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Swimming Advice: your questions
Question: I have recently started a swimming course i am on the seventh lesson.
The first 2 lessons were fine, on the third I slipped and since then I
have found it very difficult to get back into the swing of things. I
glide without floats for a few strokes just to get back to the wall,
next time i try it i hesitate and havent got the confidence to do the same thing again. Please help as i find this very frustrating as it is
holding me back. Do you have any suggestions please?
Swimming Without Stress Says: The fear reflex makes you pull your head back (away form the support of the water) so suddenly you have lost your balance. It also makes you hold your breath, so you suddenly feel you desperately need to breathe. You must tell yourself throughout the whole process to drop your head - let it rest into the water. Keep your focus on the pool floor not the wall. If your head is resting you will be looking down at the floor and the top of your head will be leading you to the wall. If you are looking at the wall the top of your head will be leading up out of the water and you will not move forward so well.The first chapter in Ian's book (Swimming without Stress Lessons For Landlovers) is "How to make friends with
the water". You should read it! |
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Question: I have started taking lessons after years of fear and now put my face in and will glide using a float. My next challenge is to push and glide with no float but my long held fears hold me back. Do you have any advice please?
Swimming Without Stress Says: Firstly make sure you are breathing out into the water - it is the most important thing helping you to relax and making you realise that you actually have plenty of time! Make sure you have comfortable goggles and are keeping your eyes open so you can see the floor and what you are doing. Without the float, facing a wall, letting your arms float in front of you - Let the weight of your head rest into the water until the back end starts to float, then watch your feet come forward bringing you back into a standing position. Gradually spend a bit longer letting the back end float. The legs will initially float upwards but if you did nothing else they would then start to drop again. So waiting and taking your time is important. Resting your hands on someone else's is preferable to the float which tends to create tension as you grip it. Have a go and good luck. |
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Question: I have decided to start swimming at local health club regularly. After about 13 years lapse I'm surprised to find I can still swim quite well and quite fast and smoothly at the side-stroke, but I now want to improve my crawl and breaststroke, by studying tips on-line and by watching others. I am 79 years old and my problem is breathing. I inhale and exhale noisily like an express steam train. I am relaxed on my side but it is as if I can only get enough breath by forcing it.
Swimming Without Stress Says: Sounds like you need to slow down. As the movements in front crawl are continuous, it can feel like the stroke runs away with you and you don't get a chance to rest and breathe. The key is to slow it all down, make sure you are resting balanced in the water even in the breathing position so that you don't need to rush on to the next stroke. See each stroke as a glide with the forward arm - time to lengthen and rest, gently letting air out all the way. You might like to have a look at Ian's book - Swimming without Stress - Lessons for Landlovers. |
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Question: hi there, i have recently started swimming at my local health club every other day in a bid to get fit and tone up. i hate the gym and wanted to undertake something that wasn't putting pressure on my knees and i've always loved wimming. And until recently thought i was good at it. i have been doing lengths of the pool but later at night my neck is in agony. i know it must be something to do with my technique (or lack of it), i am doing front crawl and turning my head to either side to breathe. What am i doing wrong because i would really like to correct it and continue swimming?
Swimming Without Stress Says: It is likely to be the breathing technique: you need to roll your body and let your head follow rather than twist your neck/ lift your head and keep your body square. Really you need to reconstruct the whole stroke and you need hands on guidance to help you learn the new way. I'm sure we could help you if you were able to arrange some lessons with us. Otherwise, I recommend that you read my book, Swimming without Stress. It is available in e book format for £3.99 and explains the technique as well as I can explain it in words. If you're interested in a residential course with myself and Cheryl in Pembrokeshire, or lessons with Chie in Oxon, don't hesitate to contact me with any queries. |
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Question: I hope you can advise; I want to start swimming and have always wanted to. But I am very conservative about my body, therefore very interested in any full body swimwear.
Swimming Without Stress Says: For ladies, we will soon be stocking a Speedo Sun Cover Up suit, which will be perfect - long sleeves and legs, bust support with removable cups. There is also a hood to match. If you are interested in this please let us know and we will see how quickly we can get one. They will cost about £49.99. |
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