So I just started learning to swim. 23 years old. =)
Former Member
I didn't like the water when I was little and I've been ignoring the problem ever since.
Well, I went to Florida with my girlfriend a few weeks ago and she's quite a good swimmer -- effortless strokes. That did it. Time to learn, I told myself.
I ran into this forum searching the net, and I thought you folks wouldn't mind if I shared my experiences here. Maybe you can give me a pointer or two.
So I bought 10 hours of private lessons to start. My instructor is quite friendly and helpful.
I've had two hours of lessons so far. We've covered kicks, floats and breathing for now... no strokes yet.
On my back, without any assistance, I can swim a length of the pool just with my kicks, arms relaxed.
On my front I have no problem kicking either, but I don't have the breathing quite right -- it's been a bit frustrating.
(Swimming is hard! Can 99% of the planet really do this?)
I have several problems with the breathing:
1. I know I have to empty my lungs under water, but I blow bubbles, and more bubbles, and more bubbles... still more bubbles... and I find it hard to exhale completely. The water resists me.
2. When I turn up for air, due to the above problem, I usually haven't finished exhaling... so I finish exhaling out of the water (this would go
away if I could solve problem 1.) and then try to inhale. At this point I usually take in a bunch of water and I have to stop to catch my breath and cough up the water.
I think the major problem is actually 1. I have a feeling that if I could just empty my lungs fast enough while under water, I would probably be able to catch a very quick breath when I turn my head to breath.
Other than that, I'm also having minor problems with the front and back float. On the front float, my legs always sink. On the back float I do better, but I have trouble getting my midsection to the surface of the water, even with a really good push off the bottom to get me up there. But when my instructor physically pushes my skinny ass up there, then I can float for a bit.
I suppose my progress is pretty good for a complete beginner with a mere two hours in the water in his entire life, but it's also quite frustrating. I wasn't expecting breathing to be a big problem.
Right now I'm doing two lessons per week with my instructor. One half hour on Wed. and one full hour on Thurs. I have the time, willpower, and money to do more lessons per week... do you folks recommend this for someone at my level?
I think that's enough of my blabbing for now. =)
Alphathree - a couple things from my angle...
Breathing - as you sit and read replys, concentrate on your regular, on earth breathing pattern. Note how often you inhale and exhale. Note how much air you inhale and exhale (again, just regular breathing, sitting at your computer). You may notice that it feels like you're not even coming close to completely emptying and then filling your lungs with each breath out/in. Same thing with exercise breathing... you body natually is looking to retain a litte air, so even under stress, you're still not breathing in and exhaling maximum amounts. Just try not to exhale all that much as you bring your mouth above water to breathe, and you'll be all set.
As for floating, this is more a life-saving technique than anything. Humans weren't meant to float, which is why we use our arms and legs to keep us moving across the surface of the water. Your legs will naturally sink, as human legs are pretty dense by nature (and heavy to boot), when you try to float, so if you must float, try using a very very little pitter patter kick, barely noticable, to keep those legs up top.
Welcome to the pool!!!
Not the shallowness, as when you exercise you're naturally going to breathe heavier. But just note that you do not need to exhale every last bit of air, nor do you need to inhale until your lungs burst.
Okay.
I just finished watching a bunch of swimming videos on the net.
I noticed that regardless of the circumstances, there's always water flying everywhere (duh! =)) and people barely raise their mouths out of the torrent of water in many cases.
This leads me to believe that no matter what I do, I will always be getting some water in my mouth/nose...
Currently I'm stopping when I feel that sensation, but maybe I should just plough through... is this whole water in the mouth/nose/ears/ingested something I'll just get used to once I do it enough?
Spit the water out.
I suppose that sure does beat swallowing it. =)
Alright, I'm in the pool for an hour tomorrow with my instructor... I'm not getting out of that pool without either getting my breathing down right or drowning... so if you don't hear back from me, assume I drowned.
Breathe in through the mouth, breathe out through the nose and mouth. Do not exhale all of your air. .
I will try this again today after I am off from the work. But George, could you explain a little bit more about it? I tried it before but found it was difficult to exhale through nose.
This is probably of little help to you now, but the faster you swim the easier it is to breathe. The faster you go the bigger the wake you will create and when you turn to breathe your head will have actually created a small divet in the water allowing you to take a breath with ease.
Aside from that, all of these things come with lots of practice. Eventually breathing at any pace will be like second nature to you. I often get a bit of water in my mouth as I am finishing my inhale but I just blow it right back out as I exhale. The more you practice the easier these things will become. I think you are doing the right thing by taking lessons and watching elite swimmers in videos. The videos give you something to emulate as you swim.
Thanks.
I'm actually a pretty serious dancer (Swing dancing, mainly). Even though I'm a total newbie at swimming, I'm beginning to realize it's the same as dancing -- all about engaging the right muscles in the right way at the right times, and keeping everything else loose.
Easier said than done.
But one of the ways that I got to be a really good dancer aside from taking lots of lessons and getting lots of practice is watching good dancers on the net, sometimes frame-by-frame. I guess it seems only natural for me to start doing that in swimming, too. So I did.
I think what I really need to do is get in a pool by myself and screw around for a few hours. My instructor is good but she makes me go-go-go. I need some time to myself to just get a feel for some things.
I'm using my University pool right now but I've never been there during "rec" time periods. My private lessons happen when there are other "events" going on in the pool.
Do you think I would piss off swimmers if I went during a rec swim and took the end of one lane just to practice with breathing, floats, and kicks? I'm not really sure what the usual practice is for these things... all I see people doing is powering through the water freestyle.
I'd love to be able to do that. But just like my dancing, I want to be able to do it slow, well, and carefully first.
Right now I really want to spend more time in the water, but I feel like if I go to a pool outside of a private lesson, I'm going to tick off the people who are trying to swim laps.
If you stake your claim in lap lane, more advanced swimmers can go around you. It's just like sharing a lane, so as long as you stay on your side, you should be ok to work on floats and such.
As for breathing, if you aren't getting all your air expelled and think you want to get more out try adding another stroke. So instead of doing three and then breathing, try doing four. Then when you turn to breath, you'll be ready. Once you get the hang of breathing and how much you should expell and how much to keep then you can adjust your stroke count.
Getting water up your nose, I had a lesson who had the exact same problem, every time he turned to breathe he got water up his nose. Make sure you are rolling your head out and not picking it up. I've found that the slighest lift or drop of your head can cause the water to go where you don't want it.
When you're floating, if your legs are sinking try to push your hips up to the top of the water. Your legs will follow. It's hard to push them up, but that just takes practice.
Breaking things down into pieces and then patching it together slowly seems to work the best for most lessons I've taught. Speed does help things go smoother, but I think slower is easier to learn.
Good Luck and Welcome to the Water!!!!:woot:
:2cents:
