How to learn to swim at any age

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

How to learn to swim on your own

When training on your own, it is recommended to start training in a shallow body of water or in a swimming pool. The depth needed is such that you can stand on the bottom, while your head and shoulders are above the water. This will help you feel safe. Having an experienced swimmer nearby will give you even more confidence. A good option is training 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 any swimming style. When swimming, inhale deeply in the air, and exhale into the water.

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

To establish breathing, do the following exercise:

1. Standing at the bottom, take in more air into your chest.
2. Go under the water and let the air out completely with your mouth.
3. Repeat the action several times in a row without rest.

Before you begin to master the varieties of swimming, you need to learn how to hold your body in the water. An exercise called “asterisk” will help with this:

1. Fill your lungs with oxygen by inhaling through your mouth.
2. Now put your face in the water and spread your legs and arms so that your body forms a star.
3. Stay like that on the water for a long time, stopping your breathing. Don't release the air, otherwise you will immediately begin to sink.

This exercise is great for helping to overcome your fear of water. In addition, it teaches you to keep your body on the surface of the water surface without using limb movements. Once you have fully mastered this exercise, you can move on to learning basic swimming techniques.

How to learn to swim crawl

After mastering proper breathing and holding yourself in the water, you can begin to master sliding. You need to choose a place where the water will reach your chest. Take a lot of air into your chest, hold your breath and lower yourself into the water, grouping yourself as you do so. Now make a strong push with your legs and take a horizontal position face down. You will begin to slide, maintain this position for a long time. Keep your face down in the water at all times.

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

After mastering sliding, you can begin to learn the correct movement of your legs. They should move in a vertical plane one by one. When moving, try to pull your toes and swing your legs not from the knee, but from the hip. Try to keep your feet close to each other. If the leg movement is performed correctly, only the heels will appear out of the water. Don't strain your legs too much, then swimming will be easy. Relax the limb as you lift it, and lower it down with force.

Hand work consists of three stages:

1. First, the palm is lowered into the water and only then the rest of the hand. When lowering your hand, you need to point it forward and follow with your body.
2. Then the arm bends at the elbow joint, forming an obtuse angle between the forearm and shoulder. Then, with further bending of the elbow, a stroke is carried out. Before going out into the air, the limb is straightened.
3. First, the shoulder should come out of the water, followed by the forearm and palm. As you bring your arm up to circle again, make sure that your elbow is pointing upward as you lift your arm above the surface of the water.

Swimming with special paddles or with clenched fists will help you learn how to move your arms correctly.

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

How to learn to swim breaststroke

This style of swimming is considered the slowest and smoothest. Its main feature is that the limbs do not extend above the surface of the water. You can swim breaststroke 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 should be adjusted to the rhythm of breathing.

1. In the starting position, the hands are palms down, extended in front. The legs are slightly bent at the knees and relaxed.
2. Then you need to straighten your arms completely and move your body forward. The hands at this moment should be located at the surface of the water, straight.
3. Then spread your legs and bend them at the knees and hips. Keep your back straight. Make a stroke, moving your palms out 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, bring your elbows together in the area under your chest and your palms under your chin. At this moment, the head must come out of the water to inhale.

How to learn to float on your back

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

Keep your legs relaxed and perform movements involving all joints. The legs move in the same way as when swimming crawl.

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

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

How to teach children to swim

As a child, you can learn to swim at any time. For example, infants have a very strongly developed reflex that prevents water from entering the respiratory tract. Therefore, they can easily be taught to dive. You need to say “dive” loudly and hold the baby under water for several seconds, holding him face down. This will help develop the instinct to hold your breath in water.

The most suitable age for swimming lessons is 3-4 years. All activities should take place in a playful way. For example, for correct hand movements, teach your child 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 your arms and a “frog” with your legs. Gradually the baby will swim with a lighter breaststroke.

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