Summer has almost wrapped us in its rays of sunshine. Do you know what that means?
It’s time to hit the beach!
Swimming is one of the most well-loved sports all over the world. Many people wait for summer to arrive to wear their 1-piece or 2-piece bathing suits and hit the warm water. For those of you who believe that you can only learn swimming under the tutelage of a skilled instructor, let us clear your confusion.
Yes, a swimming instructor will teach you unique swim strokes and how to stay afloat in deep water but knowing the basics will also allow you to dip your toes in this activity and feel out if it’s the right one for you or not.
Following are four easy steps of swimming that will help you get started:
Feel the Water
As said above, the first step to practicing swimming is being comfortable with the water. Think of it as a confidence stage where all you do is walk back and forth in shallow water.
If you teach your child how to swim, practice this step in a baby pool. This will eliminate any fear of drowning.
Blow Bubbles Underwater
At this stage, you learn how to breathe underwater. This is how you do it:
- Take a deep breath from your mouth above the water
- Go underwater and then breathe out through the nose slowly
- Time your breaths between 2 seconds and 5 seconds and do this at least five times
Try this once to find out if the water irritates your eyes. If it does, wear goggles. This will allow you to keep your eyes open underwater, which will increase your confidence.
Learning How to Float
There are two types of floating methods. First is lying on your back. As a newbie, you will have to wear floating sleeves to stay steady and relax. Now, put your head and chest down in the water. While the former is a great option, it doesn’t allow you to learn because you are wearing the floating sleeves. Without them, you would probably drown. Of course, you will be able to float on your back without any accessories once you have mastered the second floating method.
Attaining the second position requires a rod, which is usually attached to the edge of the swimming pool. You can also place your hands on the wall in the same location.
Take a deep breath through your mouth, and then place your head in the water. Your body will rise automatically; this is called buoyancy. If you feel your body sinking, relax your shoulders. It will take a couple of tries to float, but you will get there with proper body and head position.
Practicing the Kicking Motion
The last step is the kicking motion which allows you to move underwater. Different leg kick types are based on various strokes. The most basic of all is the flutter kick. Above water, you sit on the edge of the swimming pool and move your legs up and down.
Underwater, you maintain the second floating position. However, keep your head above the water. Next, simply flap your feet.
After learning all the motions, you will be able to handle your body well without holding on to something.
If you have a lake house, summer will be quite fun for you. Why not hold a party on a dock and invite all your friends? For quality floating docks or do-it-yourself docks, visit the EZ Dock website. They offer dock products for residential, commercial, and industrial use. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.