Essential Tips for Effortless Swimming

Swimming is the perfect workout. It tones the muscles, boosts lung capacity, and strengthens the joints. Regular swimming improves circulation while reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Because swimming is a low impact workout, it is kinder to the joints than traditional cardio exercises such as jogging or running. Of course, not everyone is comfortable in the water. Being a great swimmer takes a lot of work and dedication. If you are not a confident swimmer and you’d like to become an excellent swimmer, consider these tips:

Learn to Breathe Properly in the Water

Proper breathing is important when swimming. A strong set of lungs allows you to stay under the water for longer. Breathing properly also affects your body’s buoyancy. It can be quite scary for novice swimmers to get comfortable in the water because of fears of drowning. We recommend practicing relaxed breathing paired with correct posture to ensure that your body is getting enough oxygen while in the water. If you are taking swimming lessons, you will complete a series of breathing drills. These drills are helpful because they will strengthen your lungs and make you more comfortable in the water.

Practice in a Safe Environment

If you are teaching yourself to swim (yes, this is possible), make sure you do it in a safe environment at all times. This means practicing swimming in a supervised swimming pool. Do not attempt to teach yourself to swim in open water because the risk of drowning is too great for beginners. It is common for novice swimmers to panic in open water because they cannot see what’s below the surface. A controlled environment reduces the risk of drowning. Plus, there is always a lifeguard on standby to keep an eye on you.

Practicing Swimming Components Independently

Swimming looks easy but it is actually comprised of various complex motions. To learn how to swim properly, you have to decompose these complex motions into manageable components and then practicing these components independently. For instance, to master the arm motions, you have to practice proper arm positions separately from leg motions.

Use Swimming Aids for Support

Always use swimming aids to support your body while in the water. Swimming aids are very useful especially if you are trying to master a specific stroke. These tools also boost confidence in the water so you become more comfortable swimming. This goes especially if you are terrified of the water.

Once you become good at swimming and you know you don’t need swimming aids anymore, do not use them. Some swimmers tend to use flotation devices so they have something to cling to even when these tools are no longer needed. Using flotation devices when they are not needed will only affect your confidence in the water.

Train on Dry Land

Swimming practice is not limited to the pool. You can practice various motions on dry land too. Lie down on the floor and perform the motions to master a specific stroke. Dry land training is useful especially if you do not have an access to a pool while at home.