How to Swim Part 2
Finding your rhythm when in the pool is a hard thing to do sometimes. What I mean is that you have to work hard to know how you’re gonna feel in those moments. The moments of fatigue, of panic, lack of air, and more.
Being able to surpass them are the hallmarks of what make you a swimmer. Finding new challenges then to work on your skill levels, is then your next goal.
In the last part of this mini series I talked about my Three Simple Steps to Swimming. In this one I’ll mention a trade secret.
Are you ready for it?
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BREATHE.
— — —
Let me say that again…
You do not need to breath in more air when you feel that stress in your brain and chest. It is a just a mechanism in your body to keep you safe, but by being “safe” parameters you severely limit yourself on how far you can go. You can only push your lungs to new limits (like you do with your muscles), WHEN you actually hold your breath for longer.
Most people, as in 99%, get a panic notion when they run out of oxygen. Here is the deal though, it isn’t really the fact that you ran out at all. It is RATHER the fact that you now have an excess of carbon dioxide in your body. That is what is causing the tingles, the panic, the lack of comfort, etc.
Once you make that clear in your head, it all starts to come together, as ALL you really have to do is breathe out.
— — —
This little secret is really hard to master, and I wouldn’t even say I fully have. As if you stop swimming for a while you sort of lose it, like the elasticity in your muscles when you stop going to the gym for a bit.
However with practice it comes back, and your brain is really the true antagonizer. Your brain will make you think you are running out of air, and you have to mindfully control your thoughts to stay calm.
If you want to learn more super useful things like this related to swimming and exercise, then go and check out my weekly newsletter on it!!
