Breath control while swimming

 The technique is fundamental in all sports, and even in any physical activity that we do. However, in a discipline like swimming, optimizing resources and minimizing efforts is paramount; for this reason, precisely, breathing becomes a key aspect that yes or yes we need to work on.

Breathing properly is essential in all physical exercise, whether aerobic or anaerobic. However, as natural as it may seem, it is not always easy to learn to do it correctly, especially when we must concentrate on other movements and external aspects with online lifeguard recertification.

That is why, during swimming classes, breathing occupies a more than important place. It is necessary to emphasize its correct execution, while enhancing the oxygenation of the muscles and the body in general, losing as little time and momentum as possible.

Breathing in swimming: basic concepts

Metabolism is the basic process by which the body works and allows us, among other things, to obtain energy to move. To carry it out, the body needs oxygen, which we obtain from breathing.

The lungs fill from the bottom up, in a three-stage process that begins with the abdomen, continues through the rib cage, and ends with the elevation of the clavicles, as the upper part of the lungs fills.

As can be seen, this procedure is repeated many times throughout a swimming race. Therefore, it deserves training similar to that of the other aspects that make up the technique in each of the swimming styles.

Likewise, we can also learn to master breathing out of the water. To do this, we can resort to specific exercises, or to disciplines such as yoga, which provide spaces to meditate.

Swimming styles and breathing in each of them

Of course, each swimming style allows you to take a moment to breathe. In this way, athletes can travel long distances without stopping, and also regulate energy and aerobic expenditure at each stage. Next, we will evaluate breathing in each of these styles:

Crawl freestyle

This style, the first to be mastered when starting to swim, offers us the possibility of sticking our heads out to breathe every time we rotate our bodies when we stroke. This process demands coordination that, in general, is learned quickly, since it consists of a quite natural movement.

The head comes out of the water as the arm on that same side is completing the sweep back. Trainers usually recommend that the mouth remains as close as possible to the water, in order to minimize the efforts when performing this movement; the frequency will depend on the endurance of the swimmer.

Back style

The peculiarity of this style is that the athlete's head is always looking up. Therefore, you will not have limitations or need any movement to breathe.

However, it is recommended to establish a fixed rhythm of breathing. It can be, for example, inhaling in the recovery of one arm and exhaling in the recovery of the other.

Butterfly style

In this style, one of the most complex that we can find in this sport, breathing control becomes more complicated. There are two factors that affect this: firstly, the demands of the movements are greater, so exhaustion occurs faster.

Also, by making less natural movements, it is more difficult to find the exact moment for breathing. However, this is something that can be overcome with training.

The ideal is to raise the head and take a breath at the moment in which the arms are sweeping backward and somewhat elevated. Then, when the face is submerged again (which should just be above the surface), the air is expelled to restart the process.

In general, to optimize the use of air, it is advisable to breathe every two cycles of strokes. However, this will always depend on the swimmer and the event they are doing.

Breaststroke

Similar to what was described when talking about the butterfly style, in the breaststroke or breaststroke the air is inhaled when raising the head from the water; This is done by taking advantage of the movement of the arms backward and the propulsion of the body forwards. Then, on recovery, it is exhaled underwater.

Breathing in swimming is essential for various reasons: it improves performance, maintains alertness, prevents muscle tension, and, of course, prevents us from getting tired before time.

For all this, emphasizing this process in training is more than necessary. Both the posture of the body and the power of the strokes and kicks can mean the difference between successful performance and a frustrating one at the competitive level.