Issue link: https://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1544632
SPRING / SUMMER 2026 41 Aquatics instructor Guila Muir feels much the same. For her, the water is an entity all its own. Gui- la learned to swim late at age 46, sparking a deep obsession with the sport. Now she owns Say Yes to Life Swims, where she hosts open-water adventure swims and teaches private lessons in Lake Wash- ington from April to November. She also teaches group aquatics classes in Helene Madison Pool on the 6th Floor of the WAC. "It's like stepping into a different universe," Gui- la says about getting into the open water to swim. A little cold water never stopped her. In fact, she re- cently won her division at an ice swim in northern Sweden, where the water was a bracing 28 degrees. Eager open-water swimmers won't get that chilly when they accompany Guila's group around Washington waters. eir sojourns start in June, and many swimmers don wetsuits for the 1-mile to 5-mile adventures. "We've been doing this since 2011," Guila says. "We know how to keep people safe and provide a good experience. Meeting your expectations for a swim is so important." Novice bathers can start their open-water journey with one-on-one lessons in the WAC pool. More confident swimmers can sign up for a Say Yes to Life event or hire two of the group's kayakers to accompany a customized route. "Our swims are so unique," Guila says. "ey're noncompetitive, the ratio of swimmers to paddlers is lower than in formal races, and my goal is to just get you addicted to the sport!" Open-water swimming Joy floats! WAC aquatics instructor Guila Muir soaks up summertime delight during open-water swims. Learn more about the Say Yes to Life open-water swim series run by WAC aquatics instructor Guila Muir at say-yes-to-life-swims.com.