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Swimming Tips For Beginners!

By Bridget
17 August 2016   |   3:20 pm
Swimming is the sport or activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs. Swimming is a competitive sport and is considered an all-around good exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels. A beginner would need to take time to become comfortable in water, before any serious swimming activity can begin. To become…

Swimming is the sport or activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs. Swimming is a competitive sport and is considered an all-around good exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels. A beginner would need to take time to become comfortable in water, before any serious swimming activity can begin.

To become comfortable in the water, beginners need to get close to the swimming pool, try tossing their legs in the pool as a way of familiarising with that terrain, be sure to stay within the SHALLOW areas of the pool for safety reasons.

Swimming Tips For Beginners!

Moving on to the next level is to learn how to walk around the SHALLOW areas of the pool; a shallow area in this context means  an area of the pool, shallow enough to enable you stand with your head uncovered with water. Master your way around this terrain and move to the next level.

Swimming Tips For Beginners!

Once you are good with walking around the narrow areas, learning how to float in water becomes expedient. You would also Swimming Tips For Beginners!need to learn floating beginning from the SHALLOW areas. Now because the human body is naturally buoyant in water, you would need to try floating in an area of the pool that is shallow enough to stand in, ensuring an instructor or a friend who is good with swimming is on standby to provide guidance and added safety when and if  needed? Your instructor should be able to run you through the remaining sessions which includes; learning how to move your limbs, knowing to control the pace of your breathing, knowing how to avoid swallowing or inhaling water and other necessary swimming sections.

Other swimming tips to master as a beginner:

The Swimming Environment: As said earlier, as a beginner swimmer, it is important to master the appropriate skills of swimming. Be familiar with water safety and be well-informed of the swimming environment. Swimming is usually performed in pools of various lengths. Swimming flumes or swimming treadmills are indoor options, in case you do not want to begin learning very commercial pools. For indoor pools, it is vital that the appropriate temperature and water environment be maintained. There are a number of water related illnesses or conditions that can occur even in properly maintained pools. It is important to follow the facility safety rules and to understand proper etiquette. Check with the lifeguard or pool personnel for assistance.

Never swim alone: Wherever you swim, there should be appropriately trained personnel to handle any emergency situations.

Swimming Tips For Beginners!

It is not recommended that beginners should swim in open water. Open water swims can be dangerous in many ways; Lack of knowledge of water depth and terrain as a whole, unknown water currents; tide changes, wave and wave length, water temperature, marine animals, water cleanliness and all are just a few of the conditions that can make open water swimming hazardous .

Technique: There are many different swimming strokes and techniques that you will learn to once you start taking swimming seriously. Each stroke has unique characteristics and requires different form and skills. Practicing proper stroke technique will improve swimming efficiency. Taking lessons from a qualified teacher or coach can provide the basic skills necessary to know all swimming techniques.

Equipment: When starting a swimming program there are two major pieces of equipment essential to have; swimsuit and goggles. Select an appropriate swimsuit that is comfortable designed specifically for swimming. Manufacturers have developed a number of fabrics for swimming ask your instructor the one to use. Goggles are very important to protect your eyes. They also make swimming much more enjoyable. There are a number of fairly inexpensive models that have prescription lenses. It is important that the goggles fit tightly and do not leak. Swim caps can provide a variety of benefits depending on the swimmer and their needs.

Asides from these, there are also a number of training aids that you may need as a beginner; they are Fins, a pull-buoy, and a kickboard. Fins is useful for the swimmer who has a weak kick. They will help your flexibility. Make sure the fins fit properly. A pull-buoy is a flotation device that is placed between the legs to help the swimmer train without the lower body sinking. A kickboard is another flotation device; it can be routinely used to help keep the upper body floating while working on the kick. In addition there are earplugs, nose clips, and other items that may be appropriate based on individual swimmer.

Swimming Tips For Beginners!

Fins

Swimming Tips For Beginners!

pull-buoy

Swimming Tips For Beginners!

kickboard

In conclusion, once you have good knowledge of swimming, staying active in it will pay off. It is a great way to improve health and fitness and it is about one exercise that carries all parts of the body along during an exercise.  So swim safely and enjoy all the benefits!

Credits: American college of sports medicine (www.acsm.org), livestrong.com.

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