How do I float? Why do I get so tired? Am I too old? As a beginner learning to swim, you have many unanswered questions, and as a teacher, you are constantly being asked them. There are a few that get asked more than others. Hi, Mark here. How are you? I hope all is well. How can I stand up mid-swim? How can I swim without getting tired? How Do I Float? These are just some of the most common questions I get asked. I have listed the most common questions and links to more detailed answers. I hope you can relate to these and find the answers useful. The answers to the following questions and more can be found in my best-selling book, The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming. Click here for an instant preview. How Do I Float?This is one of the most common swimming questions asked. Floating is a characteristic of your body. Either you float well, or you do not. In general, lean, muscular people tend to sink, and people with a higher body fat percentage will float. That does not mean that you cannot learn to swim if you do not float well. Here are my tips for floating when learning to swim. Learning To Swim At This Age. Am I Too Old?Never! Anyone can learn to swim at any age. Where you start will depend on how comfortable or uncomfortable you are in the water. I gave a detailed answer to a 65-year-old lady asking the very same question. How Can I Conquer My Fear Of Deep Water?Become confident with submerging underwater first. Practice in water of standing depth with your feet on the pool floor and your feet lifted off the pool floor. Keep in mind that the water is trying to support you, not pull you down. Here are some simple exercises for conquering a fear of deep water. How Do I Stop And Stand Up When Swimming?A simultaneous movement of the arms and legs is needed here. The arms pull down through the water, and the knees bend forward before the feet are placed on the pool floor. A common mistake is to arch the back and lift the head without moving the arms or legs. Here is a detailed explanation with a simple diagram showing how to stand up in the pool after swimming. Can I Learn To Swim With My Head Above The Water?Yes certainly. It is preferable to learn how to submerge and breathe when learning to swim. This enhances confidence in all areas of swimming. However, a recreational type of breaststroke where the head remains above the water surface can be used. Technically, this type of breaststroke is not very efficient, but it is commonly swum. Here is my detailed answer when asked this question. How Can I Swim Without Getting Tired?This depends firstly on your fitness level. Secondly, on which swimming stroke you are swimming because some swimming strokes are physically more demanding than others. For example, front crawl is more intense than breaststroke, but whatever the stroke, the correct swimming technique will ensure you swim through the water with maximum efficiency, using the minimum energy. Click here for a detailed explanation. Where Can I Find More Help and Support?One of my best-selling books is 'The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming' (click here for an instant preview). It has all the tips, tricks, and help you could possibly need to support your swimming lessons and your time in the water. Click on the image below or this link here to find out more. That's it for this week. Stay focused, stay in touch and stay safe. Happy swimming! Cheers Mark ps - did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here. |
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
A breaststroke leg kick that provides little or no power is frustrating. No problem; there are plenty of drills to correct it. Also, download a bunch of lesson plans to help you teach breaststroke. Hi, Mark here. Feeling frustrated? I've prepared a Breaststroke Kick Technique printable tip sheet to ease your frustrations. It has a great basic drill to help fine-tune your leg kick, along with some of the most common mistakes to look out for. Breaststroke Legs: Step By Step... We can break...
Teaching children how to swim can be a frustrating process, especially if they scared or anxious. That is, until you turn it all into a game! Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. My popular book 'Teach Your Child To Swim Through Games and Play' uses games to teach all of the essential basics of swimming. Use the power of play to teach basic swimming skills to your children. Teaching them to swim could not be easier! Click here or the cover image below for a preview. Amazon Review...
Are you getting out of breath long before you think you should be? Which breathing technique is the right one for you? Also, swimming teachers, the definitive guide to teaching outstanding swimming lessons is here. Grab your copy today! Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week we are talking about breathing techniques. I've been asked a lot of questions lately about breathing techniques. Questions like how, when, how often and why do I get out of breath so easily? Let's dive in...