Bilateral Breathing - Again

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

swim4me — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:23:17 GMT

I am a left-hander and greatly prefer to breathe to my right side. However, my coach greatly prefers that I breathe bilateraly, and yells at me if I don't, so I do :D . However, after doing sprint sets, he will frequently tell me that after I do my last set, to immediately go into a 200 free EASY swim (sort of a cool down). During those times, when I am gasping for air, I breathe on my right until I can regulate my beathing again and then I go back to bilateral again. Now that I am used to it, I really prefer it unless I am just lazy or gasping for air :fish2: .

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Mon, 07 May 2007 16:23:37 GMT

IMHO learning to breathe on both sides can onlybenefit your swimming. Even if you race and breathe on a favoured side...I've breathed on both side in a race. The odd thing is my breathing on my favoured right side caused a greater (left) shoulder stress than my weaker side at slower pace. I put this down to either: a) Stronger right shoulder, thus able to take strain b) Lifting head to breather c) Slow pace causing timing irregularity for breathing. d) all of the above However at slower pace I find it easier to breathe on my weak side because of the shoulder issue. Odd, huh?

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Mon, 07 May 2007 16:23:15 GMT

Given that efficient (freestyle) swimming is all about rotation, the big advantage that bilateral breathing offers is proper, balanced body roll. Swim a few laps breathing just on your "favorite" side, and then switch to bilateral breathing. Likely you will notice that your catch, and inward/backward sculls on the "favorite" side become deeper and stronger.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Mon, 07 May 2007 16:13:40 GMT

Your a man after my own heart. The value of bilateral breathing is ballance. I want my air so breathe on my left. Bilateral breathing is a very good tool for teaching ballance but should not be used in a distance race. In a race I would switch to breathing on the other side just to make a change but not bilateral swimming. Breathe on the right for 5 minutes just for a change.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:58:23 GMT

I'm getting better at it. I kind of have to "prime the pump" first by swimming a few laps just breathing on my weak side, then going to both is a bit easier.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:29:54 GMT

I am a bilateral breather with a 3-2 breathing pattern, i.e. breathe on my right twice, then switch to my left for two breaths and vice versa. I am finally getting comfortable breathing on my weak side. I use drills to help with the sinking and practice, practice, practice. When I swam the 1650 recently at our state meet, I kept my 3-2 breathing pattern throughout, but toward the end, I was breathing every stroke on my strong side. However, at some point, I naturally switched over to my weak side for breathing every stroke without meaning to and I didn't even realize it at first. If I can do it, anyone can!

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Dennis Tesch — Mon, 07 May 2007 11:48:23 GMT

This is a topic I talk about at every clinic I give or every private lesson I have with swimmers who are either trying to bilateral breath or are doing it and are having problems with the skill. First off I teach in Utah and most of the pools are a mile high, so we have less oxygen to start with, so my thoughts might not be as accurate for those who swim at sea level. I think bilateral breathing is great for teaching a balanced stroke. Making your weak side just as strong technically as your strong is alway a good idea!! As for distance swimmers, I believe that bilateral breathing is not so good. I would almost bet from all the posts here that most people are losing their technique and ability to maintain the skill because they are no longer swimming aerobically. Lets look at this from a stroke count point of view. If someone take 20 strokes per length and breathe to one side they will take 10 breathes. If they breathe every three they will take appoximately 7 breathes per length, which is a 30% reduction in air. Overtime this will eventually lead to fatique and bad technique. My suggestion to most swimmers is to use bilateraly breathing as a tool to help improve your stroke, a drill if you like. If your swimming long distances, remember that oxygen is good and that you need as much as possible. Good luck with this!!!

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sun, 06 May 2007 14:30:28 GMT

As a dedicated lifer one-sider, I still find my stroke better balanced and smoother when we do the forced "wrong side" drills. Thankfully they are a smallish part of the workout or I'd probably pass out from lack of air. Power catch-up drill, breathe every third. I notice I sink a bit when I breathe on the wrong side and am trying to realign so that doesn't happen - I think I pick my head up. One-arm drill, 25 at a time. Inactive arm stays at your side, and breathe only to the inactive side, really forces you to roll completely. Totally goofy and tiring. But effective. Good luck, DV

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sun, 06 May 2007 13:47:56 GMT

I have used it for workouts only, just for balance.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sun, 06 May 2007 12:13:38 GMT

Barb When I first tried bilateral breathing it felt very akward and I wasn't getting enough air. I was having alot of muscle problems in my upper back and shoulders. I decided to practice breathing on my left side on one lenght then switching to the right coming back. After doing this for over a year, my muscle imbalances and shoulder problem had gone away. About 2 weeks ago I was visiting with a friend at the pool and he was talking about having pain in his upper back. His wife, a swimmer also, told him that he should learn bilateral breathing. My friend was practicing bilateral breathing, even though he was struggling with getting enough air. After talking with my friend, I decided that I should make the switch to bilateral breathing (if he could do it so could I)! Too my surprize, I found that it was no big deal for me now. After a year, I apparently had developed the lung on my weak side. I've been bilateral swimming for a little over two weeks now and it feels great. I feel like my swimming is much more balanced. Good luck and hang in there. ;) Paul

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

cantwait4bike — Sun, 06 May 2007 09:10:49 GMT

why bilateral breathe when no ones uses it in races from 400-2.4miles??

