Total Immersion: Are the workshops worth it?

I actually took a TI workshop shortly after getting into swimming. If you're looking to be more efficient, I think it definitely helps with that. I had no prior training at all, so I found it pretty helpful. And another person in my workout group who attended the TI clinic changed his stroke completely after swimming his whole life. So yes, I think it could be worth it for some people. Of course, results vary from individual to individual.

thewookie, have you taken a TI workshop? I'd be interested in your thoughts if you have. And which coaches you liked best. Also, if you felt it helped you improve. The same people seem to teach the workshops in New York, which are the ones closest to me. I'm intrigued because the way Terry Laughlin explains it, TI teaches a different way of moving through the water entirely. From comments I've seen online, some people really like it and say it's helped them a lot. Others not much. It probably isn't for everyone. I haven't heard of a masters coach nearby who uses it. I've emailed one of TI's local coaches for some private lessons.

Thanks for asking this, hoodoo7. I wondered the same thing. I started swimming only about six months ago, but watching some of the free TI online videos and reading the book did help me get started, and it helped me a lot with breathing and just relaxing in the water, which was important for me as I was getting over a water phobia. I've looked at the camps. They sound like fun. I hope you'll post when you decide and if you go, please let me know what you thought of the experience.

hoodoo, To be honest, it depends on what you goals are in swimming and who you get a coach at a workshop. There are a few coaches that coaches masters and age groupers, so they understand the needs of competitive swimmers. There are some that only work with newbies or triathletes. They don't always know how to help competitive swimmers progress for different distances and strokes. If you send me a pm, I will give you a list of coaches that I would recommend for masters swimmers.

One and two day clinics are not a magic bullet, but they are used as a starting point. Anyone offering swimming improvement services are selling their brand. You, TI, Swim Smooth, are all offering similar services but each one is promoted and packaged differently. In the end, the best service is in the mind of the customer. I don't think we are in disagreement about the fact that clinics/workshops/lessons are certainly a starting point. However, to see real improvements you need to practice what you learned consistently. This could be difficult for the swimmer who practices on a team that takes a dramatically different approach from what he or she learned in the clinic or workshop. That is why I would suggest that swimmers who are frustrated with their progress choose a long-term coaching plan, allowing them to implement what they learned in their daily workouts. Also, in terms of branding, I post on the forum to share my experiences as a USMS swimmer and a coach. And as a veteran of this forum, you know that is what it is all about - sharing our knowledge and helping fellow swimmers and the swimming community.

I realize this is a US Masters forum, which implies team, but there are a lot of us who don't swim as part of a team and can't afford a long-term coaching plan.

:Lurking: :popcorn: Good dialogue on this thread! All of you have made excellent points worth considering. :agree: This is why I find the USMS Forums a valuable networking site for improving my swimming. :applaud:

As a final point, I would add that one workshop, one clinic, or one lesson will generally not make you a better swimmer; rather, it is a longer-term, individualized coaching plan emphasizing proper technique and speed work that is the key to success. One and two day clinics are not a magic bullet, but they are used as a starting point. Anyone offering swimming improvement services are selling their brand. You, TI, Swim Smooth, are all offering similar services but each one is promoted and packaged differently. In the end, the best service is in the mind of the customer.

I agree with thewookie. It depends on goals as well as on specific part of your training season. TI is useful to improve stroke technique, to stretch and increase DPS but for competitive swimming you need to transform that technique into speed so it is only part of the approach for competitive swimmer, specially sprinter. You should understand that no speed gonna come without working on it. I apply though TI principles even during period of most intensive workouts while preparing to the meet. After top intensity sets you build much lactate and muscles become stiff and sore, so taking some easy swim (possibly some drills) in TI style concentrating on DPS helps to stretch muscles and remove lactate and that makes it easier to swim the next workout. So TI is a single tool in the training tool-set but not the tool-set. You also need interval, speed endurance, speed and explosive speed sets, working on strength, on core, on flexibility, on such technical elements like starts and turns.

I can tell you that TI lessons with a private coach are expensive - $50-$65 for a half hour compared to $35/half hour for regular private swim coaching at the rec center. I don't know what the camps are, but it probably works out to be a lot cheaper. FYI, here is a link that might help you. The opinions vary, of course. www.trifuel.com/.../total-immersion-495-worth-it And from someone who took a camp, details of how the sessions went and what she learned: bluegrasstrichick.blogspot.com/.../total-immersion-swim-clinic-recap.html