Learning to swim

[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!!

[Melalvai]

Yeah, it seems counter to what I've learned too. The idea of keeping oxygen in your lungs doesn't hold water (ha ha) because your body doesn't sense oxygen levels. It senses CO2 levels. If you are in a room with no oxygen you wouldn't notice so long as you can get rid of the CO2. That's why people get carbon monoxide poisoning, or suffocate without knowing it in a room full of gas nitrogen. Breathing out continuously lets your body keep getting rid of CO2.

[sgtiger]

Hi lph! I'm taking a swimming class this term too. My swim instructor, like others on this board, recommends exhaling naturally and smoothly while our heads are underwater during the stroke.

For me, I can't hold my breath underwater very long before feeling panicky anyway. Panicky feeling => hyperventilating or gasping underwater => choking on icky chlorinated water