Breathing??

I agree with Dorothy - a coach is a teacher, and every student learns differently. It is the coach/teachers job to figure out how to best instruct the student, not pound a round peg into a square hole. I skimmed the posts so I hope I am not repeating a suggestion. When I taught swimming mannnny years ago, we taught breathing by having the kids stand still in the pool, bend over and practice the arm stroke with the breathing NICE and Slow, then faster and then when each one felt comfortable they would add the kick and give it a go. Once you feel comfortable with just the stroke/breathing, add the legs. I would start with every stroke then add a stroke and then another til you are comfortable. Then swim a lap and see how many times you can go breathing every 2 or 3 whatever, there is your base, give yourself premission to be at this level and then each practice try to go a little further. I agree with an earlier post, when I am first warming up, i feel like i cant get enough air, then after about 200yards, my body goes "oh yeah, this breathing rythym". Remember most hours of the day your body breaths when it wants to, now you want it to wait. You just need to teach your body that waiting will be okay. I ran 10k's for years til the knees gave out, each runner has their own style, short strides, long strides, arms in tight others out to the side,you need to find and appreciate yours swim style. Try not to fight the water, try to remember why you enjoy swimming. I am glad someone else offered to help.

I know that tense feeling and yes, you have to loosen up. When you are running do you ever feel a little tense, and you just shake your arms out while you run, to loosen them up? Do the same thing with swimming. When that elbow comes up for the next stroke, your hand should be loose and floppy. Slow your stroke down, and actually shake that hand like you would if you were running and trying to get your hands lose, and it should flop around. In fact, it should be relaxed from the elbow down. Yes, you will look a might funny swimming and flopping your arm, but you have got to relax because you are using all your strength on your tightness and fighting the water instead of the woman who glides and uses the water. Also, it sounds like you are breathing every 4 not 2, which is hard for a beginner. Switching to 3's or 2's might help. so left, right, left breath, right left right breath. Even stand at the side of the pool practicing this pattern with your arms, and when you practice this out of the water, make sure those arms are relaxed.

I agree with Dorothy. 4 is very difficult for a beginner. I would start with breathing every 2. It should help you develop a rhythm. Breathing every 3 can be kind of tricky for a beginner, too, but long term I think 3 is the way to go. It helps prevent shoulder injuries and keeps your stroke in balance. Brad

When I started, I knew that 3 was better than 2's so because I taught myself 3's from the start, there was no breaking the habit of always breathing to one side. For me, learning right from the start to breathe 3's was not anymore difficult than 2's. However, if it is an issue, than yes, breathe 2's.

I did not want to say it, but was thinking the other coach might not be a good fit for you. Sounds like the lifeguard might be able to help. Good luck.

Good luck with the lifeguard. Sounds like he or she recognizes that there is a problem with the instruction. Try to stay positive and realize that you WILL get there. Feel good about your progress to date and remember that it takes time. Condition yourself to relax every time you get in the water and ask the lifeguard for some drills to help you relax and feel "buoyant". Also, it sounded like you were making alot of progress with the kicking drill which is an excellent way to practice your breathing. Hang in there!

Wow, thanks Matt, great info. I sound like Splash! But, I don't wear a 42 and I have yet to swim the length of the pool :( , even incorrectly. I am going to do some reading on that site. And thanks for the terminology. I am doing this: starting out hands together, r arm back, l arm back, r arm back & breathe to the right. Technically that is what I'm supposed to be doing. And I am, but somewhere I'm missing something cause I can't get more than a few strokes in cause of air hunger and yes, they are tense. Running to me can be relaxing. I wish I could swim like I run. I'm not relaxing and I don't know how. I will try the float on your back thing you've talked about. I think your right as far as being tense. I feel like I should kick like I practice on the kickboard or my butt will sink. Then I think my head is not straight in the water, my feet are too far apart, my shoulders are not up outta the water. These are all essential elements that I have to attend to. My coach has said that I"m so tense my arms are like boards. But I'm focused on the task at hand or I wouldn't be getting up early and being in the pool. I was a roller skating rink referee in high school and still roller skate. I am a good skater with a good sense of rhythm. I've taught a lot of people how to skate. Teaching rhythm is the worst part, especially when they want to skate backwards. But once you get it...you get it. I sound like a mental type A strung out mess I guess by now. But I'm really not. I'm pretty even keel. I do, however, go after something that I want. Mark

Well, I don't have to worry bout that anymore: I walked out on the coach this am. He strolls in 20 minutes late, says he's gonna coach from the side of the pool and not get into the water today. He's telling me to stop stopping and breathing, that I have to overcome that urge. I'm telling him I CAN"T BREATHE! He says it's all in my mind, bla bla bla, I'm up 1/2 the nite with my son who had a nightmare since 3 am and I have been in the water for the past 10 days and I reached a breaking point when he told me to swim 1/2 the pool without stopping and to stop adjusting my glasses when I did stop and to rest 10 seconds and keep going. I feel like he's pressuring me without giving me any instruction or drills to work on. He's convinced that hypoxia is all in my head. I am convinced that he's not listening to me or helping me tweak a possible cause of this feeling. JUST STOP IT, he's telling me. So...I'm outta the water for a few days and this other lifeguard walks by and tells me to meet him 6:30 Monday am, he'll be my swimbuddy for awhile., that I'm motivated and doing ok and I should be frustrated, that he'll teach me some drills that will make this easier. So...There.:eek: Mark

Mark, A little time out of the pool may be beneficial. You might be stuck on doing the same thing because day after day you keep reinforcing it. Take a couple of days, address your sleep deprivation, and try again. Sometimes a focus on CONDITIONING and CONSISTENCY is exactly the wrong approach when you are trying to change your stroke mechanics. In the meantime, read some of Emmett's articles and see if his approach makes sense to you. If you like it, his methods are very similiar (and grow out of his association with) Total Immersion. I use TI methods myself, and like them very much. Some folks disagree; without trying to reignite that controversy, judge for yourself if TI concepts sound like something that would interest you. If so, I can recommend a book ($20) and if you want to spend more money, some videotapes. Skater huh? I've actually found that when I trying to lengthen out my stroke for a distance event, my tempo feels a lot like a long track speed skater (push, glide, push, glide...) Does that help? Matt

Yes it does help! Thanks. I have contacted the grandepupa (sp?) in the local swim world and he said he would love to just take me and give me some pointers and constructive criticism. He has been teaching for 43 years..my age LOL., since he moved here when he was 15. He teaches swim at a local college. and he's a good person. He said he'd be glad to meet with me this weekend. He says this is not " in my mind" and that he will fix it for me. I feel better. I have a lil quilt over firing off at the young coach this morning, but enough is enough. Tomorrow morning...I'm RUNNING!!!:D Mark and yes, I will be interested in TI.