Beginning swimmer

[Melalvai]

Someone on here had recommended http://www.swimsmooth.com/, which I really liked, and it has some articles for beginners as well. My husband can't swim at all and agreed to let me try this out on him!

But what we discovered is that these articles don't go far enough, not for beginners who really honestly can't swim at all. Their main point is to take it slow and get comfortable with the water and particularly with breathing in the water. That's great advice.

What we could really use are some exercises to help him with that (especially breathing). Right now we're limited to: walk back and forth, sculling the water. Squat in the water and breathe (our indoor pool here doesn't have a deep end so we can't try it there). Push off from the side and glide, either face out of water, or face down.

Any ideas?

[wavedancer]

I recommend Total Immersion. You really can teach yourself with their DVDs and books, although probably easier to take a workshop. This is one DVD that specifically deals with breathing: O2 in H2O (http://www.totalimmersion.net/store/02-in-h20-a-self-help-course-on-breathing-in-swimming.html)

[Selkie]

I agree w/the TI recommendation (I think Alex's husband taught himself to swim using TI). However, your DH would be better off taking formal swimming lessons, either TI or "traditional." That way an instructor can correct any issues w/technique/form, lessening the possibility of having to unlearn bad habits in the future.

[OakLeaf]

Swimming in Uggs is not recommended, however.

[Melalvai]

Swimming in Uggs is not recommended, however.
Sounds like you have a story?

[OakLeaf]

Sounds like you have a story?

:D Sorry, just responding to the spam that got deleted. Bad habit of mine.

[Melalvai]

I want to look into the Total Immersion materials.

He's not interested in taking swim lessons from a professional instructor. I've encouraged him several times on this. He's awfully insecure in the water, and while he's willing to let me experiment on him he's not willing to let anyone else but wife & daughter try to teach him anything. My attitude is, I'd like to teach him if I can, but my main goal is for both of us to have a good time whether he learns anything or not.

The wreck distracted us and we didn't get back to the pool for a few months. Once in a while I'd ask "Would you like to swim this morning?" Finally a few days ago he answered yes. Even though he hadn't swam in months (other than playing in the ocean over Thanksgiving), he improved a lot. I had him do some glide & kick, stopping to breathe, and even three strokes at a time, again stopping to breathe. Then we did one last thing--glide & kick and breathe to the side!

[Becky]

That's awesome, Mel!

[Dogmama]

+1 on Total Immersion. The basic Total Immersion book is really good because it takes you step by step. I started & got side-tracked, so I'll be starting over again. There is a fairly large component about just getting used to being in the water.

[Melalvai]

+1 on Total Immersion. The basic Total Immersion book is really good because it takes you step by step.
Which one is the basic book, "Total Immersion Swimming: Perpetual Motion Freestyle in Ten Easy Lessons", or "Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier"?

[Dogmama]

Which one is the basic book, "Total Immersion Swimming: Perpetual Motion Freestyle in Ten Easy Lessons", or "Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier"?

The second one - The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better...

[Trek420]

I recommend a local swim class; Red Cross, Community College, Adult lap swim with a coach ...