Know the Basic : Water Buoyancy

In this post, you will be understanding the fundamental skills required before proceeding to learn official swimming strokes. These skills are the foundation you need to accomplish to become a lifelong swimmer. Human are born with innate water skills, however fear of water began to develop while we grow.

We become panic especially when unintentional submersion occurs and it will increase the possibility of drowning in logical thinking. In my point of view thus getting comfortable in water is considered the most essential things we have to develop. Spend time in a shallow pool, build the confidence through being surrounded by water, try to submerge the face in to the shallow pool with holding your breath a couple of times. However, always be reminded to never try doing it alone especially when you are not a strong swimmer. Get someone who can swim to accompany, or guide. The basics of swimming always come to how well are we able to control our body in the water.

BREATH CONTROL

In the beginning of learning how to swim, instructors or coaches always conduct a simple assessment on how well a learner be able to control their breathing. Knowing when to breathe and when to hold down the breath is one of the basic skill we need to understand and be able to control and is crucial to become a successful swimmer. Logically human will not able to breath under water therefore we need to be able to control when and how we breathe while swimming.

Many people think that all we can do under water is holding our breath but it is actually not as what we thought. While swimming, a pattern of inhaling and exhaling still established which means we need to exhale in the water which is also known as blowing bubbles. Being able to exhale through the nose under water enable you to control breathing timing better and it gets even better through practice.

Along the way, get use to quick breathing method, and what is quick breathing method? We called it the bob in which the cycle of inhaling and exhaling keeps repeating without pausing as shown in the clip below. The goal is to breathe only once at every time we push ourselves out to the surface before submerging back in to the water as the motion allows.

FLOATING

The ability of being able to float on the surface of the water reflects to the ability of how well you could be able to learn a swimming stroke. The front float is the stationary body position facing downwards of the pool in the water and to be able to do so, your whole body should remain still and relax after raising your body properly to the surface of the water.

In order to be able to do a front float, hold your breath, face down while lifting your hand up to the surface of the water then only you start lifting your leg. Try to hold your breath as long as possible to ensure that your body is on a horizontal form, at this moment, by this your lung will act similarly as a balloon to make your body afloat. You can practice it even at a shallow pool. The more air you have in your lungs; the more buoyance you are able to create. Always remember this basic rules, keep your body relax, do not fight against the buoyant, facing the bottom of the pool, relax your muscles.

But how do I stand up after being successfully to float? Many people may ask. Always bend your knee forward and it will start pushing your leg down before the hips. Meanwhile, bring down your hands toward your hips and as your hips are lowering down, drives your feet straight to the bottom of the pool. Do not start by looking forward or lifting your head up as it will push your hips down making you quite imbalance to stand back up on your feet.

Similarly, back floating is a stationary position with the body facing upward of the water. There are not much different in between front floating and back floating, but the similarity of it is that you have to keep as much air possible to ensure your body to stay afloat and breathing can be done in back floating. Simple rules of back floating are keeping the chin up, hips up, palm facing upwards, and chest up.

GLIDING

This step operates with a very similar body positioning and method with front float and back float. It requires stationary of a body while performing. Always remain still and relax while gliding through the surface of the water, a relax and successful glide, our body will eventually float up to the surface of the water and we can stand on our feet by bending our knee forward at the end of the glide.

Gliding is the most efficient form of travel in the water be it either front gliding or back gliding. While learning the basic strokes of the swimming techniques, gliding will be one of the essential skills we need to be able to swim at ease and to maintain our stamina for a long distance swimming goal. Learning to utilize each step of glide efficiency is important to become a better swimmer.

In order to perform a front glide, we need to place both hand with palms facing down and on top of one another, face down, keep both hand behind the ear and your leg should be straight and keep it close together. Stand close to the wall and use it as a support for you to glide, in order to do so, get ready your upper body position and upon lifting your leg straight, place the feet at the wall with bended knee and gently give it a push and there you go.

Always remember, never jump over the water surface as it will take off your balancing in the water, just slightly push your feet off the bottom of the pool is good enough to make your body float. While performing the glide, your leg should gently push off from the wall with both hand straight, eyes face down, and relax.

Hope this post able to give you some idea and understanding on what should you and how you should prepare yourself for your first swimming lesson. Stay tune with us for more information about swimming. Our life passion.