I've been reading past posts and threads on breathing bilaterally. We have a wealth of information here on the pros and cons. I've decided I want to breathe to both sides, but am having some problems getting there.
When I'm fresh, I think I'm doing ok. I feel like I'm rolling enough that I'm not turning my head too much and grabbing a nice breath, weak and strong side alike.
When I begin to tire, my weak side breathing falls apart. I feel like I'm sinking - I know I am, because I'm lifting my head up to catch a quick unsatisfying breath that's half water. I can feel that my arm is dropping as I'm pushing my head out of the water. I know my hips are sinking too: I noticed when I did a short set with a pull-bouy today after tiring, I felt like I had all the time in the world to breath on my weak side.
I would like your thoughts on (1) what is breaking down on me, where the weaknesses are and (2) other than keeping at it with the hopes of getting stronger, is there anything specifically I can attend to or any drills to help me isolate the problems.
Even if you just tell me that the struglle is all part of the process, I'll be grateful for any feedback you can provide. Many thanks - Barb
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I've been reading past posts and threads on breathing bilaterally. We have a wealth of information here on the pros and cons. I've decided I want to breathe to both sides, but am having some problems getting there.
When I'm fresh, I think I'm doing ok. I feel like I'm rolling enough that I'm not turning my head too much and grabbing a nice breath, weak and strong side alike.
When I begin to tire, my weak side breathing falls apart. I feel like I'm sinking - I know I am, because I'm lifting my head up to catch a quick unsatisfying breath that's half water. I can feel that my arm is dropping as I'm pushing my head out of the water. I know my hips are sinking too: I noticed when I did a short set with a pull-bouy today after tiring, I felt like I had all the time in the world to breath on my weak side.
I would like your thoughts on (1) what is breaking down on me, where the weaknesses are and (2) other than keeping at it with the hopes of getting stronger, is there anything specifically I can attend to or any drills to help me isolate the problems.
Even if you just tell me that the struglle is all part of the process, I'll be grateful for any feedback you can provide. Many thanks - Barb
Barb, this is so normal. I am a one-side breather and have tried for years to bi-lateral. I can do it really well. My problem is: it doesn't feel natural because it isn't yet. It is my weak side and I have not spent enough time working with it to make it feel natural. And, sadly, I have spent 2 years working on this. I can do it really well and it looks terrific I've been told, but it FEELS terrible. My problem is my body position is just fine throughout, none of the problems you have but I can't get a deep enough breath. And because it feels terrible, I don't do it. Two years was long enough for me. One other problem I discovered is my head won't turn to the left like it does to the right, even when out of the pool so by breathing for 50 years on the right, my neck is really limber in that direction. To the left, it is stiff (still).
I've been reading past posts and threads on breathing bilaterally. We have a wealth of information here on the pros and cons. I've decided I want to breathe to both sides, but am having some problems getting there.
When I'm fresh, I think I'm doing ok. I feel like I'm rolling enough that I'm not turning my head too much and grabbing a nice breath, weak and strong side alike.
When I begin to tire, my weak side breathing falls apart. I feel like I'm sinking - I know I am, because I'm lifting my head up to catch a quick unsatisfying breath that's half water. I can feel that my arm is dropping as I'm pushing my head out of the water. I know my hips are sinking too: I noticed when I did a short set with a pull-bouy today after tiring, I felt like I had all the time in the world to breath on my weak side.
I would like your thoughts on (1) what is breaking down on me, where the weaknesses are and (2) other than keeping at it with the hopes of getting stronger, is there anything specifically I can attend to or any drills to help me isolate the problems.
Even if you just tell me that the struglle is all part of the process, I'll be grateful for any feedback you can provide. Many thanks - Barb
Barb, this is so normal. I am a one-side breather and have tried for years to bi-lateral. I can do it really well. My problem is: it doesn't feel natural because it isn't yet. It is my weak side and I have not spent enough time working with it to make it feel natural. And, sadly, I have spent 2 years working on this. I can do it really well and it looks terrific I've been told, but it FEELS terrible. My problem is my body position is just fine throughout, none of the problems you have but I can't get a deep enough breath. And because it feels terrible, I don't do it. Two years was long enough for me. One other problem I discovered is my head won't turn to the left like it does to the right, even when out of the pool so by breathing for 50 years on the right, my neck is really limber in that direction. To the left, it is stiff (still).
