First swimming lessons,problems with the breathing?

Question

I have a great difficult swimming and breathing,

for example,with backstroke my technique is pretty good,but water goes right on my face and I eventually sink down coz i can't breathe,i reckon that means that i am not doing something right,any ideas?

with the freestyle,my technique is bad and my breathing is worse,I felt sick after it,felt like vomitting and fainting so i was done with that.I know that you should breathe every 2 or 3 strokes with your head to the side,but i can't manage to get enoguh air,again is it because i am too low in the water??i will let my instructor know tomorrow that i felt sick after my first lesson today,but i want some advice from you experienced people as well pls :)

Answer 1

Ok, there are plenty of changes you can make.

For your freestyle, I don't really know what your technique is,  but I can tell you about breathing.  Try to breath as if you are smelling your armpit at the same time.  While your swimming with your head under water, put your head down and blow bubbles out of nose, and then every two or three strokes, let your head turn with your body roll and grap a quick breath.

For backstroke, try to establish a pretty steady kick to help keep you afloat, while this might be tiring it will help you to learn how to stay afloat on your back.  With your head, do not look in front of you, instead try to look at the ceiling, or if you are outside, look at the sky that is behind you in the direction you are moving.  Backstorke takes a little while to get used to.  Hopefully you will stick with it and learn.

Answer 2

Ok, I can help! :)

With backstroke, you need to breath out your nose, just like underwater, that will prevent water from going up your nose. When you do backstroke, the water goes over your face. Try to keep your head higher out of the water. You'll learn.

As for freestyle, ask your swim instructer to help with the breathing and technique. Again, breath out your nose, and don't try to save air. Sometimes it's to much CO2. Also breath at regular intervals (around every 2 or 3 cycles--you'll find what works best for you) and finally learn endurance. It's hard at first, but you'll slowly ease into learning, trust me.

And feeling sick is normal ;) At least at first. It's because your too tired.

Answer 3

I wouldn't be too concerned about your freestyle breathing pattern.  Some competitive swimmers I know breathe every 2 strokes or only on one side--they find breathing every three strokes difficult. That will come with time as you get better and improve.  Most beginning swimmers that I've seen kick to fast and/or stroke too fast.  That causes you to use up air faster than you can breathe.  The best advice I can think of at this stage is to concentrate on relaxing and stretching out your stroke--so that you glide in the water with each cycle.  Body position and technique will only improve the more you do it.  Don't give up--everyone who swims had to learn the basics.