I just started swimming. Not very good at it. Well, I swam in the Navy, but not freestyle. . I'm a disabled vet and swimming seems to be a great exercise without the pain of other exercises.
I am not so good at the breathing part when doing freestyle. I watched videos, and have been practicing. Some days I seem to breath just fine. While other days, like today, I think I swallowed more water than I swam in.
Should I invest in a center mount snorkel to help me while I concentrate on form, or will this be more of a distraction? Would I benefit from it?
Ultimately I would like to master my breathing technique, but I don't want to get discouraged and stop swimming all together.
Thanks
Chris
Chris – Thank you for your service. I’m a retired Navy vet too. I’ve never used one of those center-mount snorkels so I can’t tell you what they’re like. BUT, since you said you really want to learn to breathe properly, I think it’d be best for you to learn a good breathing technique BEFORE you try a snorkel. I think if you start off with the snorkel you’ll get reliant on it and just never force yourself to learn to breathe properly. And although I’m suggesting that you not use the snorkel, I am suggesting that you ought to wear goggles. I know that sounds odd since we’re talking about breathing. But I’ve always told beginners that and it does make a difference to them. I feel like if you can see clearly, and there’s no water in your eyes that you’re more comfortable and it’s easier to concentrate on other aspects of your stroke. First, for now figure out which side you want to breathe on. For this example say it’s the LEFT. As your RIGHT arm comes forward in the recovery part of your stroke…let that be your queue when to turn your head to breathe. Kind of think of it as your arm pushing your face out of the water. When you get your breath, think of your left arm as pushing your face back into the water as it comes forward in the recovery. Exhale, and then repeat the process.
Eventually when you master breathing on one side, you can begin to work on learning bilateral breathing…breathing on both sides. It makes longer swims much easier.
Good luck.
Dan
Chris – Thank you for your service. I’m a retired Navy vet too. I’ve never used one of those center-mount snorkels so I can’t tell you what they’re like. BUT, since you said you really want to learn to breathe properly, I think it’d be best for you to learn a good breathing technique BEFORE you try a snorkel. I think if you start off with the snorkel you’ll get reliant on it and just never force yourself to learn to breathe properly. And although I’m suggesting that you not use the snorkel, I am suggesting that you ought to wear goggles. I know that sounds odd since we’re talking about breathing. But I’ve always told beginners that and it does make a difference to them. I feel like if you can see clearly, and there’s no water in your eyes that you’re more comfortable and it’s easier to concentrate on other aspects of your stroke. First, for now figure out which side you want to breathe on. For this example say it’s the LEFT. As your RIGHT arm comes forward in the recovery part of your stroke…let that be your queue when to turn your head to breathe. Kind of think of it as your arm pushing your face out of the water. When you get your breath, think of your left arm as pushing your face back into the water as it comes forward in the recovery. Exhale, and then repeat the process.
Eventually when you master breathing on one side, you can begin to work on learning bilateral breathing…breathing on both sides. It makes longer swims much easier.
Good luck.
Dan
