Swimmers, Do You Have Breathing Advice to Share?

Comments

September 30, 2009 at 2:56 pm

(1) John Schlotzhauer :

Try using nose clips. This should help.

October 1, 2009 at 7:32 am

(2) Juan :

I recommend inhaling through the mouth and exhaling either through the mouth, nose or both. Practice it on the shallow end with both feet on the ground, inhale, sing your face and exhale. Some people have a hard time breathing through their mouths that is why I recommend you try it in the shallow end first.

That would be about it.

Good luck

October 3, 2009 at 8:38 am

(3) elly :

Practicing breathing in a rhythm might be good. I find it very helpful to count my breaths, though it takes a little bit of getting used to.
For example, when swimming freestyle, with my head in the water I count ‘1,2,3′ whilst exhaling (through the mouth and nose), then turn my head up to the left to inhale (through the mouth only), 1,2,3 exhale, then turn the head to the right to inhale, and so on. I think most people tend to breathe out through the mouth, and like Juan says, exhale through the mouth and/or the nose. You’re right – it’s horrid when you breathe water in through the nose. It makes your eyes water and you want to sneeze!

October 5, 2009 at 4:32 pm

(4) tequwmah :

i agree- i’ve never used nose clips but i’m planning to experiment, i’ve seen at least one national competitor use them. i’ve experimented with a diving mask and found the experience “stuffy”- i prefer to exhale through my nose and/or mouth while swimming. in the very beginning, i worked up to where i would go to a deeper part of the pool and after inhaling through my mouth, sink to the bottom, slowly exhaling through my nose only- push up off the pool bottom, inhaling again after my head broke the surface Your gonna do great- be safe