Meet Your Instructor

Hi, I’m Carmen Ankrah, a certified Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor and the owner of Born Aware Swim in Cypress, Texas.

I provide individualized, one-on-one survival swim lessons designed to help infants and young children develop confidence, body awareness, and the ability to respond safely in the water.

Why I Do This

Before becoming an ISR instructor, I served in the U.S. Air Force and later worked as a respiratory therapist, caring for patients in critical situations, including drowning incidents.

Those experiences shaped the way I view safety.

I’ve seen firsthand how quickly things can happen, and how important it is for children to have the ability to respond. ISR gave me a way to take that knowledge and turn it into something proactive — helping families build skills before an emergency ever occurs.

A Personal Perspective

As a mom, water safety has always been important to me. My own children participated in swim lessons from a young age because I wanted them to feel comfortable and capable in the water.

That same mindset is what led me to ISR — a program focused not just on swimming, but on teaching children how to respond and protect themselves.

My Approach

Every child is different, and lessons are tailored to meet your child where they are.

My goal is to create a calm, structured environment where your child can learn step-by-step, build confidence, and develop real, reliable skills in the water. Safety is always the priority, while still supporting your child’s independence and comfort throughout the process.

Why “Born Aware”

The name Born Aware reflects the idea that children are born with an innate awareness of their bodies — a kind of internal sense that helps them move, respond, and adapt to their environment.

Through ISR lessons, I help shape and strengthen that awareness so children can learn how to respond safely and confidently in the water.

It’s similar to a sea turtle instinctively knowing it needs to reach the water — that awareness is already there, but sometimes it needs guidance to fully develop.

These lessons are about building on that natural ability and turning it into real, reliable skills.

Local to Cypress

Lessons are held in my heated home pool in Cypress (West & Fry area), providing a consistent and controlled environment for learning.

Closing

I’m honored to work with families in this community and to be part of helping children gain skills that can last a lifetime.

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