Hello All,
I am taking swim instructions through the local USMS ALTS program. it is a new program where adults are given swim instructions. I am in my early 50's and just never till now. I am in the 4th week of my lessons and seem to have (mostly) overcome the fear of water =).
We are now at the part of the instructions where we are learning freestyle swim and that's where I am at a complete roadblock.
I am unable to co-ordinate my feet/legs movement with the arms. I can hold my breath and move my feet/legs and do just fine for several feet in distance but the second I start using my arms, my feet/legs stop.
Its one of those cliche's about unable to walk and chew gum at the same time, while I say that in a lighthearted joke, I am feeling very frustrated with this issue and feel that I won't be able to proceed with the next phase of the lessons where I learn how to move my head side to side and breathe.
Is this common (unable to coordinate legs and arms)?
I am open to ANY suggestions/advice/suggestions from you to help overcome this mental block.
all feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you
XMFan
Hello All,
I am taking swim instructions through the local USMS ALTS program. it is a new program where adults are given swim instructions. I am in my early 50's and just never till now. I am in the 4th week of my lessons and seem to have (mostly) overcome the fear of water =).
We are now at the part of the instructions where we are learning freestyle swim and that's where I am at a complete roadblock.
I am unable to co-ordinate my feet/legs movement with the arms. I can hold my breath and move my feet/legs and do just fine for several feet in distance but the second I start using my arms, my feet/legs stop.
Its one of those cliche's about unable to walk and chew gum at the same time, while I say that in a lighthearted joke, I am feeling very frustrated with this issue and feel that I won't be able to proceed with the next phase of the lessons where I learn how to move my head side to side and breathe.
Is this common (unable to coordinate legs and arms)?
I am open to ANY suggestions/advice/suggestions from you to help overcome this mental block.
all feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you
XMFan
In short... yes.. when you are learning it is very hard to coordinate the two. and kicking properly is actually not easy either.. ( kicking from the hips ).
Congrats on getting past the fear.. some people take a very long time, and that is big hurdle.. A woman at our pool who came in for lessons took weeks just to get her face in the water.. but months later she swims laps and loves swimming..
The ALTS program is a great progression for adults learning to swim. Everyone goes through the progression at their own speed. I personally don't conduct group swim lessons for adults. If you are an adult and can't swim it typically is not because you love the water.. so doing it as a group is difficult for me to do. ( I also deal with adults who have physical limitations.. so it is not practical to do groups ).
With all that said.. stop thinking.. you have a mental block because you are using your brain. Developing the stroke technique.. even with athletes requires time in the water. Swimming should not be a thought exercise. So how do you remove the mental block? First.. swimming is about training muscle memory.. which takes time in the water focusing on each aspect. correctly. until it is automatic.
go to the pool 3 times a week.. and just work on kicking while maintaining proper body form.. when you can go up and down the pool with your legs without thinking.. then you will easily be able to connect the arms and legs.
and a good way to perfect your kick is to do it on your back.. and kick from the hips. ( if your calves hurt your are not kicking properly... your hips and upper thigh should burn )..
Hello All,
I am taking swim instructions through the local USMS ALTS program. it is a new program where adults are given swim instructions. I am in my early 50's and just never till now. I am in the 4th week of my lessons and seem to have (mostly) overcome the fear of water =).
We are now at the part of the instructions where we are learning freestyle swim and that's where I am at a complete roadblock.
I am unable to co-ordinate my feet/legs movement with the arms. I can hold my breath and move my feet/legs and do just fine for several feet in distance but the second I start using my arms, my feet/legs stop.
Its one of those cliche's about unable to walk and chew gum at the same time, while I say that in a lighthearted joke, I am feeling very frustrated with this issue and feel that I won't be able to proceed with the next phase of the lessons where I learn how to move my head side to side and breathe.
Is this common (unable to coordinate legs and arms)?
I am open to ANY suggestions/advice/suggestions from you to help overcome this mental block.
all feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you
XMFan
In short... yes.. when you are learning it is very hard to coordinate the two. and kicking properly is actually not easy either.. ( kicking from the hips ).
Congrats on getting past the fear.. some people take a very long time, and that is big hurdle.. A woman at our pool who came in for lessons took weeks just to get her face in the water.. but months later she swims laps and loves swimming..
The ALTS program is a great progression for adults learning to swim. Everyone goes through the progression at their own speed. I personally don't conduct group swim lessons for adults. If you are an adult and can't swim it typically is not because you love the water.. so doing it as a group is difficult for me to do. ( I also deal with adults who have physical limitations.. so it is not practical to do groups ).
With all that said.. stop thinking.. you have a mental block because you are using your brain. Developing the stroke technique.. even with athletes requires time in the water. Swimming should not be a thought exercise. So how do you remove the mental block? First.. swimming is about training muscle memory.. which takes time in the water focusing on each aspect. correctly. until it is automatic.
go to the pool 3 times a week.. and just work on kicking while maintaining proper body form.. when you can go up and down the pool with your legs without thinking.. then you will easily be able to connect the arms and legs.
and a good way to perfect your kick is to do it on your back.. and kick from the hips. ( if your calves hurt your are not kicking properly... your hips and upper thigh should burn )..
