How to learn to swim at any age

Swimming training is available at any age. The main thing is to overcome the fear of water and other prejudices. This is facilitated by a clear understanding that, in addition to pleasure, this activity brings invaluable health benefits.

How to learn to swim on your own

For self-study, it is recommended to start training in a shallow body of water or in a pool. The depth is necessary so that you can stand at the bottom, while your head and shoulders are above the water. This will help you feel safe. The presence of an experienced swimmer will give you even more confidence. A good option is workouts with a specialist.

It is very important for the ability to swim to learn the correct breathing technique. Without this, you will not be able to learn a single swimming style. When swimming, inhale deeply in air, and exhale into water.

Oxygen in the lungs keeps the swimmer's body in the water in the correct position. Moreover, the deeper you inhale, the better the aquatic environment supports. At the same time, there is no need to strive to fill the lungs with oxygen entirely. This will do swimming uncomfortable.

To establish breathing, do the following exercise:

1. While standing at the bottom, draw more air into your chest.
2. Go under the water and let the air out through your mouth.
3. Repeat the action several times in a row without rest.

Before you start mastering the varieties of swimming, you need to learn how to keep your body in the water. This will be helped by an exercise called an asterisk:

1. Fill your lungs with oxygen by inhaling through your mouth.
2. Now lower your face into the water and spread your legs and arms so that your body forms an asterisk.
3. Stay on the water for a long time, stopping your breathing. Do not let the air out, otherwise you will immediately begin to sink.

This exercise is great for dealing with your fear of water. In addition, it teaches to keep the body on the surface of the water surface without the use of limb movements. After you fully master this exercise, you can move on to learning the basic swimming techniques.

How to learn to crawl

After mastering the correct breathing and keeping yourself in the water, you can begin to master sliding. You need to choose a place where the water will reach your chest. Draw a lot of air into your chest, hold your breath and descend into the water, grouping. Now give a strong push with your legs and take a horizontal face-down position. You will begin to slide, keep this position for a long time. Keep your face down in the water all the time.

Another option is to connect your hands at the top so that your head is between them and slide through the water. If you are in the pool, you can push off from the side.

After mastering sliding, you can begin to study the correct movement of the legs. They should move alternately in a vertical plane. When moving, try to pull your socks and swing your legs not from the knee, but from the hip. Try to keep your feet close to each other. With the correct execution of the movement with the feet out of the water, only the heels will show. Do not strain your legs too much, then it will be easy to swim. On the rise, relax the limb, and lower it down with effort.

Hand work consists of three stages:

1. First, the palm is lowered into the water, and only then the entire remaining hand. When lowering the hand, it must be directed forward and rush to follow with the body.
2. The arm is then bent at the elbow joint, forming an obtuse angle between the forearm and shoulder. Then, with further flexion of the elbow, a stroke is performed. Before going out into the air, the limb is straightened.
3. First, the shoulder should come out of the water, after the forearm and palm. As you bring your arm up for a re-lap, keep your elbow pointing up as you lift your arm over the water surface.

Swimming with special shoulder blades or with clenched fists will help to learn the correct movement of the hands.

Breathing should be rhythmic. Inhale as your body turns to stroke in the direction of your dominant hand. Then point your face down and exhale through your mouth. The gaze should be directed downward. As you turn to inhale, look at the edge of the pool.

How to learn to breaststroke

This swimming style is considered to be the slowest and smoothest. Its main feature is that the limbs do not protrude above the surface of the water. Breaststroke can be done over very long distances.

During breaststroke swimming, the entire human body will be involved. At the same time, his breathing should be deep and even, and all movements are adjusted to the rhythm of breathing.

1. In the initial position, the hands are with palms down extended in front. At the same time, the legs are slightly bent at the knees and relaxed.
2. Then you need to straighten your arms to the end, move your body forward. Hands at this moment should be located at the surface of the water, straight.
3. Then spread your legs and bend them at the knee and hip joints. Keep your back straight. Take a stroke, spreading your palms in and out. Then bend your arms at the elbows.
4. Relax and straighten your legs. Complete the sliding movement with your hands. At this time, join your elbows in the area under the chest, and palms under the chin. At this point, the head must come out of the water to inhale.

How to learn to swim on your back

This style is very easy to swim. You just need to learn to lie on the water confidently and relaxed and breathe correctly. Your head is in an upright neutral state, look straight up. So you will be able to keep the body correctly. Pull your stomach in to ensure the correct position of the back.

Keep your legs relaxed, and perform movements with the participation of all joints. The legs move in the same way as during crawl swimming.

Keep your arms straight, twisting them slightly so that at first the little finger goes into the water.

Breathe deeply and rhythmically. Since in this position the face is not immersed in water, the breathing process should not be difficult.

How to learn to swim for children

As a child, you can learn to swim at any time. For example, babies have a highly developed reflex that prevents water from entering the airways. Therefore, they can be easily taught to dive. It is necessary to say loudly "dive" and hold the baby under water for a few seconds holding it face down. This will help develop the instinct to hold your breath in the water.

The most suitable age for swimming lessons is 3-4 years. All classes should be playful. For example, for correct hand movements, teach your toddler to draw "hearts" on the water. The correct movement of the legs will teach you how to perform the "frog" exercise. Then you can ask baby sit down in the water and push off, making a "heart" with the handles, and a "frog" with the legs. Gradually, the baby will swim with a lightweight breaststroke.

Of course, you can learn to swim at a later age and even as an adult. This skill will always come in handy, give a lot of pleasure and bring health benefits.