I just recently started swimming. I am 57, a *** cancer survivor, but was always one to exercise until January when I tore a cartidge in my knee. In search of exercise I could do and not affect my knee, I tried swimming laps and absolutely love, love, love it! I am a pretty good swimmer, but have trouble breathing. I have been swimming for about an hour, three times a week for three months. I feel much stronger as a swimmer now, but can't seem to get past the "can't catch my breath" feeling. Any suggestions would help! Thanks
Gjy, I find that a lot of asthmatics breathe in that way, so it may be that is the best way to breathe for you. I learned to swim 5 years ago, and seem to just go into the slow exhale breathing naturally. I like to breathe in 5's, 3's if it gets to be a real long hard set.
One thing that helped me when I first started was to slow way down at first. That cannot catch your breathe feeling may be because you are trying to go too fast at first. Swim really slow for the first 200-500 and let your body get used to swimming, used to the way the oxygen is delivered. Around the 200 mark for me is when it gets a whole lot easier and more effortless. A lot of beginners just try to go too fast at first and fight the water and the breathing.
Gjy, I find that a lot of asthmatics breathe in that way, so it may be that is the best way to breathe for you. I learned to swim 5 years ago, and seem to just go into the slow exhale breathing naturally. I like to breathe in 5's, 3's if it gets to be a real long hard set.
One thing that helped me when I first started was to slow way down at first. That cannot catch your breathe feeling may be because you are trying to go too fast at first. Swim really slow for the first 200-500 and let your body get used to swimming, used to the way the oxygen is delivered. Around the 200 mark for me is when it gets a whole lot easier and more effortless. A lot of beginners just try to go too fast at first and fight the water and the breathing.
