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!
As a recent new swimmer (Sept '05), I also found breathing to be the biggest hurdle.
You might want to try working on the rhythm of breathing while holding a kickboard (for comfort) and kicking. Extend your arms and the kickboard out in front of you. Use a count or some time of mantra while exhaling with your face down and inhaling when you turn to the side. A simple 1-2, 1-2 or out-in, out-in will do.
I feel working on stroke mechanics is somewhat difficult when you are learning to breathe properly, but at the same time they kind of go hand-in-hand. The mechanics will help you get in better position to breathe more effortlessly, while the relaxation that comes along with breathing comfortably allows you to focus on improving your technique. It is difficult to say which comes first, but if you can't breathe you certainly can't continue to swim without stopping. If you can swim 25M without breathing then you should probably focus more attention on getting your breathing down, because if your technique was not respectable you would be exhausted after 10 or so meters and you would have to stop.
Ask an instructor or coach for some breathing drills. Getting into the rhythm will definitely help you relax, however, which I think is one of the biggest keys to swimming.
Good luck!
As a recent new swimmer (Sept '05), I also found breathing to be the biggest hurdle.
You might want to try working on the rhythm of breathing while holding a kickboard (for comfort) and kicking. Extend your arms and the kickboard out in front of you. Use a count or some time of mantra while exhaling with your face down and inhaling when you turn to the side. A simple 1-2, 1-2 or out-in, out-in will do.
I feel working on stroke mechanics is somewhat difficult when you are learning to breathe properly, but at the same time they kind of go hand-in-hand. The mechanics will help you get in better position to breathe more effortlessly, while the relaxation that comes along with breathing comfortably allows you to focus on improving your technique. It is difficult to say which comes first, but if you can't breathe you certainly can't continue to swim without stopping. If you can swim 25M without breathing then you should probably focus more attention on getting your breathing down, because if your technique was not respectable you would be exhausted after 10 or so meters and you would have to stop.
Ask an instructor or coach for some breathing drills. Getting into the rhythm will definitely help you relax, however, which I think is one of the biggest keys to swimming.
Good luck!
