Tips for beginners of all ages (kids, adults) - (Your body as a vessel)

Not Only For Beginners


Now that you have had some time to practice getting used to the water, doing bops, blowing bubbles, putting your face in the water, holding breath and relaxing, it is time we start focusing on floating. However, don't neglect the other drills if you still have some troubles. Be patient and the success will come.

Think of your body as a vessel where your core goes from the mid section of your chest to right below your hips. When floating or swimming the head should be in a neutral position. By neutral, I mean ears just below the surface of the water and your eyes are facing the bottom of the pool. The back of your head is barely dry or even slightly submerged and your suit is no more than 1.5 inches under the surface. If your head is in a negative position, your chin is tucked on your chest and all the water is flowing way over your head (NOT GOOD), just relax your neck and your head will float. If in positive position the water is hitting you on your hairline or your forehead and your legs are sinking (NOT CORRECT EITHER). Always think, eyes to the bottom of the pool, eyes to the bottom of the pool or pretend like you are watching your shadow on the pool floor below you.
streamlined body by jayhem

You can practice getting into the neutral position by performing so called dead man's float. Now, we need to realize that not everyone will float (for example: women float better than men). So if you are not the lucky floater, you will just have to compensate for your none floating in other way (more later). Let's get to the exercise:

- Take a deep breath, put your head in a negative position (chin on chest), be vertical, let your arms down toward hips - you can imagine they are in the pockets (you will have your feet dangling almost straight to the bottom

- VERY SLOWLY start raising your head into the neutral position, with the back of the head right above the surface (even right below the surface), ears under the surface and eyes facing the bottom of the pool. Allow for the hips and legs to ease themselves towards the surface. Do not have any movement in your dangling feet or legs (if done correctly, your hips/legs should rise a little)

- Now, slowly ease shoulders, arms, and hands into the streamline position (position where your arms are above your head - like you are trying to reach with both hands for an apple on a tree). Make sure you do not raise your arms out of the water though, they should rest right below the surface.

This is your head. Lifting it out of the water will make your legs sink.

blog.swimator.com

Here are your legs - sinking like a rock :).

blog.swimator.com

Your hips are at the surface.

blog.swimator.com

(if done correctly, your hips/legs should rise even higher to the surface - see the image below)

Some of you will find yourselves laying on the surface of the water. This is brilliant, well done. Some of you will have your feet still dangling down, however, they should be higher than they were originally. Well done as well. It is not a problem that your feet are not all the way at the surface, you will just have to kick more when swimming or bury your head deeper underwater. Don't worry though, if your feet are not right at the surface, this could be changed by practicing more and more and learning to relax more and more.

You probably ask yourselves. Wow, why is it that my feet are rising. Well, it is simple. Your body acts like a teeter totter (seesaw) with your hips being the axis. Once you get the head in neutral position then stretch the shoulders, arms, and hands in the streamlined position right at the surface, you are adding more weight on one side of the teeter totter/seesaw, so your legs will automatically rise up. I have included a picture of teeter totter below if you don't remember from your younger days :).