Four-score and half a lifetime ago, I failed my Maroon level swimming lessons... for the second time. I can't recall ever being a water baby, but I certainly wasn't during those years. I can still recall the feeling of impending doom as I waited for the lessons to start, made no more enjoyable by the irrepressable shivering caused by showers that spewed not only frigid water but inspired hate as well.
Perhaps it wasn't quite that bad, but I certainly didn't enjoy it, and I certainly wasn't very good at it.
So that begs the question: why am I taking adult swimming lessons?
My first lesson was two nights ago. If I didn't know this by the calendar, I would know because my legs are killing me. The pain is reminding me of more reasons why I chose the life of a landlubber. But the truth is, just because something is hard or uncomfortable doesn't mean it's not good for you. Carolyn and I plan on doing a canoe trip in Algonquin this summer, and we thought it would be good for me to be more comfortable in the water.
I'm signed up for AquaAdult II at the Waterloo Rec Centre. It's great because I've already learned something: when doing front crawl, you're supposed to breathe out underwater. I had always thought that you held your breath while underwater and then do a full breath above. Not that I was any good with the first technique, but this new technique added a whole new dimension of panic I hadn't experienced before. So while other students were practicing their front and back crawl, I stood at the end of the pool, face partially submerged, trying not to choke as I blew bubbles in the water.
So my question to you, the loyal reader, is: how do you breathe when you're swimming? Do you breathe out your mouth, or out your nose? Do you count to 3 before taking a breath? I am curious to how other people do this, as it is a foundation of swimming properly. If you have suggestions on how I might get more comfortable with my face underwater please pass them along.
In the meantime, you may find me at home in my bathroom, playing with my rubber ducky and blowing bubbles.
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
