Swimming and breathing help pls!

How’s it going Marvin?

I practiced my left side breathing in FC last night, it is getting easier but I have to really focus on what I’m doing with high elbow or I don’t turn my head at right angle whereas breathing on right side is just smooth and easy. I will keep persisting.

I swim straighter on 3 than 2!

That's why bilateral breathing is preferable - but I wouldn't worry about that till you've got the technique sorted on one side.

You don't have to swim while practising - go to the side of the pool, and hold the side with your arms out in front. Put your head down, blow out and turn your head to the side to breathe in - you can really focus in the breathing while not having to worry about legs, staying afloat and so on. Also, you could practise breathing out through your nose.

I think I mostly breathe out through my mouth, but knowing how to breathe out through your nose means water is less likely to go up it if you get a stroke wrong.

It took me a long time to move from 2 strokes per breath to 3. Mindyou, I learned to swim at 16 after failing to learn at school. It took 4 months to get the technique including breathing good enough to swim a length, but once it clicked, my distance progress was rapid.

I swim straighter on 3 than 2!

I only started swimming FC last year and whilst my technique is still highly dubious, I was able to gradually build up from half a length to over a km . Every week I would try and add an extra half or full length of continuous fc and moved from 2 to 3 stroke breathing. Take it slow but build up gradually and you'll get there. Heads off to look up the swimming lessons I keep promising myself ...

I've just restarted swimming after a long break and am currently much fitter - lots of pushchair walking and some running and something seems to have clicked and I can swim lengths sometimes half way along without breathing. I now do breast stroke underwater as well. I am not very fast but feel really in control and it is amazing. I think space to breathe is defoo something.

A swim teacher for my children suggested that instead of trying to breathe out thr side they roll onto their backs and do a bit of backstroke then roll back and swim head in. They can do this really well now. I have tried it a few times and it is helpful as it helps you control your breathing and think about it.

I've just been for my swim and spent the whole time analysing my breathing! So, I have a big blow out under water when I push off then breathe every four strokes from there. Turns out I start my out breath as my third stroke hand enters the water and I blow the last out as my head is turning. I tried blowing out for my whole 4 strokes but really didn't feel comfortable - probably works better for a two stroke breath. Blowing out as my face is coming out of the water stops water flowing in. Then as my face is at its highest point to the side, I breathe in. For my head position, I'm looking back towards the elbow I'm lifting out of the water with my chin lifted to keep my mouth clear. If any of that makes sense, I hope it helps!

Try some work on breathing to the side using a float. Start with hand in the middle other arm down youre side. Face in blowing all the air out, then turn your head to the side on your arm which is stretched out so your ear and cheek are on the side of you’re arm but keep kicking those legs. Once you feel confident add the arm pull and do single arm pull with float and turn your head to the side.

I’m a swimming teacher, make sure you get all the air out before you turn you’re head to the side to breathe, you’re ear and cheek should be on the side of your arm as you turn quick breathe in and head in blowing the air out in the water make sure you keep kicking you’re legs. Don’t rush you’re arms keep them big and slow if you rush the stroke by going too fast and not pace yourself you can become breathless quickly. Definitely invest in some adult swimming lessons it’s great to see the confidence with swimmers week after week.

I’ve been teaching myself FC over the last couple of years from scratch. I now do a mile of FC. I’ve found on you tube the effortless swimming videos useful for trying different bits of technique. The penny dropped for me on finding the “space” to breathe it was timing of the arm pull enabled my head to roll at the right angle to breathe. Yes to constant trickle breathing out under the water. I’ve been breathing every two strokes but I’m now working on every 3. I use a pull buoy every session to practice. Slowing down to a very slow kick and focusing on arms & breathing really helped. Also readjusting my expectations, my kids have taken two years to learn basic FC (both L7+ now), I can’t expect myself to learn it in a few weeks keep trying it will come.

I'm a bi-literal breather, alternate sides every third stroke, which made a significant difference to my technique but it needs a lot of practice. Reducing actual effort, then enables you to glide through the water with as little side to side movement as possible.

If you don't wear goggles and a hat, definitely get some (Zoggs either online or most swimming pools is the best brand).

Also see if you can borrow a pool buoy (or buy if you want to invest - about a tenner), which you grip between your thighs, as this gives you plenty of buoyancy and stability so you can focus on your breathing. After a while it becomes 2nd nature and you'll be like a fish 🐟 🐠

I was the only adult learner the swimming teacher had, but she was fab and I think she really appreciated the novelty. Totally worth it.

Also, I learned to swim properly as an adult (in my 30s!). I had one-to-one lessons and it made a huge difference so maybe you'd just need a few to perfect the technique?

Haha Popeye mouth describes it perfectly. I breathe every third stroke so that I'm breathing both ways. But you could try doing lengths where you breathe every two in one direction and then every two in the other direction so you get used to doing both sides. Definitely get in the habit of exhaling the whole time your face is in the water

Re the breathlessness, I find the first ten lengths are the absolute worst and then after that you find a rhythm.

I think it’s technique. I once had a term of adult swimming lessons with a local company, which was v good, people in the class had varied fitness and goals. Lots of good swim instructors about where I am (London commuterbelt), a private lesson or two might be good!

I'm not sure you have the breathing right at the moment, letalone the position.

If your pool will let you use one, get hold of a swim snorkel (not a scuba one) and practice swimming and breathing out almost constantly...then a swift breath in. If you find water going up your nose, try a noseclip for a while.

Once you get the hang of breathing (and hopefully swimming streamlined) THEN try without a snorkel.

Then practice rotating with one arm out front and the other at your side kicking. It will take a couple of lengths to get the hang of it.

Good luck OP

Think about your chin sweeping over your collar bone and onto your shoulder to breathe - it'll keep your chin (and therefore head) down, and so your feet up. And make sure you really breathe out properly - it should be continuous. Humming can help to keep a nice soft exhalation

I do a type of popeye mouth shape to breathe in, so I only need to move half of my face out of the water and still don't get water in my mouth.

This thread has encouraged me to try more than 2 strokes between breaths.