Swimming may seem easy when you look at other swimmers who glide smoothly through the water. But it's more complicated than it seems. Unfortunately, swimming has a relatively long learning curve. Therefore, you must have the right expectations before learning to swim. Otherwise, you could give up when it becomes difficult, which we do not want. So what are the best tips to get started?
Everyone has their own unique starting point!
Mindset
Thoughts affect your decision-making in sports or other activities and your entire life. And because we know that if you start swimming and have no previous experience, it is good to prepare for it before you go to the lesson for the first time. Work with your thoughts, filter out the negative ones and make your decision. Trust yourself.
Decision
This will usually push you to action to make a change. In your case, learning some of the swimming styles. Make sure your decision is permanent and you will not change it. Believe that you can do it. Make time for swimming and make it a priority no.1 for a while.
Comfortable zone
That's precisely where the whole process does not take place. Prepare yourself to make an effort (whether mental or physical), and some exercises may be uncomfortable from the beginning. This is especially true if you "hate" water in your face, ears or eyes (we will also open them underwater).
Individuals with a fear of water must be well advised of this. Therefore, your decision is encouraged by not expecting everything to be comfortable (otherwise, you would learn to swim already). We will, of course, motivate and support you. That's why we are here.
Patience is the key
Swimming is an intensive exercise due to the water's resistance against you, so you have to spend a lot of energy to move forward. When you start swimming, you will most likely be breathless and exhausted during a few strokes. You have to give your body time to get used to this load and learn to move economically.
When swimming, we use the muscles of the whole body, and if you are impatient, swimming will teach you very quickly to calm down and not rush the motion. We will start slowly and gradually accelerate and add more elements to the technique. Remember that adaptation takes place outside of your comfort zone.
Concentrate
You will have to practice specific movements to work on the best swimming technique possible. So repeated exercises are done so you can do it automatically without thinking.
Exercises may sometimes be similar, but it is necessary to write new motion elements perfectly so that the old patterns cannot continue to show. So be prepared to give swimming some time and entirely focus on every instruction from the coach and their perfect execution.
Communicate
A good coach is crucial to your success. Make sure you often communicate about your progress and how to improve further. If something is unclear, ask as many times as you need until you understand.
Say what you feel; sometimes, it is good to hear yourself reveal the causes of unpleasant feelings. However, you have to understand it from your point of view, not just do what everyone else does. We each have a different body, and we perceive it differently. If you talk to a coach, they will definitely support you in your journey, and you can get some clarity.
Endure
Train as often as possible. One or two hours a week is a good start. To learn everything well, you will have to swim more frequently and regularly for some time. If the coach allows you to train alone, find the nearest pool and train yourself.
However, we sometimes only allow clients to swim alone once we are sure that they have experienced new correct movement patterns. The more time you spend in the water, the faster you learn to swim.
People unwilling to invest time and energy in swimming lessons are often discouraged by the effort and endurance that must be put into it. Having the right expectations, however, will help you overcome the complex parts and achieve your goal easier.