Sinking while i breathe

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2009-04-15 10:43 PM

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Subject: Sinking while i breathe
Hello all. Lately I have been trying to do more bilateral breathing. My problem is when I breathe on the side that isn't comfortable, I sink and can't get enough air.

I am not sure what is the cause of this. I can't pinpoint why I don't sink on the other side.
I know this is not much to go on, but does anyone have any suggestions on how not to sink?

Also has anyone tried any of the swim training dvds advertised on the site?

Thanks
Brian

Edited by Bp74 2009-04-15 10:47 PM

2009-04-15 10:46 PM
in reply to: #2087887

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe

This is a really common problem when you are trying to learn to breathe on your weaker side. Because that side probably currently under rotates your body is sinking when you turn to breath as it has not yet built up the technique/strength/baalnce on that side as you havent been usign it.

The side kicking drill will help enormously... do it and do it lots on your weak side for starters then move on to other drills such as shark fin, one arm etc

Good Luck it will get easier!

2009-04-15 10:48 PM
in reply to: #2087887

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe
Thanks for the quick response!

As far as that side kicking drill goes. Do I keep my head turned to breathe, or do I rotate my head as if I were swimming normally?

Edited by Bp74 2009-04-15 10:48 PM
2009-04-15 10:55 PM
in reply to: #2087887

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe
also make sure you keep your swim posture.  When i first started bilateral breathing I had a weird twist to my body when I took a breath on my weaker side.  One thing that helped me too is to only breath on your week side for a few of your sets..
2009-04-15 11:02 PM
in reply to: #2087901

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe

Bp74 - 2009-04-16 1:48 PM Thanks for the quick response!

As far as that side kicking drill goes. Do I keep my head turned to breathe, or do I rotate my head as if I were swimming normally?

Id start with doing the drill on your side so you are just concerntrating on kicking and keeping your body balanced... then head in the water and breathing...

Then move on to side kicking on one side, stroking and switching to the other side... and shark fin drill...

BT has some great images/pictures here:

Side kicking: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=... fin drill: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=559

 

2009-04-16 7:26 AM
in reply to: #2087887

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe
I would say 3 things (as someone who is working on bilateral breathing as well)

1) When you breathe on your weaker side, make sure you get a nice strong pull from your arm on the opposite side. I've found that I'm weaker breathing to the right, when my left (weaker) side is supposed to be pulling.

2) As mentioned, your kick if timed properly will help you stay afloat.

3) See if you can increase your rotation more so that your breath is more graceful. The more messing if your streamlined position you have to do, the more awkward the breath is and the more it makes you sink

What I've been doing is focusing really hard on what makes breathing on the good side successful (arm position, leg position, kicking, etc) and trying to emulate that on the weak side. Hopefully you're breathing efficiently on one side so it would be a good thing to copy. HTH

2009-04-16 10:25 AM
in reply to: #2087887

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe
I was having the same problem.  The side kick drills have helped a lot and I also realized that when I breathed on the weaker side, I was lifting my head up (looking forward) more than just rotating it to the side - that was making my legs sink.  Once I started paying attention to that and doing the side kick drills, it's gotten a lot better.  I still have some trouble on that side, but I don't get the sinking feeling as bad anymore.

Edited by soccermom15 2009-04-16 10:26 AM
2009-04-16 10:39 AM
in reply to: #2088667

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe

Also make sure you're still kicking.  I've been known to pause my kick while breathing, because I'm thinking too hard about the rest of it.  Try to find a kicking rhythm and be conscious of keeping it going.

2009-04-16 2:06 PM
in reply to: #2087887

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Subject: RE: Sinking while i breathe
KOS drills like other say as well as one arm swimming so you have to breath only on your weaker side.

Often folks have the arm extended in front of them not stay wide enough so it floats more towards the center instead of in front of your shoulder can make balance off.

I warm up for bilateral breathing doing one arm swimming on good side, then go to bad side, then do 5 strokes good, 5 strokes bad, then 2 good and 2 bad. It helps me relearn proper body position so I can breath on my weaker side better.
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