Learning to swim

[Pax]

lph - try exhaling throughout the underwater part of your stroke, then inhaling naturally as your mouth clears the water. I taught and coached swimming for a zillion years and trying to blast out air and inhale in the short window of the stroke is a mistake a lot of newer folks make. It makes your stroke really choppy.

[Becky]

This particular blog post from Swim Smooth really helped my breathing timing.

Heck, their whole site helped me learn to swim in a somewhat-efficient fashion. I'll never be fast or have super endurance, but I no longer feel like I'm going to drown.

[lph]

Thanks Pax, I'll try. The instructor wants us to hold our breath as long as possible, exhale fast underwater and inhale fast, but it gets me confused so I end up exhaling too little, too late. Exhaling continuously underwater I can do.

[Becky]

Thanks Pax, I'll try. The instructor wants us to hold our breath as long as possible, exhale fast underwater and inhale fast, but it gets me confused so I end up exhaling too little, too late. Exhaling continuously underwater I can do.

Has the instructor explained why he wants you to hold your breath? I'm confused by that...

[lph]

Not really, but we haven't had much time to discuss it. He said something about floating higher in the water (which is logical, but I float pretty well ) and being able to use the oxygen in your lungs for longer, which I'm not sure if I buy.

Anyone?

[Pax]

Has the instructor explained why he wants you to hold your breath? I'm confused by that...

Not really, but we haven't had much time to discuss it. He said something about floating higher in the water (which is logical, but I float pretty well ) and being able to use the oxygen in your lungs for longer, which I'm not sure if I buy.

Anyone?

I'm with Becky, that's very odd.

I know competitive swimmers who practice breath holding to increase lung capacity, but I've never heard of that with people learning to swim.

[Becky]

His explanation runs counter to what I was taught. I learned to exhale continuously, which lowers your chest and raises your legs, making you more streamlined and efficient.

But I don't know enough to say who's right.

[lph]

Well then! I think I'll just happily ignore that part for the time being He hasn't really been stressing it, just said that that would be ideal.

[Pax]

Well then! I think I'll just happily ignore that part for the time being He hasn't really been stressing it, just said that that would be ideal.

I think if you try to keep your breathing as natural as possible, you'll find your swimming epiphany. Best of luck!!