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I started swimming recently, and am basically teaching myself how to swim because I haven't actually swum (i.e. more than floating in an inner tube or going to a water park) since I took lessons as a child.

I'm trying to do freestyle, but have trouble breathing. I turn and lift my head to the shoulder whose arm is pointing down towards my legs when I try to inhale, but I have a hard time not inhaling water. Closing my nose seems to help, but even then I still get a lot of water in my mouth.

Tips/advice?
>> Anonymous
Hold on to the side of the pool with your hands and practice the motion until you get it right. Pretend to stroke with your right hand, breathe on right side, grab the pool with your right hand to complete the stroke. Repeat for left hand. Repeat until you're doing it right.
>> Anonymous
When you're breathing, actually roll your body to the side a little. Also, keep one eye underwater and the other above water; this way, you won't try to lift your head up too high. You see how in your pic, the swimmer's mouth is *just* above the water. He's not lifting his head.
>> Anonymous
Do a good chunk of your breathing out as your head is rotating out of the water. Also SLOW DOWN YOUR STROKE as you reach air, and you'll have way more time to get some air.

Also as mentioned, roll your body a little bit

Most of the problems around stuff like this in my experience is due to fear of not being able to breathe. Kinda a self-fulfilling thing. Time should cure it.
>> Anonymous
exhale with your face underwater, then inhale as you rotate your body to stroke. you shouldn't have to pick your head up, doing so makes your feet drop messing up your stroke
>> Anonymous
Don't worry if you get water in your mouth - half my mouth is full of water when I breathe - like the bottom cheek. Means you don't have to roll and twist your neck so far.

(I'm a beasty swimmer)
>> Anonymous
Any beginner swimming routines anyone has? For folks looking to use it as some accessory cardio rather than to become hardcore swimmers, but at the same time wanting a worthwhile workout and willing to make progress?

I genuinely have no idea what you should do in the pool.
>> Anonymous
>>242625

First you need to learn how to kick. You put both palms against the side of the pool and keep your feet like you were standing on your toes. Then you want to make small, relatively quick motions with your legs, alternating between them. You don't want to bend your knees very much because this will actually slow you down. You can practice breathing like this as well. You will find it easier to breath on one side of your body (since despite what /fit wants, no body is perfectly symmetrical), so practice breathing on that side.

Once you have all that down, you can start making strokes. In a crawling motion, not a windmill. You are basically reaching out, pulling at the water until your arm is toward the bottom of the pool, and then you start pushing against the water with that arm.