Swimming question

[polkapip]

I've never officially learned to swim. No lessons as they were too pricey for my folks and mum and dad didn't swim so saw no need sadly. I kind of taught myself by pushing off and flailing about as a 13 year old and have only really dabbled in swimming. Up to 20 lengths of grandma style head- out breast stroke. When I do put head in, I just hold breath and go as long as I can.
I've recently been open water "swimming " (again sedate old lady breast stroke ) but want to swim well.
I had a lesson today in an adult session and really struggled to breathe. I'm so used to holding my breath I need to learn how to push my breath out so I'm ready to breathe in when I bring head out. Teacher said my form was ok and had me trying the breathing and said that'll be my issue. Any tips on how to practise it? Or stuff I might find useful ? I need to find my inner Sharon Davies !

Maybe practice in the shower or bath? Head out breathe in, head under breathe out?

can you grab a float next time you’re in the pool use it with your hands out stretched and kick any stroke you like and practice breathing that way?

stand up in the shallow end of the pool and simply practice putting your head in the water as if you’re swimming and blow out gently Through your nose, before coming up slowly for breath. Repeat several times.. You’ll get there. Good luck!

I'll have to get over my embarrassment and practise with a float - great ideas here. Think I've got a float from the kids' swimming lesson days. I really hope I can get it

I'm in exactly the same situation. I've been practicing with blowing bubbles in water, which is how the dc were taught in their baby swimming lessons.
I've been practicing in the bath and it's really helped with my breathing when swimming.

Wear goggles so you're comfortable putting your face in the water.
Take a deep breath and then put your face in. Keep your mouth closed and breathe out your nose. Think bubbles until you run out of puff.
Lift your head out and take a big breath.
Repeat!

What really really help me was going to the deep end, taking a big breath then trying to be able to sit on the bottom of the pool by blowing out all my breath. You can only sink down if you fully breathe out. Then pop back up when you're out of breath.

Helped me learn how much I can breathe out and increased my confidence that I don't need to gasp for air quite so often.
Much easier to learn this stuff when you're not also trying to swim
Learned this from an awesome beginners coach.
We all looked like numpties but well worth it.

I bought a nose clip and have found that has helped with my breathing, I think the tip about just being in the shallow end and getting used to putting your face in is a good one because that can feel really unnatural at first and you used to cause a little panic in me that knocked me out of sync with my breathing. But then just some slow lengths take your time and you'll find a rhythm. There's tons of videos on YouTube with tips for perfecting your stroke too, good luck!

And the float suggestion is also very good. I did many many many lengths of this trying to retrain my brain.

I can't do it, but I can swim well back and front, in various ways. No formal teaching, I just taught myself as a kid as I always loved water. I've also swam in various bodies of water(sea,lake,pools,shallow rivers, big rivers) which massively helped to learn what works best and how to be more efficient.

But respectfully disagree with @mrswarthog - breathe out through your mouth.

I'm in exactly the same boat OP so following for ideas...

@ShinyHatStand you would be highly entertained by the double checking by me, DH & DC. We're puffing all over the house! We agree that you can breathe out of your mouth, but have all been trained (Me &DH at regional level, DC are representing our City) to breathe in mouth, out nose cos it's faster.

Alexander technique swim teacher here. Blow bubbles in the water. Blow out through your mouth. Do not hold your nose. Try to avoid gasping when you take a breath. Get used to your mouth being open under water. When you perform the stroke try not to pull your neck back. Your spine should be straight. When you lift your head out of the water, use your arms and shoulders to do the lifting, not your neck. Keep your face pointing down so the water runs straight out your mouth. Hth!

Also in the same boat OP after teaching myself to swim at 33. Still struggle to swim any reasonable amount so am following for everyone's great tips!

I learnt as an adult too.
A friend I worked with was as swim teacher and helped me with my breathing.
basically stand in the pool breath in through your mouth, then put your face in the water and breath out through your nose. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Some lengths with a Float and flippers will help too. That way the swimming is easier and you can focus on the breathing.

Hi OP. Professional swimmer here. Fee free to ask me anything.
First of all CONGRATULATIONS of taking this huge step as an adult - I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be. Couple of tips for you. 1/ wear a cap. Sounds silly but will take away the sensation of having har floating about and will improve buoyancy on your head. 2/ try backstroke. Well, start by floating on your back holding the float in your outstretched armband kick your legs gently (don't flail), pushing your hips upwards and keeping your knees down (sounds more complicated than it is). 3/ forget breaststroke - it is the hardest stroke of all to get right, and tires you out quickly. 4/ make sure you are wearing goggles - no brainer. 5/ don't hold your breath - breath control is part of swimming. If they are trying you with front crawl, even with a float, practice breathing by tilting your head to both sides. Holding your breath will make you panic and lose rhythm.
GOOD LUCK and don't give up. I compete in swimming and am still learning - every session I learn something new so don't lose heart. You can do this!

I was taught in through the mouth out through the nose. It helps stop nose tickling!
The first thing my instructor did was to slow me down. Then we worked on breathing. That meant I didn't get tired or exhaust myself and it took about 4 months to do my first 25m and within a year could swim a mile.

I breathe out while my face is still in the water ready to turn to the side and inhale at my arm pit for crawl or while facing up in breast stroke.

I went to adult lessons at 16 which took a bit of swallowing my pride as I was the only u60 there. Learning to swim was one of the best things I've ever done.

Thanks to everyone for replying
Dying to get back in now and also feeler buoyed up (pun intended ) by the fact there are a few of us!

I went to pool today with my sun and got so frustrated. It's like my brain won't let my lungs empty under water. So so odd. It's marginally better with breathing out through nose but only slightly Ill go back and keep practising and hope it clicks but I was so annoyed !

I practised today and made a bit of progress- for me the trick was to face down looking at the floor so I was totally flat rather than my usual eyes above the water line approach, then took a deep breath in - filling my lungs - then out through the nose in water. It was much faster and much more enjoyable way to swim but I had to really concentrate as it definitely feels counter intuitive. I need a lot more practice!

Hold onto the edge & do the bubble blowing. Think of it as positive, relaxed expiration, rather than a forceful blowing. An aghhhh....👌😊

I just hold my head out of the water and breathe normally. Didn't realise I was doing it so wrong.
Can't do breaststroke for the life of me.