4 Breathing exercises for smooth freestyle swimming. Progressions. Beginners

On this video I will show you 4 breathing exercises you can do to maintain a better, more horizontal position while swimming smooth easy freestyle.

The first exercise is to Grab the wall with one hand, take a deep breath, put your face in the water and kick just enough to put your body in a horizontal position.
Practice this exercise on both sides, breathing to the left and breathing to the right, until you feel comfortable with the movement and the breathing technique.

The second progression is very similar but you will have a kick board instead of the wall and you will also do full strokes. Kick about 6 times and then take one breath and a stroke.

The third exercise is the same as the second but without a kick board. Usually swimmers have a preferred breathing side but it is of good practice to learn how to breathe well from both sides.

The fourth exercise is simpler. Just kick with your arms down and move your head to the side to take a breath. There is no arms’ movement. Focus on maintaining the hips high on the surface of the water and take quick breaths the same way you practice on the other three exercises.

Now you are ready to do the whole thing! Swim one length of the pool on the smoothest freestyle you can master, while taking short quick breaths. Try breathing every 2 stroke, every 3 stroke and every 4 strokes. Notice the difference. Stop at the other end, control your breathing and do it again.

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Swim fast!

Swimmers:
@danielmontoyac (ironman)
@danieltorressama (mexican record holder)
@witolas
@mauriuranga

Song:

[HondasLittleRedPig]

I look like an idiot when I swim. No one taught me. It takes me 45 seconds to get to one end to the other and I choke on water constantly. But I’m trying! Slowly and surely.

[Gogufo]

Just a small note: If you keep on swimming regularly ( let's say at least 3-4 times a week ), your breathing will optimize itself naturally. Without realizing you'll start exhaling just before putting your head above the surface and you will only exhale as much as necessary. No worries if things don't work out directly.

[jayantasen]

This is the first time I have clearly understood how and when to breathe in and breathe out . Do not laugh if I say that I am still learning though I am now 76 . Thanks from India .

[diegothomas]

It’s nice knowing other people struggle too lmao

[SCBiscuit]

The tip, to not to exhale all my air did it for me. I've been going to classes since September and I was not able to get it right unitll this weekend. Thank you!

[marileejoan]

Thank you for this instruction. I’m over 70 and want to learn this!

[ajiadsubzwari]

Lol. I died doing this exercise. Love from heaven

[carlosrobleto]

Dude, I watched your video yesterday and today I tried to follow your breathing technique and to my surprise it worked man, damn i can't belive it. I can't wait for tomorrow to continue honing this skill. thanks, bro.

[Mrjuhlino]

Currently trying to figure out how to do this and it’s HARD. I have a massive anti drowning reflex of some kind when I breath in water trying to do this. Just short circuits my brain and I stop swimming to catch a real breath. Gonna be interesting to overcome this one haha Great video!

[fathinfakhriahabdulaziz]

This is amazing... it really helped!!! I felt great... Thank you!!!

[noelsoans]

Thank you this excecise helped me to breath while swimming. Now I'm practicing it continues to perfect it.

[Henry-okcd]

This is the best video I've found on this, straight forward and to the point. Thanks guys!

[themanoharg]

OMG! I've been struggling to breathe in freestyle for the last few days, watched tons of videos but nothing helped. Until I found this one.
Your suggestion of breathing out just as you turn your head was all I needed.
Finally I got the breath right! Thank you.

[coachbadr]

this is the best smooth freestyle swimming video ... Bravo keep going

[I.Geek.Psychology]

WOW, I have been watching a lot of swimming videos and see everybody has own techniques. Most people say start exhaling as soon as your head goes under water and keep it until you inhale again so that you don't accumulate CO2 in your lungs. What Skill NT says is totally opposite, but I am willing to try it. I guess the key is to figure it out with lots and lots of practice.

[carlpbrill]

Thanks for these videos, I'm just learning to swim and I find them very helpful.

[fatenwarshan]

This video is amazing. I'll apply all these instructions next time in the pool and I hope to make them.

[einn]

Started swimming lessons again. I was told to exhale all the time while looking down but the advice to just exhale as you turn your head for a breath makes sense to me. Exhaling all the time leaves my breathing out of sync. I'll try this. Thanks

[sumad]

These breathing exercises helped me tremendously. Thanks for the video.

[parttroll]

Nice series of drills. I'll give these a go this weekend, I'm determined to crack breathing on the front crawl.