I have started swimming for fitness and knew when I started a couple of weeks ago the only thing I was doing right was not drowning. I bought a book "The Essential Swimmer" by Steve Tarpinian and after 2 days of reading began to notice definite improvements as I began to work on correct stroke technique. (moved through water w/ much less effort and less strokes per lap) I am having trouble with the whole breathing thing though. Should I be concentrating on getting the breathing technique correct before I put too much effort and time into perfecting other aspects of the freestyle swim. I find myself swimming 25M without taking a breath because I have so much trouble with the whole breathing thing. Please advise. Thx!
Parents
Former Member
Since you want to start training for fitness, it is important that you learn to breath and swim. Without that, swimming will be stressful and much of what you will need to learn comes from being relaxed in the water.
Have you ever tried swimming while only pulling with one arm? This is a common drill. It helps to focus on the technique of that one arm. In this case it might help you to figure out how to breath more comfortably.
Try a few 25s, keeping one arm extendend and pulling with the other arm. Breath each time you pull to the side of the pulling arm.
I like to start turning my head and body just as my hand catches and I like to try to turn my head back toward the water before my hand catches up to my face (I think of it like a race).
When you breath, make sure you stay relaxed. The goal is not to lift your whole head out of the water. The goal is to get a breath with little energy expenditure and holding good form. A good freestyler can have one goggle in the water and one out during a breath.
Since you want to start training for fitness, it is important that you learn to breath and swim. Without that, swimming will be stressful and much of what you will need to learn comes from being relaxed in the water.
Have you ever tried swimming while only pulling with one arm? This is a common drill. It helps to focus on the technique of that one arm. In this case it might help you to figure out how to breath more comfortably.
Try a few 25s, keeping one arm extendend and pulling with the other arm. Breath each time you pull to the side of the pulling arm.
I like to start turning my head and body just as my hand catches and I like to try to turn my head back toward the water before my hand catches up to my face (I think of it like a race).
When you breath, make sure you stay relaxed. The goal is not to lift your whole head out of the water. The goal is to get a breath with little energy expenditure and holding good form. A good freestyler can have one goggle in the water and one out during a breath.
