Swimming and running both require attention to mechanics and technique in order to move efficiently, become faster, and avoid injury, which is why video analysis is so important for athletes who want to improve. But swimming also requires the additional detail of breathing the correct way. Better breathing while swimming is important not just for the obvious reason of getting air, but also for better swim mechanics.
I can say with 100% accuracy, that we’re all fans of breathing. So let’s get on with some tips for better breathing while swimming.
Four Keys to Better Breathing While Swimming
1) Remember to Exhale
While it may seem obvious that you should exhale during the breathing process, and it comes naturally without thinking when you’re on land, having your face in the water changes things. Non-swimmers are under the impression that they should hold their breath and new swimmers may be holding their breath without realizing it. When this happens, they’re waiting for their face to come out of the water to both exhale and inhale, lengthening the amount of time they need to keep their face out of the water. The stroke not only becomes slower, but will not be as smooth.
Remember to exhale through your nose whenever your face is in the water. If you have an underwater video of yourself swimming, you should be seeing bubbles coming from your nose and/or mouth.
Just because you’re exhaling through your nose doesn’t mean you have to keep your mouth closed tight. Keep your mouth relaxed. If you do keep it open, bring the back of your tongue up to the roof of your mouth or exhale from both your nose and mouth to prevent swallowing water.
2) Inhale
Generally, this is not something people forget to do, but timing is important here. When your face breaks the water, you should start inhaling through your mouth. If you’re not exhaling while your face is in the water, then you will be when it comes out of the water, which delays when you actually start to inhale.
You should be breathing to the side with your head half in the water and half out; you do not need to lift it completely out of the water. While swimming, the water creates a pocket around your mouth when your head is to the side so that you’re able to breath.
3) Stay Relaxed
Keeping your face and body relaxed will help with better form and better breathing.
4) Keep a Pattern
Breathing in a pattern helps you find a rhythm in our swimming. If you’re breathing every two strokes, you’ll always be breathing on the same side, which will lead to imbalances in your neck and shoulder musculature. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its place, but consider switching to breathing every three strokes so that you’re breathing on both sides.
The benefit to being able to breath on both sides is that when you get accustomed to breathing on either side, when it comes to race day, you can accommodate to the conditions. If it’s too bright or too choppy on one side, just switch to breathing on the other side.
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