Most of us as kids would have watched shows featuring the mythical mermaid, such as The Little Mermaid or Barbie in a Mermaid Tale, and dreamt of frolicking in rolling ocean waves while donning a gorgeous fishtail. But these dreams, unattainable to our childhood selves, stayed only as dreams.
Perhaps as adults, many of us still fantasise about escaping our mundane lives for a moment living out what our childhood selves could only imagine. Well, there’s a mermaid workshop in JB where you’ll learn mermaiding and see if being a mermaid is anything like you imagined.
Screenshot from: @xinxinmermaid via Instagram
Mermaiding is the activity of swimming while dressed like a mermaid, usually using a fabric or silicone mermaid tail with a monofin that keeps both feet together. Instead of kicking your legs separately like in normal swimming, you move your whole body in a dolphin-like wave motion to propel yourself through the water.
Essentially, it’s dressing up as a mermaid and actually swimming elegantly as one. So yes, it’s the closest you can get to cosplaying Princess Ariel underwater.
Screenshot from: @xinxinmermaid via Instagram
Better yet, these mermaid tails come in a range of fun colours and designs, so you can pick one that looks like the mermaid tail you’ve always dreamt of having.
The aesthetic and whimsy are only one part of its benefits. Mermaiding also gives your core, hips, glutes, and lower back a great workout because you’re relying on those muscles to create the wave-like motion with your body. So you’re not just dressing up as a mythical creature, you’re also sneaking in a solid exercise sesh.
Screenshot from: @xinxinmermaid via Instagram
Before you write this off because you can’t even tread water, mermaid instructor Yixin says that everyone is welcome to her lessons. No swimming experience is needed, and this unique sport is accessible as long as there’s a proper instructor to guide you. The mermaid tail and fundamental techniques actually make moving through the water surprisingly intuitive, so even complete beginners can give it a go.
Yixin’s mermaiding classes are conducted at Pusat Akuatik MBJB Arena Larkin, in a pool designed just for diving and underwater training with a depth ranging from 2m to 5m. Of course, beginners start their classes at the shallow end, which can still be intimidating considering most of us aren’t 2m tall, but Yixin says she will be right there to guide you through.
Screenshot from: @xinxinmermaid via Instagram
The trial class includes covering the basic skills of mermaiding. Expect to learn how to put on and take off a mermaid tail, relax in the water, and enter the water elegantly like a mermaid, alongside basic mermaid diving and breathing techniques. Additionally, Yixin will provide you with a video of your mermaid adventures to take home, which is great for posting on the ‘gram too.
And no, you don’t have to buy a whole mermaid tail beforehand; Yixin will provide 1 based on your usual clothing and shoe size.
The regular pricing for a 1st trial class with Yixin is priced at RM299 (~S$94.50) for 1 hour and 30 minutes. However, with her current promotion, the price is slashed to just RM199 (~S$62.90).
Take note that you’ll have to pay an additional RM55 (~S$17.40) in entry fees to the specialised diving pool, bringing the total cost to RM254 (~S$80.30) per session during the promotional period.
There is no end date for the promotion at the time of writing, so we recommend you inquire about the promotional price with Yixin directly.
Group sign-ups are welcome, but Yixin keeps her classes small at a maximum of 4 students so she can give everyone enough attention and provide a more effective learning environment.
Screenshot from: @xinxinmermaid via Instagram
Instructor Yixin conducts lessons from Monday to Sunday, in the morning from 9am-10.30am and in the evening from 6pm-7.30pm. She also mentions that the schedule is flexible and can be arranged according to your availability and hers.
For a 1st class, Yixin recommends bringing your usual swimwear, toiletries, and a hairdryer if you need one. Your mermaid tail and monofin will be provided based on your usual clothing and shoe size.
Yixin conducts her lessons mainly in Mandarin Chinese, but can accommodate students who prefer to be taught in English or Malay.
You can sign up for a trial class with Yixin by contacting her at @yixin_0527 via Instagram, or @yixin0527 via TikTok.
Shopping malls and cafes in JB will always be there, but a 90-minute session trading your legs for a tail is a little harder to come by. You’ll get to spend 90 minutes trading your legs for a tail and finally find out whether you’ve got what it takes to be part of Ariel’s world.
For more to do in JB:
Cover image adapted from: @xinxinmermaid via Instagram
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