Breathing Course

Description

Breathing during freestyle swimming is difficult for most beginners.

For many this is completely new, because breathing is an activity everyone does without thought.

In freestyle swimming, the breathing frequency is limited, as you can only breath in a certain moment in the stroke.

Breathing Patterns:

Breathing frequencies in swimming are commonly noted as the number of breaths related to the number of arm strokes.

The most common breathing frequencies in swimming are:

• 1:4 = 1 breath every 4 strokes, when swimming in a low intensity. All breaths are taken on the same side.
• 1:3 = 1 breath every 3 strokes, when swimming in a medium intensity. Breaths are taken on both sides alternating
• 1:2 = 1 breath every 2 strokes, when swimming in a high intensity. A higher frequency, all breaths on the same side.

In the previous lessons we used mainly the 1:4 pattern, which you may have found challenging. There are a couple of reasons for this:

1) Focus on technique: As a beginner you may not be quite comfortable with breathing in the water. Your instinct is probably telling you to breath very quickly probably 1:2. In this pattern your head is constantly turning in and out of the water, leaving no room for focusing on what you are actually doing with your arms, legs and body position. Breathing 1:4 gives time to focus on your stroke for at least the duration of 3 arm strokes.

2) Breath Control: the instinctive 1:2 breathing is most of the time a hyperventilation mode. To get control of your breath, you need to focus on breathing out and dosing this correctly.

Good breathing practice