How to: Never lose your breath

5 Coaching Tips to Keep Your Breath

Rrying harder to breathe only means losing your breath faster.

Here are the top 5 ways to have easy and sustainable breathing when you swim:

1. When you turn your head to breathe, don't over-rotate; rest your head on the water like a pillow, turn your mouth (not your head) to the sky to avoid inhaling water.

   
   

2. Extend your lead arm; when you breathe you are balancing on your side, to keep stable, think about pointing your armpit to the floor. This will automatically extend your arm and keep you more stable.

   
   

3. Count to 2; rushing your breath, or taking too long to breathe interrupts your flow and makes you inefficient. To get the timing right, count for 2 seconds, this will allow you enough time to breathe but keep you in rhythm.

   
   

4. Exhaling is as important as inhaling; to make the most of the time you have to breathe, your lungs need to be ready to take in air. You should be inhaling throughout the second half of the stroke (as your arm passes your shoulder) before you take a breath.

   
   

5. Make your pull stronger; if your pull is strong, you'll be moving as you take your breath, which helps with rhythm and head position. This will allow you more time to breathe and keep you calm. Check out my other blogs about improving your pull for more.

For more coaching tips, check out the rest of my blog pages. If you're looking for a personalised swim coaching experience, go to our homepage and download the SWIMMA app.