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
thank you all for the encouraging feedback. I greatly appreciate it. Glad to know this (lack of) coordination is common. I am not giving up, rather becoming more determined to conquer this part of the learning =)
@airborne18 - you are absolutely right. We are not quite there to learning the breathing techniques, that will be next.
Going through the building blocks, I have the basics down where I am able to hold the streamline position and using only my legs/feet, and hold my breath, I can swim several feet in distance and do a recovery.
The current steps are to add the arms WHILE holding the breathing, we are asked to do three arm strokes, which is where I struggle with the arm/leg coordination
@Sojerz - thanks for the accessories tips, I have just purchased a kick board and a pull buoy. I am hoping, especially the pull buoy to help me isolate the legs by keeping them afloat so I can 'practice' the arm stokes' by themselves.
@67king - I will ask the instructor if incorporating breathing at this point will be of help.
as I sit at my office desk and think about my swim lesson tonight, I am trying to 'not get into my own head' and 'stop thinking'...but, at the same time I can't help but to 'think' about the techniques itself to make sure I would do them correctly so it's become a catch 22 situation - LOL
once again, I thank you all for your feedback.
thank you all for the encouraging feedback. I greatly appreciate it. Glad to know this (lack of) coordination is common. I am not giving up, rather becoming more determined to conquer this part of the learning =)
@airborne18 - you are absolutely right. We are not quite there to learning the breathing techniques, that will be next.
Going through the building blocks, I have the basics down where I am able to hold the streamline position and using only my legs/feet, and hold my breath, I can swim several feet in distance and do a recovery.
The current steps are to add the arms WHILE holding the breathing, we are asked to do three arm strokes, which is where I struggle with the arm/leg coordination
@Sojerz - thanks for the accessories tips, I have just purchased a kick board and a pull buoy. I am hoping, especially the pull buoy to help me isolate the legs by keeping them afloat so I can 'practice' the arm stokes' by themselves.
@67king - I will ask the instructor if incorporating breathing at this point will be of help.
as I sit at my office desk and think about my swim lesson tonight, I am trying to 'not get into my own head' and 'stop thinking'...but, at the same time I can't help but to 'think' about the techniques itself to make sure I would do them correctly so it's become a catch 22 situation - LOL
once again, I thank you all for your feedback.
