I took lessons when I was a kid and never mastered the breathing technique for freestyle swimming so I gave up on swimming. Now it is 30 yrs later and I am determined to learn how to swim and have been taking a group class at the local natatorium.
I have been making a lot of progress and learning things that I don't remember from my childhood lessons (keep your chin to your chest, making the S-pattern during the pull stroke, etc). I have also been focused on rolling of the body more - and especially rolling to breathe so that my head is on my left arm/shoulder (breathing to the right).
However, I'm still struggling with the breathing in that I am sucking in water and end up choking. I've had multiple people watch me and they say that my form looks good and even the part when I roll to breathe - but they are unsure at what point I am getting water in my mouth.
It's been hard for me to figure it out - here's some of my thoughts - it's a bit hard to self-diagnose and so far the people watching are not catching it -
Is the timing of the opening and closing of my mouth just a bit off that I am sucking water when I turn to breathe and return to face down?
I'm not the best at exhaling underwater so I wonder if I'm trying to exhale and inhale during the short time that I am turned?
Do I need to turn my head more (look at ceiling)?
Am I slowly sucking in water when my face is down since I'm not exhaling correctly?
Any thoughts on how I can figure this out or other things to look for?
Thanks
Mike
Well, I tried some of the tips this week during my lesson - the more I tried to exhale underwater, the better it was but I still keep getting water in my mouth. Also, if I exaggerated the roll where my face was pointing more at the ceiling rather than the side wall, it helped.
I had multiple people watch today to try to figure out when I'm getting the water in. Whatever I'm doing, it is subtle and hard for them to pinpoint. Two things that they thought were possible - a) my mouth is slightly open underwater and I'm sucking a small amount and b) when I roll to breathe there is that 'sheet' of water on your face and I'm sucking that in.
Two more questions:
Is it possible to swim (freestyle) without getting any water in your mouth? Maybe I have unreasonable expectations. I noticed a couple of the previous posters mentioned always having water in their mouth. Maybe I will eventually get used to it - but I did have a pretty low gag tolerance so that doesn't help.
Should I exhale underwater with my mouth and nose? I've been trying to focus on exhaling underwater since starting lessons. When I started, I used to hold my breath - not doing that but still not a 100% comfortable with the breathing out with my nose. The instructor said that I was exhaling alot out of my nose to the point that she could hear itbut maybe I'm still not getting enough out and should try exhaling out with both nose and mouth?
Well, I tried some of the tips this week during my lesson - the more I tried to exhale underwater, the better it was but I still keep getting water in my mouth. Also, if I exaggerated the roll where my face was pointing more at the ceiling rather than the side wall, it helped.
I had multiple people watch today to try to figure out when I'm getting the water in. Whatever I'm doing, it is subtle and hard for them to pinpoint. Two things that they thought were possible - a) my mouth is slightly open underwater and I'm sucking a small amount and b) when I roll to breathe there is that 'sheet' of water on your face and I'm sucking that in.
Two more questions:
Is it possible to swim (freestyle) without getting any water in your mouth? Maybe I have unreasonable expectations. I noticed a couple of the previous posters mentioned always having water in their mouth. Maybe I will eventually get used to it - but I did have a pretty low gag tolerance so that doesn't help.
Should I exhale underwater with my mouth and nose? I've been trying to focus on exhaling underwater since starting lessons. When I started, I used to hold my breath - not doing that but still not a 100% comfortable with the breathing out with my nose. The instructor said that I was exhaling alot out of my nose to the point that she could hear itbut maybe I'm still not getting enough out and should try exhaling out with both nose and mouth?
