Learning to swim - breathing?

Question

No problems backstroke, etc. Learning to swim with no instruction (personal paid instruction that is) I've done things like games and I'm much more comfortable with water. I still feel a bit of anxiety - meaning it doesn't feel as relaxed as I know it should when I am about to start off taking my first breath before I go under.!

However, when I swim and then tilt my entire body sideways to in turn turn my head sideways to take a breath, I blow out and then breathe in but seem to be taking in water now and then. I also feel like I'm sinking when I blow out - of course I am., but it feels like I'm sinking too much - or actually pulling myself down with my other arm as it's pulling me through the water and my other arm is reaching up and then I'm about to go face back in water.
Any drills or whatnot for practicing of swimming and breathing properly? I went to a few web sites and going to try out some drills, but thinking maybe somebody online might have a genius idea. :)

How the flip do you turn your head more than 90 deg. to get in air? I don't see how you can't rotate your body. Everywhere I read they suggest rotating your body (some more than others). I'm not concerned with speed, but they also say it increases speed. It makes sense to me. Anyway, any other tips, thoughts, drills.? I like the 360 comment. That's a drill (similar to) that I read about from a few sites. I think I'm also forgetting to kick LOL. I'm going to have my wife watch.. maybe video tape so I can see how stupid I really am LOL.

Looked at professional swimmers videos online.. and they do rotate their body.. with head straight down, they rotate about 30-45 deg. It's just these videos don't show the breathing.. just small portions of the swimming.

Answer 1

try a drill called corkscrew. you turn your body 360 degrees each stroke as you swim down the pool. it helps with your rotation so that when you are swimming freestyle, your body is used to this turning motion to breathe.
also, the sinking when you are breathing is probably because you are concentrating on breathing to much and you stop kicking. your arms are still moving, but if your legs stop, they'll fall causing you to "sink".
hope any of this helps. =]

Answer 2

I swim a mile a day nonstop of crawl.

"Get used to turning your neck." I don't think the wobbling sideways method is worth the additional inefficiency it gives to your movement forward through the water.

The head, a nearly spherical body, can be rotated sideways for breathing. You want to FEEL THE WATER ON YOUR FACE, especially around your mouth, and when your mouth is above water, gulp in air. Then return to the face-down position and breath out until it is all nearly expended. You want to turn your head as you are using the nearest arm and breathe in while finishuing the stroke with the arm you are using. Don't breathe in while "looking away" from the arm you are using, you want to breathe a bit "earlier" than that.

If you are over 25, your neck vertebrae may click and pop for a few weeks until you get used to this. If you are a loyal swimmer and treat me as an infallable coach -- your neck vertebrae will stop popping after a few months and you'll never need a neck massage again because the TENDONS along all your vertebrae will be strong and supple.

There's nothing wrong with doing the elementary backstroke and not worring about any of this -- but -- the crawl uses more energy, builds more muscle, greatly strengthens the back, and is an ego trip -- oh -- by the way, the crawl also uses less space, you can swim in a narrower lane without raking your hands on those viscious plastic lane dividers.

Also-- you want to SUCK in air almost explosively and evenly let it out below water. About 4 to 6 breaths a minute, not more. Remember in the crawl to kick your feet enough to where, alone, your feet are barely propelling your forward and keeping you level. Why? 'cuz that way, ALL the work you're doing with your arms is moving you FORWARD instead of both keeping you at the surface and moving you forward.

Answer 3

When you take a breath while doing free-style/frontcrawl... try not to turn anything except your head. Turning your whole body to take a breath will throw off your rythm and stop you from gliding properly, which in turn will slow you down and make you sink. Try pretending the water is a pillow or something... and when you take a breath, just turn your head so the side of your face is ontop of the water. If you're in a pool with bars around the edge, hold onto the bars with your arms out-stretched and do kicking drills... this will help you to perfect your breathing motion without worrying about your arms just yet. Once you have your breathing technique better, your arms won't be as awkward... When you do put arms into it though.. if you're taking a breath facing the right, then you should take a breath as your right arm is 'scooping' the water and your face should go back into the water as your right arm is going into the water above your head... hope that helps! (and makes sense to you!)

Answer 4

use your abs to keep you from sinking too much, also try to do the simple breaststoke and instead of keeping your head above water move it with the movement of your arms, start with your head up when your hands touch your chest then when you start take the breath and then when you move your hands out , you put your face in the water and breath out the air for the length of the stoke and repeat. that way with a little practice you get a nice rythm going without losing your breath. you can practice this while standing in the pool, deep enough where you can make the move with your arms and put your face in the water, that should save you panic, cause you're standing. does that help?

Answer 5

ENTIRE BODY

- It should roll from side to side, no swaying back and forth.

HEAD

- DO NOT LOOK FORWARD, keep the head DOWN. If you lift your head or look forward, your body looses balance on top of the water. Breathe by simply TURNING your head, not lifting it.

BREATHING

- Breathing every 3 or 5 strokes is highly encouraged. Make sure you exhale a lot underwater to get all that bad CO2 out of the system. That's right, breathe out underwater and breathe in when your head is turned.

Here's some drills you can do to promote proper rolling of the body. Do them in succession.

- Flutter kick on your right side with your right arm outstretched and your left arm on your hip. Keep your head down, lifting only to breathe. Then, switch sides with arms in opposite positions (left one up and right one down)
- STOP STOP SWITCH - As before, do the flutter kicks on the side, but this time, after you kick about 10 to 12 times, take one stroke and alternate sides. This will get you push the rolling motion and breathing to both sides
- TRIPLE SWITCH - Just like stop stop switch, but instead of taking one stroke to switch sides, take three

Answer 6

I've taken swimming at camps for years and we had to do a mile swim. You are fighting the water instead of relaxing. Try swimming with your head up for awhile, then after you are more comfortable with that, put you head down. Just don't tense up because that will cause problems.

Answer 7

Blow air out while your head is still in the water.

You feel like your sinking because your head is out of the water for too long/

Answer 8

I'm interested in the anwer too. I finally gave up and bought a snorkel two years ago. It's great, lol.

Answer 9

I swim all the time. yet I never go under water, I suffer chronic ear infections... so just dont go under water

Answer 10

Bowl of water..at home..practice.