If I could just learn how to breathe....

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Former Member — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:58:01 GMT

One of the problems I find is that after I take a breath I have this reflexive need to swallow. I'm not sure, but somehow I feel like that delay in exhaling (due to the swallowing) is contributing to my breathing problems. I'm getting better, but still get short of breath much too fast. I start getting a little of that air hunger by 75 yards or so (used to be 25-50). I make a conscious effort to breath out, but it just doesn't feel rhythmic which may be my problem. I would imagine the swallowing is because water is getting in my mouth. Does this mean I have an insufficient bow wave and trough? Interestingly I don't get that same air hunger doing the *** stroke despite probably similar effort and interval between breathing. Any help would be appreciated. Most common cause of running out of breath like that (assuming you're in a decent cardiovascular shape) is that people tense up, and don't inhale or exhale all the way through. You can run yourself out of breath this way anywhere, out of water too.... tense up, and breathe fast for a while, wihout inhaling or exhaling all the way out, for each breath you take. You'll be gasping for air within a minute or two. See my post just above for a practice tip on how to overcome this. :)

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Former Member — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:51:03 GMT

I am pretty determined and I tried freestyle breathing on Saturdsy. I did manage to take two breaths but my nose and sinuses started stinging really badly. The Sinuses sting below my eyes. It was so miserable that I had to stop. But on Sunday, it didn't hurt so badly. But it makes my nose run. My son came to me and very confidentially told me that I needed to wipe my nose! Ha! Eventually, as you get better at it, this will stop, and it will get more comfortable, actually, it goes away completely. Don't let the initial discomfort discourage you. Some people get through it in few weeks, some take few months, but it does go away. Perhaps I can keep this up and somehow gradually learn how to relax and keep water out of my nose by learning to keep exaling pressure on my nose. Most definately! If you have access to a home pool or a jacuzzi, you can practice the breathing with your head in and out of the water while relaxing the rest of your body, hanging on to the edge. At the beginning, this may help you focus on just the breathing part, when to inhale and exhale, and how to do it without getting the water up your nose in all kinds of positions, without the additional distractions... of having to swim while doing it ;) It doesn't hurt to get familiar and let individual elements of a technique become second nature before putting it all together. Afterall, this is the purpose of most of the swimming drills of all kinds.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

bzaks1424 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:11:51 GMT

I would imagine the swallowing is because water is getting in my mouth. Does this mean I have an insufficient bow wave and trough? I wouldn't swallow the water. If anything - use your exhale to push that water out. I would also not worry about your bow wave and trough right now - since you're just learning - its not that big of a deal to concern yourself with those kinds of things. Are you making sure that when you swim you head is in alignment with your neck and spine? When you're swimming and you rotate to take a breath, the water level would be (basically) down the middle of your face if you weren't swimming but sitting still. Make sure as you learn to swim you stay relaxed. I highly recommend reading the book "Mastering Swimming" by Mo Chambers and Jim Montgomery (www.amazon.com/.../0736074538) They have a huge section on freestyle and breathing that will help out a lot! -Michael P.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Elaine Krugman — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:04:27 GMT

I highly recommend reading the book "Mastering Swimming" by Mo Chambers and Jim Montgomery (www.amazon.com/.../0736074538) They have a huge section on freestyle and breathing that will help out a lot! :applaud::applaud::applaud:

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

taruky — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:48:02 GMT

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:18:49 GMT

I've been swimming for about seven months now and I'm just beginning to fill somewhat comfortable exhaling air out of my nose. As others have suggested above, you should probably use a nose clip and just breath through your mouth. That will also help you, if like me, you're susceptible to sinus infections. Keep trying, it does get easier eventually.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Former Member — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:45:41 GMT

Thank you, for all your replies and suggestions. I will keep working on it. I am pretty determined and I tried freestyle breathing on Saturdsy. I did manage to take two breaths but my nose and sinuses started stinging really badly. The Sinuses sting below my eyes. It was so miserable that I had to stop. But on Sunday, it didn't hurt so badly. But it makes my nose run. My son came to me and very confidentially told me that I needed to wipe my nose! Ha! And my son told me I am lifing my head up too high when I breathe, just like I used to tell him! It takes me about 2 whole seconds to take a breath to get comfortable enough to put my head back down. So tonight when I breathe, I am going to roll on my side, into "my sweet spot" that Terry Laughlin speaks about in his videos. I will try to get composed on my side. The sweet spot is swimming on your side, powered only by your legs. Terry Laughlin recommends going back into freestyle after you regain composure. Perhaps I can keep this up and somehow gradually learn how to relax and keep water out of my nose by learning to keep exaling pressure on my nose. I have seen the little kids who act like I am acting now and they progress slowly, so it will probably take some time for me too. I will keep you informed. Thanks, - Steve from Kansas

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

orca1946 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:49:22 GMT

Redbird has a good go to 1st with the nose plug. I also blow mostly out my mouth , with just enough air out the nose to keep water from coming in.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Redbird Alum — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:27:16 GMT

If it's water up your nose that most worries you... try a noseplug and focus on breathing in and out of your mouth first. Many great swimmers use noseplugs.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Former Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:59:48 GMT

I've been swimming seven years and am still learning more about how to breathe properly. It may help you to understand that breathing while swimming is hard. This sounds obvious, since if you breathe at the wrong time, you get a mouthful of water. But in any athletic endeavor, it is important to relax your neck muscles and maximize the amount of oxygen you bring into your lungs. It's even harder when you swim because of the natural reluctance to conduct any part of breathing while your face is in the water. That means you have to learn how to breathe in out of the water and learn how to breathe out when your face is in the water. To me, the idea that you have to know when to breathe is something that makes swimming interesting. When I'm doing any other exercise, I think how much easier it is to breathe when you don't have to worry about making a mistake.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Former Member — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:13:43 GMT

Steve, There is nothing wrong with private swim lessons. Really, the people who teach little kids can help you too. You are just a little kid who can touch the bottom of the pool, which makes their job easier. I think that sticking your face in a bowl of water is a little scary. It is June, is there not a large body of water that you can walk into in Kansas that you can stick your face into to do your breath test? The only reason you need to blow air out of your nose is to keep water out. If your face is in the water and water is not going up your nose, you can successfully move on. Look at it this way. You are 50% responsible for your sons genetic swimming ability, he has already gone to the trouble of proving that you are genetically able to swim, you just need to go to the trouble to learn. And there is no rush, if you have taken 58 years to learn, what is a few more weeks easing into it?

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

philoswimmer — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:49:43 GMT

I think I blow more air out of my mouth than my nose. Only on flip turns do you have to use your nose. I think the same is true for me.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

Bobinator — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:34:57 GMT

I think I blow more air out of my mouth than my nose. Only on flip turns do you have to use your nose.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

philoswimmer — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:20:21 GMT

I might try proceeding to step 2. Something about putting my face in a bowl of water seems uncomfortable and unnatural. Try just dunking down under the water with your head in a vertical position first, holding on to the side of the pool. My guess (and it's just a guess) is that you'll feel more comfortable doing this than sticking your head in a bowl.

RE: If I could just learn how to breathe....

bzaks1424 — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:06:16 GMT

Honestly - I would just do what is comfortable for you. I usually do a combination of the two except on the wall where I push through my nose so the water does run up in to my sinuses -Michael P.