Breath control while swimming

One of the key points in swimming is, without a doubt, breathing, and it is one of the most difficult to master. This can become a truly overwhelming problem for athletes. That is why learning to correctly control your breathing when swimming is so important.

Difficulty breathing during swimming arises from an obvious but no less important aspect: human beings cannot breathe underwater. And the fact of having your face submerged for a few seconds can generate anxiety and even phobias.

Relaxation is a great ally and a fundamental part of controlling the fear that having your head in the water can cause: it allows us to control feelings of anguish and swim more efficiently. Next, we will see some tricks to learn to control your breathing when swimming with lifeguard training near me.

Breath control when swimming in open water

Breathing when swimming in the sea is very different from the one we use when swimming in a pool. Many people recommend sticking your head out to either side and breathing with each stroke when in open water. However, this way of breathing is really inefficient and uncomfortable.

It is generally beginners who breathe this way. But it is more a technical error than a need to breathe more frequently. Breathing in each stroke generates greater fatigue in the shoulders, head, and arms.

Breathing every two strokes, common when swimming in pools, may not be such a good idea in the sea. This technique has the advantage that it allows us to always breathe on the same side. And most people find it easier to breathe on one side than the other.

However, swimming on the same side in open water is likely to lead to drift. It happens because the stroke that is given when taking the head out of the water is a little longer. Another frequent problem is that in open water certain things cannot be controlled. You may not always be able to breathe in that stroke due to swell, wind, etc.

Probably the best technique for breath control when swimming in open water is to breathe every three strokes. It has the advantage of allowing us to maintain a straight line along the way and better see what is around us.

These good habits include being effective with other competitors in the water. By breathing from both sides, we will have no problem changing the rhythm if necessary, whatever the swimming style.

Head and body posture

When we swim, it is essential to keep the head in line with the body at all times. By doing so, you will be able to better control your alignment with the water and swim more efficiently. But, in addition, the cervicals can be relaxed and help make breathing more relaxed and controlled.

Although many swimmers do not give it the importance it deserves, the position in the water is a really determining factor when it comes to advancing better. Having a good alignment of the head with the body will allow us to have a better reference of where the surface is when it comes to sticking the head out to take a breath.

Do not forget that, when getting your head in and out of the water, a few centimeters more or less from the surface can be decisive, especially in a competition.

Breath control and instinct

When submerging the head, the survival instincts immediately appear. And in order to control your breathing, you need to fight them. This may seem very difficult, but the best way to do it is by warming up first and relaxing your mind and body.

It is also necessary to know that it is normal to swallow water during swimming, it happens even to the most experienced swimmers. And this does not mean that breath control is not good or that we are going to drown.

The swimmer's goal is sticking his head out to inhale is to get his mouth as close to the surface of the water as possible. And in that millimetric limit, it can happen that a little water enters the mouth. The important thing is not to panic, because the amount of water is usually very small. Once again, relaxation is the key.