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
Former Member
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?
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".
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
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
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!!!
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!
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.
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.
