I have been trying for 2 years off and on to get into swimming, but between my stroke and breathing I am feeling very discouraged:help: I am a 47 year old woman who cycles, runs and works out like crazy, but get me in a pool and all bets are off, which has been very humbling:( I have just started to work with a swim coach to help me with my stroke, which is a work in progress and I can't seem to get my breathing under control. I am completely out of breath after one lap so I have to stop to catch my breath. I breathe on both sides, which I feel more comfortable, but I am struggling. Any helpful hints?
Parents
Former Member
Make sure you empty your lungs before you take your next breath. If you don't, and you take a nice big gulp of air you will get an uncomfortable feeling. Try this to see what I mean: Take a breath and exhale 1/2 of it, then take another full breath of air... see how uncomfortable it is? There are some folks who just take little 'sips' of air. You might experiment with large breaths and little sips to see which one you like best.
You also need to make sure you empty your lungs because if you don't you are going to have more CO2 left in your lungs and it is the concentration of CO2 that gives you the urgent feeling of a need to breathe.
Lainey
Make sure you empty your lungs before you take your next breath. If you don't, and you take a nice big gulp of air you will get an uncomfortable feeling. Try this to see what I mean: Take a breath and exhale 1/2 of it, then take another full breath of air... see how uncomfortable it is? There are some folks who just take little 'sips' of air. You might experiment with large breaths and little sips to see which one you like best.
You also need to make sure you empty your lungs because if you don't you are going to have more CO2 left in your lungs and it is the concentration of CO2 that gives you the urgent feeling of a need to breathe.
Lainey
