beginner swimmer | lacking coordination | need help
Former Member
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
he is learning to swim... and air exchange with the stroke is actually probably the next lesson..
Yes, I understand that, which is why I mentioned it. As one who jumped back into it last year, over 30 years after I had quit as a kid, I found that getting my breathing correct made everything else much easier (to be clear, at this stage, I'm not talking about head position or anything, I just mean inhaling and exhaling, rather than holding one's breath)
he is learning to swim... and air exchange with the stroke is actually probably the next lesson..
Yes, I understand that, which is why I mentioned it. As one who jumped back into it last year, over 30 years after I had quit as a kid, I found that getting my breathing correct made everything else much easier (to be clear, at this stage, I'm not talking about head position or anything, I just mean inhaling and exhaling, rather than holding one's breath)