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:58:01 GMT

I keep getting spasms in my rhomboid muscles on my "strong" side. I'm hopelessly a R-sided breather and have a slow stroke rate so I have been doing a few hundred strictly L-side rather than trying to go every 3rd and not get my accustomed air supply. It makes it a little easier. Still - it is extremely unnatural and I wonder if I am just plumbed different. Even focusing on complete exhales & relaxing, I don't feel like I get a full breath or get proper accelleration on my pull or stay aligned. It takes an awful lot out of the all-important joy-of-swimming. Right now I am "down" also due to soreness/spasm in the upper back on my "good" side. It hurts a lot to breathe deeply, tuck my chin, turn my head, roll over in bed, etc. I had been out of the water for a few weeks and in my first workout back I "only" swam 1800y at a cruise pace, and half of that was non-free (the rest was IM / Back), 1200 with fins. I was trying to figure out if it was the rhomboids and that seems likely. Boy, that never used to happen "in the old days".

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:32:22 GMT

Here is the crazy thing from a one sider.....when I try to breathe on my weak side, not really a problem, but my ear on my up side (during weak side breathing) fills with water, really irritating...on strong side this does not happen....whats up with that?

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sat, 05 May 2007 14:59:00 GMT

Here's a less experienced's :2cents:: I can breathe every third for a while if I'm really relaxed, but I'm converging on a 4 left - 4 right scheme. With the air supply taken care of and with a 2-beat maintenance kick, I can direct my attention to various flaws in technique, such as dropped elb:confused:w and cr:shakeshead:ssing midline, and focus more on streamlining. :drink: Here's to you, Barb/Ensignada. 25m breading one side, 25m to the other, best way to do more intensive sets :bow:

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Sat, 05 May 2007 07:02:43 GMT

It's been really encouraging to hear from all you experienced swimmers that this switch is as hard to make as I'm finding it. Here's a less experienced's :2cents:: I can breathe every third for a while if I'm really relaxed, but I'm converging on a 4 left - 4 right scheme. With the air supply taken care of and with a 2-beat maintenance kick, I can direct my attention to various flaws in technique, such as dropped elb:confused:w and cr:shakeshead:ssing midline, and focus more on streamlining. :drink: Here's to you, Barb/Ensignada.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:24:05 GMT

Barb, It took me forever to learn to breathe to both sides. I had the same problems that you describe. It was much easier for me if I used a pull buoy. I did lots of swims with pull buoys, until breathing every third stroke was the norm. I then tried to do more and more swimming (no buoys) while breathing every third stroke. It helped that at the time I lived in a small community that didn't have a Masters group, so the age-group coach let me swim with his kids. He yelled at me every time I lapsed back into one-sided breathing! Anna Lea

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:22:42 GMT

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 13:30:07 GMT

Thanks to everyone. It just helps knowing that what I'm experiencing is a normal part of learning to do this. I will keep at it. B

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 13:19:24 GMT

Barb - Do a set of 5 x 200 1. swim how you are comfortable 2. swim breathing only on your weak side 3. swim breathing only on your strong side 4. swim lengths 1,3,5,7 breathing strong side and lengths 2,4,6,8 breathing weak side 5. swim bi-lateral breathing every 3-5 strokes Good luck and just keep practicing. You will get it and it will become second nature.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:21:12 GMT

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).

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:25:15 GMT

I've had a similar experience. I have been bilateral breathing for about six months. When I tire toward the end of a tough set it becomes difficult, and I switch back. It has improved my stroke (I've seen video) and helped with shoulder issues. I don't know if it will ever feel completely natural, but it's getting easier, especially during warmup and moderate intensity sets. I keep getting spasms in my rhomboid muscles on my "strong" side. My massage therapist said there is appreciable difference in the muscle development on two sides. Apparently I've been swimming lopsided for awhile. My hope is that bilateral breathing will not only help take some pressure off my strong side, but will improve my overall stroke as well. It's been really encouraging to hear from all you experienced swimmers that this switch is as hard to make as I'm finding it.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:43:18 GMT

My problem is I run out of breath if I swim very far bilateral breathing.

RE: Bilateral Breathing - Again

Former Member — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:20:38 GMT

I had the same problem a couple of years ago. Now if my right side is 100, my left side (weak) is 90. How did I manage this? Doing the drills in 'fitness swimming' of Emmett Hines for 4 months, 3 times a week. FB (front balance), BB (back balance), SGB (side glide balance), SGBB (side glide balance breathing), SGF (side glide freestyle) drills will make your weak side nearly perfect. You just need some patience. Good luck :bouncing: