Need tips on beginning - JP Fitness Forums

TrainingGirl · 06-10-2007, 06:45 AM

I am so excited to see this forum here! I have read through the threads and you all have given me some motivation. Swimming is THE best thing I can do given my current health issues. So I'd like to take some lessons. About now, I can stay afloat but that's about it..ha. I can swim freestyle I guess but I'm sure my technique is not correct. The local Y gives lessons...is that a good place to start? Anywhere else I should look?

Thanks

RobLL · 06-10-2007, 11:55 AM

I am not a good swimmer, but I know a couple of things better than anyone else in the world about first time swimmers, or at least any of the good swimmers at my pool. Can you breath while doing a crawl stroke? Get some help at the pool if you can't do this. I taught my son by walking down the side as he swam and counting and telling him when to breath. This was not a great coaching technique but once he got four a five good breaths in he's a smart kid, and took it from there.

If you are a first time swimmer DON'T kick too hard. Anyone can wear themselves out in half a pool length thrashing the water, and beginners very often do this. Second: Don't swim fast, in fact swim very slow at the beginning. You need to go slow enough so that you can swim at least 8 laps before you start speeding up.

After these two things then ask the good swimmers for tips. But don't let them give you more than one or two things to change at a time, unless you are very athletic and have super body awareness.

TrainingGirl · 06-11-2007, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the tips Rob. I can breathe but I probably don't do it in the most effective way. I will concentrate on learning this.

I am not very athletic...haven't done much of anything in over a year...so I will take things slow.

Jimbo · 06-11-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobLL

Don't swim fast, in fact swim very slow at the beginning. You need to go slow enough so that you can swim at least 8 laps before you start speeding up.

Glad to have you jumping in TG! Hope you will get in on a future challenge. Just set a goal for yourself and go for it.

I agree with RobLL on the above for sure. It's all about tecnique in the beginning..well..I've been hitting the pool hard for 4 months and it's still all about tecnique for me too. (I'm a newbie too) But I'll share what little I have learned.

It really helped me to read up on the web and view videos of pro swimmers.

With swimming, as with most sports, you are shooting for less effort and becoming more efficient at it. You need to learn to "feel" the water. Learning to balance properly and grip the water in the stroke are 2 important keys.

Noisy swimming is "fighting the water" instead of slipping through it. There is one guy at our pool that I have to watch every time he gets in. I've never seen anything like it. I wish I had a video camera. He slaps the water HARD with his left arm, almost disappears under water when he uses his right. He's got to be destroying his shoulder.

The best swimmers make it look like it's effortless and graceful. Make you body long in the water like a torpedo. Take lengthy strokes reaching straight ahead and face down.

I worked toward having less Strokes Per Lap in the pool for the longest time. This really helped me to refine my stroke tecnique. (still a work in progress)

I still haven't mastered the flip at the end of the pool but have developed my own version that works for me.

Most of all, have fun and relax. I love the tranquil feeling of getting in the pool..away from the world. I bet you will too. Enjoy.

Aoife · 06-11-2007, 10:43 AM

I totally suggest Total Immersion.

I swim horribly, it's helped tremendously. And it starts with a simple... "this is how you float on your back..."
keep your body this way, everything else will be so effortless compared to the thrashing other people do.

I never knew how many bad habits I'd learned by just trying to swim myself or form those mandatory swim classes in high school.

TrainingGirl · 06-11-2007, 11:56 AM

I was reading the challenge thread earlier. I will be there one day

Thanks for all of those tips Jimbo! Everything you say makes complete sense but isn't something I have thought about before.

I will check out Total Immersion too..thanks

FishrCutB8 · 06-12-2007, 01:50 PM

+1 on Total Immersion.

emartin10 · 06-13-2007, 10:02 AM

Really great to see you back TG!!! Big ups for Total Immersion, but I really think that you can't go wrong getting a few lessons at the Y. Having someone watch your technique is a huge help, and will only help you in the long run.

Again, so glad you're back, and I hope you can hang around in our little outdoor forum

E

Q. · 06-13-2007, 06:50 PM

Great to have you here, TG!!!

Brad

TrainingGirl · 06-14-2007, 01:25 PM

Thanks everyone. I signed up for classes today...yay! They start next week. That along with reading Total Immersion should get me off to a good start. I'll keep you updated and will have questions as I go along I'm sure.

emartin10 · 06-20-2007, 11:00 PM

Cool. Enjoy learning, it's a great sport to get into to!

E

Jimbo · 06-21-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrainingGirl

Thanks everyone. I signed up for classes today...yay! They start next week. That along with reading Total Immersion should get me off to a good start. I'll keep you updated and will have questions as I go along I'm sure.

How are the classes going?? We want to hear a report!

varybarry · 08-02-2007, 10:56 AM

Thanks for all of the great information on swimming. I really dislike running and I wanted to try a different form of cardio. I'm a horrible swimmer, but your tips have given me a little more confidence to get started in the pool.

LAURA11 · 05-13-2008, 07:13 AM

Thanks for your suggestions.....I suggest Try to swim at least three swims a week. Swimmers seem to improve faster and easier when they swim more frequently as opposed to only doing a few longer workouts each week

emartin10 · 05-13-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAURA11

Thanks for your suggestions.....I suggest Try to swim at least three swims a week. Swimmers seem to improve faster and easier when they swim more frequently as opposed to only doing a few longer workouts each week

I do pretty good on 2 or 3 swims a week, with one speed day, one drills day, and one distance day...

E

NinethPrince · 07-11-2008, 12:50 PM

Hey training girl your not alone,

I used to be able to swim when i was a kid, but i forgot.
I'm also taking lessons at the Y

Best of luck too you

Marissa · 07-14-2008, 08:25 AM

Count me in.

I've never been a strong swimmer, so I'm taking a Beginning Swimming class at my university this coming fall semester. I'm very excited about it. I love swimming but have so few skills I think I'd enjoy it a lot more if I could do more.

missjane · 08-07-2008, 09:44 AM

I start adult swimming lessons on September 8 and I am so excited! I've always wanted to learn how to swim and it was a goal of mine from the first of the year and one of the goals I had yet to accomplish. So, it's time!

Can anyone who's actually taken adult BEGINNER classes give me any pointers on what to expect.

My ultimate goal is to be able to swim laps and do that flip at each end of the pool.

ceebee · 08-07-2008, 05:46 PM

Good for you. Swimming is fun. A couple of years ago, I learned to swim with a masters' group. As a beginner (and I still am), here's some things I found:

Even with being pretty fit from running, I had to rest at the wall almost every lap in the beginning. That gets better pretty quickly.

Learning to relax and breathe was harder than I thought.

Even though you are in water, you are sweating and can get dehydrated. So bring water or Gatorade, depending on how long you are swimming.

Our sessions were 90 minutes and I was very prone to leg and foot cramping. The Gatorade type drinks would help some, plus over time my muscles adapted.

I tried to forego the ugly swim caps, but I needed it to keep the hair out of my face. The spandex caps are more stretchy and comfy than the latex ones. The latex ones are so tight and they would give me a headache.

To protect your hair (which is gorgeous by the way), wet it with tap water before you get in the pool. It won't absorb as much chlorine. The swim cap does nothing to protect your hair. I naively thought my hair would be dry with the cap!