Quote Originally Posted by divingbiker View Post
While we're on the subject of breathing, can anyone suggest any tips for breathing on both sides? I learned to breathe to the left, and if I try to breathe to the right my stroke gets out of whack and I'm flailing like I don't know how to swim. I don't seem to be able to figure it out on my own.

I'd like to be able to alternate, because my neck gets stiff turning only one way, and because breathing to both sides is on my list of "Fifty Things to do Before I Die."
Practice, practice, practice. Try making your "off" side look just like your "on" side when you breathe, which may mean you really have to study what you're actually doing on your "on" side, too. As your head turns, your arm comes out of the water, then your head comes all the way out and you can see your fingers. I like the "triangle" visual. It does take time to teach yourself, it's like learning all over again.

I learned to do 3 strokes and breathe (alternating sides) because I couldn't do 4 for very long in the beginning of the season without putting in a lot of time, and I'd get yelled at if I did 2. The more comfortable I get in the water, the better I am at alternating sides (or going one step further and doing 4 strokes between breaths).

Today in my open water practice I noticed that when I start to stress, I breathe, hold my breath, let it out quick, and breathe again, instead of breathing and slowly letting it out. Strange, something to work on in the lake and pool.