Hi all,
I am going to change my tag to "oh-no-not-her-again! maybe-if-she-spent-more-time-in-water-and-less-time-asking-stupid-questions..."
Anyhoo, I am looking for info on the Total Immersion swimming program. I have now been swimming for a grand total of six weeks and I want to be better. I have maxed out my YWCA instructor's abilities. (She only knows two strokes! OMG! If you don't have anything nice to say... No, that is not nice of me. I DO appreciate the two strokes I did learn from her. I am swimming now and that is great.)
That being said, while I have fleeting moments where I feel streamlined and graceful, most of the time I feel like I am dragging myself through the water. The Total Immersion method sounded like music to my ears.
Has anyone done it? Did you like it? Was it helpful? Is it worth the $? Is it too early for me to try something like that? There is a program coming up near me in a few weeks and I am thinking about it.
Thanks again. The info I get here is great!
Kate :D
Hi Kate,
Any questions on how to improve your swimming, are not stupid. :)
If you search through the threads, you will find somewhat, um, passionate debates on the virtues or failings of TI.
I have not taken any Total Immersion classes. (I'm too cheap. :D ) Some of my Masters coaches have, and I bought the book. (I also have two books by Cecil Colwin on swimming history and technique, but those are more like university textbooks. :) )
My thoughts: It does a nice job of describing current swim theory. (Or at least, what has changed in thinking since the 80s.) Laughlin points out, there is often a huge disconnect between what people think they are doing and what they are actually doing, unless they have a videotape or coach to give them feedback. The book is drill heavy, to emphasize good technique and what good technique should feel like.
There is a danger in taking pieces out of context. On these boards, sometimes "stroke length" sounds like the end-all-be-all of swimming existence, when it is really a means to an end (swimming faster with the same-or-less effort). So be careful that you find a good instructor, or take the time to really understand the material.
Hi Kate,
Any questions on how to improve your swimming, are not stupid. :)
If you search through the threads, you will find somewhat, um, passionate debates on the virtues or failings of TI.
I have not taken any Total Immersion classes. (I'm too cheap. :D ) Some of my Masters coaches have, and I bought the book. (I also have two books by Cecil Colwin on swimming history and technique, but those are more like university textbooks. :) )
My thoughts: It does a nice job of describing current swim theory. (Or at least, what has changed in thinking since the 80s.) Laughlin points out, there is often a huge disconnect between what people think they are doing and what they are actually doing, unless they have a videotape or coach to give them feedback. The book is drill heavy, to emphasize good technique and what good technique should feel like.
There is a danger in taking pieces out of context. On these boards, sometimes "stroke length" sounds like the end-all-be-all of swimming existence, when it is really a means to an end (swimming faster with the same-or-less effort). So be careful that you find a good instructor, or take the time to really understand the material.
