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
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.
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?
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: .
