level with the Sport Class! Designed for holders of official swim diplomas or advanced swimmers seeking new challenges — this class delivers focused, high-level training.
For advanced or diploma-level swimmers seeking challenge.
- Train like an athlete
- Learn interval and endurance sets
- Improve race technique and starts
- Build peak swimming fitness
Sports Class
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 5 of 5
Take swimming skills to the next level with the Sport Class! Designed for holders of official swim diplomas or advanced swimmers seeking new challenges — this class delivers focused, high-level training.
For advanced or diploma-level swimmers seeking challenge.
- Train like an athlete
- Learn interval and endurance sets
- Improve race technique and starts
- Build peak swimming fitness