This morning I discovered something new..yet again..about my swimming. I was breathing TOO deep.
I noticed that when I first get in , I can swim one lap pretty easily. Then, I get out of breath, butt drops, knees kick, etc. BUT..I catch my breath and the same cycle starts again.
I was told to take good DEEP breaths when I breath in. I am breathing unilateral to the right now,as a beginner. So I'm breathing every time my right arm comes out of the water. I think later, I'll be able to breath bilaterally well. But for now, I'm concentrating on head down, butt up (my butt just ain't buoyant).
Basically, I was breathing in deeep breaths, and having to force them out. The work of forcing them out is taxing it itself. It is a gradual buildup of CO2. My 18 years as an R.N. came in handy here, lol.
So, I slowed down, consciously. More shallow breaths, but kept a steady pace. That's when I looked at the other consistent swimmers and noticed that they're not taking in deeeeep breaths at all. I did much better after that.
So, in summary, for the newbies like me, it's easy to hyperventilate, unknowingly.
Thought I'd share,
Mark
Parents
Former Member
Hey Swim4, well, as far as "getting it", I'm still working on that. haha. I have been swimming now for 2 months. I had never ever never swam with my head down in the water, so it was a struggle at first. I actually came home and stuck my head in the sink and blew bubbles to get used to it (childish but it works).
I swim now and breath every time my right arm comes up. No hurry like a speed swim, but still learning. Everyone is different, but I'm learning more swimming with fins a little. It allows me to focus on breathing and keeps my butt up.
I swim every day except Sunday, most of the time 30 minutes, but sometimes an hour depending. NOW, that being said, my swims are broken up cause I don't have the endurance...yet. :D
Swim lap,easy slow focusing on form, rest. etc breastroke easy lap. kick with the board some.
Swim looking directly below, not ahead, turn head keeping flat as possible and take small effective breaths, not huge gulping ones like I was doing. slow steady.
But to answer your question, I'd try the fins. It really frees your upper body up to think and practice on breathing. Or at least it does for me.
My goal is to bilateral breath.
Hope this helps, keep in touch,
Mark
Hey Swim4, well, as far as "getting it", I'm still working on that. haha. I have been swimming now for 2 months. I had never ever never swam with my head down in the water, so it was a struggle at first. I actually came home and stuck my head in the sink and blew bubbles to get used to it (childish but it works).
I swim now and breath every time my right arm comes up. No hurry like a speed swim, but still learning. Everyone is different, but I'm learning more swimming with fins a little. It allows me to focus on breathing and keeps my butt up.
I swim every day except Sunday, most of the time 30 minutes, but sometimes an hour depending. NOW, that being said, my swims are broken up cause I don't have the endurance...yet. :D
Swim lap,easy slow focusing on form, rest. etc breastroke easy lap. kick with the board some.
Swim looking directly below, not ahead, turn head keeping flat as possible and take small effective breaths, not huge gulping ones like I was doing. slow steady.
But to answer your question, I'd try the fins. It really frees your upper body up to think and practice on breathing. Or at least it does for me.
My goal is to bilateral breath.
Hope this helps, keep in touch,
Mark
