Are you getting out of breath long before you think you should be? Which breathing technique is the right one for you?

Hi, Mark here 👋. Hope you're doing well.

Let’s talk about breathing.
Whether you're a beginner swimmer or a swimming teacher, one of the most common struggles in the pool is getting out of breath too quickly.

Sound familiar?

I’ve had loads of questions recently like:

• “How often should I breathe?”
• “Am I doing it wrong if I’m gasping for air?”
• “Is there a best breathing style for each stroke?”

Let’s dive in and clear things up...

Breathing Techniques for Every Stroke

🏊‍♂️ Front Crawl​
The secret here is trickle breathing – breathe out slowly and continuously underwater.
Most swimmers do well with a 3-stroke rhythm, alternating sides. But breathing every 2 strokes to the same side is fine too.
👉 Learn more about breathing in front crawl​

🐸 Breaststroke​
Again, trickle breathing is key. Inhale as you pull your arms around and lift your head. Then exhale gently into the glide phase.
Think: “Pull your head up, blow your hands forward.”​
👉 More on breaststroke breathing​

🚶‍♂️ Backstroke​
You’re on your back, so breathing is easier – but a steady rhythm helps. Try inhaling with one arm pull, exhaling with the other.
👉 Master backstroke breathing here​

🦋 Butterfly​
This one’s tough. You can use trickle breathing every second arm pull, but many beginners need to breathe every stroke – and that’s OK.
👉 Tips for breathing in butterfly​

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That's it for this week. Take care and stay safe.

Happy swimming!

Cheers

Mark

​Swim Teach​

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