Swimming is a great workout for most of the muscles in your body, but it also strengthens your heart and lungs. Researchers believe that people who regularly swim have a lower death rate than those who do not. Swimming can be a fun, social activity for all ages and abilities. Swimming clubs often offer social activities and camaraderie as well as the exercise you need to stay healthy.
The best way to learn to swim is to take lessons in a group setting. Swimming lessons can teach you different strokes, breathing techniques, and other helpful tips. A good coach will help you set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them. If you have never swum before, be sure to start off slow.
Begin by focusing on freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly as these are the most common and versatile strokes for beginners. Practice on a regular basis, and before you know it you will be a confident swimmer!
Once you become proficient in the above strokes, you can move on to longer distances. Distance swims are a great challenge to keep you motivated and improve your fitness level. There are many benefits of long-distance swimming, including improved heart health and mental health, better blood pressure control, and reduced stress.
During your freestyle stroke, it is important to minimize side-to-side head movement. If you lift your head just before breathing, it can create a suction on the sides of your face and neck. The goal is to roll your head a little bit further so that when you breathe, your mouth clears the water. You will feel as though you are resting on a pillow of water.
When it comes to breaststroke and butterfly, focus on keeping your hand entry above the surface of the water. This will allow you to generate more power for your pull. It is also important to rotate your hands during the recovery phase of each stroke. Rotate them so that your pinky exits the water first, then bring your hand through in a smooth “flap” motion.
The final thing to focus on when swimming is maintaining a safe lane position. Pay attention to other swimmers in your lane, especially those that are using non-freestyle strokes. This will allow you to adjust your stroke and lane position so that you can avoid collisions. If you see another swimmer in front of you that is getting ready to do a turn as you are about to leave on an interval, modify your departure time and/or length to avoid a collision. If you are unsure of what to do, it’s best to err on the side of caution and speak up, rather than try to dodge their turn. If you notice that someone is not swimming with proper form, it’s best to privately mention this to the swim coach instead of yelling at them from the deck! This is a great way to build a positive community in your swim club.