Slamdunk

If you are having problems breathing while swimming the free style, what is it you could be doing wrong? Learning the proper technique for breathing does take some practice so if you are new to the freestyle don’t be disappointed you are having some trouble.

If you’re breathing wrong you may be swallowing water and choking, both of which make for an unpleasant swim. If you are not getting enough air into your lungs the oxygen will not be getting into your blood system and you will be starving for oxygen. When this starts to happen your performance drops off.

How do you breathe correctly when swimming the freestyle? First thing is it is important to relax. As you are stroking with your arms your body should be rolling side to side along the axis of your spin. This roll should be enough that you can turn your head as your arm comes up. Your face should be turned just enough that your mouth clears the water.

Now, while your mouth is out of the water take in a good breath of air. When you bring your face back into the water start to exhale slowly, do not hold your breath. This way when you come up to breathe again you would have expelled the air. You need to learn to breath as normal as possible and not hold your breath, this is where relaxing can really help.  Read more...

What’s the secret to swimming faster? It may look like there is some secret technique to faster swimming but there really isn’t. Swimmers have been getting faster every year due to better training, improved techniques, nutrition and even suits they wear. Coach’s and swimmers alike just keep trying new things and pushing the limits and finding ways to keep shaving fractions of a second off their times.

A fraction of a second does not sound like much but it could be enough to win a race. When you are at the elite level you want that little bit of extra speed and more. So if you are a swimmer on a school team, club or compete on a recreational level, you too can use the same methods the elite use to go faster.

Work on your technique, this can save you valuable time during a race. Learn to swim like your body is longer than it really is so you slide through the water more easily. Perfect the arm stroke so you can get the maximum pull with each hand to give you the best forward propulsion. Relax while you swim, don’t be tense because this will actually slow you down.

Even your mental capacity can affect how you swim. Learn to think like a winner and you can train yourself to be more positive about your abilities. Try visualization techniques to see yourself being successful at swimming. Improve your diet so you are healthier. If you are not eating healthy food you are not providing your body the best nutrition it deserves to give you the best performance.