If you want to get into swimming — one of the best exercises out there — then you have to learn some important techniques. When you are in the water, you can’t rely on your instincts as you do on land; you need proper training and guidance to swim properly. If you don’t know where to start, no worries: here are the top 10 swimming tips for beginners, which will make a huge difference and give you positive swimming experience.

1. Choosing effectively your swimwear (suit, goggle, cap)

Choosing a good swimsuit can be challenging, especially if you want to make sure it is stylish and practical. Find something that will last and get a lot of use. No one wants to spend their money on a swimsuit that loses its shape or fades quickly after a few summer swims. Instead, choose a suit made from quality fabric that will keep its shape after washing and can withstand the sun and chlorine. Regarding goggle and cap, you don’t need to go for the most expensive model but just ensure the quality is good enough and ask advice at the shop. Speedo and Arena are the two main swimming brands.

2. Learn to breathe (exhale) every time you turn your head underwater

Breathing in water can increase your heart rate, which is why most people hold their breath when they go underwater. The fact is, holding your breath can be a risk for panic attacks when you are in the water. Instead of taking large breaths to increase your heart rate, try breathing lightly and turning your head to the left or right. This way, you will still be able to take in air without increasing your heart rate. Breathing is paramount to good performance. Therefore it’s important to train it.

3. Start slowly and increase speed little by little

Swimming is not a sprint; it is an endurance sport, and getting used to the water’s resistance can take time. However, with every stroke you take, you’re getting closer and closer to becoming a fast and efficient swimmer. With enough practice, you’ll be swimming faster than you ever thought possible!

4. Feel the water and be aware of the resistance

When you start swimming it is important to remember that in order to be effective (swim longer and burn less energy), you need to create the less possible resistance. So feel how pull the water and slide through it. Think of your body like a wooden plank floating at the surface of the water. If the plank is, on the other hand more on the vertical side, like with the legs on the second picture below, it creates more resistance.

5. Don’t forget to stretch before and after swimming

What does stretching have to do with swimming? A lot! Stretching is crucial for swimmers, as it reduces the risk of injuries and increases performance. Skipping stretching leads to poor performance and post-swim aches.

6. Keep calm and relaxed

Swimming can be a very tiring exercise, making you feel uncomfortable. Don’t fight against that feeling — in fact, embrace it. Take deep breaths when you begin and end your laps, and take breaks if you need to. Your workout will be more effective when you don’t have to hold your breath the whole time.

7. Look at Safety first

Because swimming is more strenuous than walking, you need to observe some rules of safety when swimming. Always stay within your depth, swim in a safe area and never dive into an unknown place. Obviously as a beginner, the best place to start is your local swimming pool and not in open water (river or sea)

8. Use the power in your legs, not your arms, for a much better swimming experience

As a beginner swimmer, you should rely on your legs, not your arms, for a better swimming experience. In fact, you should put most of your focus on kicking and leg movement and just use your arms to help yourself stay afloat. If you stop putting all of your efforts into kicking then you might end up sinking to the bottom, so it’s important to keep kicking while you adjust yourself to swimming. As beginner, the easiest way to train that is with the usage of a kick board. Check this simple article https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Kick-Board

9. Knowing how to push yourself off of the ground will help you stay afloat

There are a lot of things you should know how to do in the water: breathing, floating, kicking. The knowledge of how to push yourself off the ground will help you stay afloat when swimming.

10. Don’t use your arms as propellers.

It is tempting to try to move forward by moving your arms rapidly, but don’t do it. Focus on what you are doing with your legs, or with the whole body in general. You will move forward better if you make slow and methodical moves, even if they seem ineffective at first. Remember swimming is a sliding sport. So try to slide gently on the water and do ample movements with your arms.

Conclusion

Swimming is a fun sport that also helps you to stay healthy. The basics of swimming are easy to learn but take time to master; regular practice is essential to building swimming skills. The above tips will give you the roadmap to a successful swimming experience.

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