How do u float?

Question

i cant swim and i am 13 years old how do u swim

Answer 1

I used to teach teen/adult swimming lessons, and I really enjoyed it.  Most pools have teen/adult learn to swim lessons.  It's not embarrassing to go because you're not with kids, and the instructors will work with you, almost one on one, or at least in small groups, and at your level.  You should think about doing that.

One good thing you could try is to get two empty jugs, like bleach bottles or laundry soap jugs.  Rinse them out really well, and put the lids back on them.  Then, go into water shallow enough that you can sit, and make your body into a star.  Stretch out your arms and legs, but in a relaxed position.  Hold the jugs out and feel how they can help  you to float.  As everyone else has said, relax.  Also, try putting your chin back and let the back of your head go into the water.  If you don't like the feeling of the water in your ears, and it makes you flinch, then try getting some silicon ear plugs at a drug store.  They might help you to be more comfortable.  

The longer you relax, the more you will notice that your hips and legs will start floating too.  As you get more comfortable in this position, try putting some water into the jugs.  First, fill them about a quarter full.  They won't float as much, but they will still float.  Then try a little more water.  Eventually, you can fill them about 3/4 full and they will float evenly with you, so you are only just holding the handles...then you can let go!  

As you get more comfortable, try going into deeper water - water you can stand in, but have to lift your feet up to float.  You may have to empty the jugs out again and work through the same process again.  LIfting your feet into a float is a different process, so don't feel like you are regressing.  It's an improvement.

Most people are either more comfortable on their back or their front.  Once you move into water you can stand in, try floating on your front with the empty bleach jugs.  Stretch out your arms to your sides (at about 10:00 and 2:00 if your head is noon), and let your feet lift up.  Float till you are comfortable, try blowing bubbles, try putting your face in and blowing bubbles out of your mouth and nose.  Try wearing goggles or a mask to get a different feeling.  Try holding your breath.  Experiment with all these feelings because you use them all in different swimming skills.  Try them all until you are relaxed doing them.

Once you are comfortable in shallow water, it might be a good time to sign up for those learn to swim lessons so you can work with an instructor to learn to kick and move your arms and breathe properly.  You need to learn these safety skills before your venture into deeper water.  

Good luck.  They key is to give yourself time and, yes, relax.  As soon as you tense up, your body will go into a position where you will sink.  Don't let that get you down, just take a breather, and try again.

Answer 2

You have to let go, just let go, I couldn't swim until i was 25 y/o, one day I was with my friends at the beach and I went for a little walk in the water, I walked until the water reached my knees, yes... this shallow, and I sat down, it was night time, and the sky was full of stars, I sat down and leaned back to watch them, and before I knew it, my legs started floating, then my torso, I at first I lost balance, this is because the muscles on the lower part of my body were relaxed, but because the water was shallow I didn't panic, I gave it another try, and it worked, I was floating, and it was a lot of fun.

I know what I'm about to say sounds a little too romantic, but I'm gonna say it any way:

When you're in the presence of something so big like the sea, you don't make conditions, you just surrender to its powers, and its up to the sea to decide to let you enjoy its pleasures.

Bottom line is:

1. Start at a shallow depth, so you can feel safe.

2. Relax your muscles so that they are full of oxygen, this will help you float.

3. DO NOT swim after having a heavy meal for at least one hour.

Enjoy.

Answer 3

on your back: push your stomach in the air and have your arms out like and airplane

on your stomach: face in the water arms out like an airplane

relax!!!

Answer 4

Just relax and lie back in the water. Try to minimalise movement, and let the water carry you. If you go down a bit just take a deep breath and stay calm. It's harder than it looks, but it's easy after a while.

Answer 5

At your age unless you have parents who know how to teach you find a pool that has swimming lessons. Some may have individual lessons  if you would feel embarrassed in a group that contains young kids. Group lessons are obviously cheaper.

The biggest problem is learning to relax in the water. This is actually the secret with floating.  Your body will naturally want to float to the surface. If you jump into a deep pool the first thing that happens is that you pop back up to the top. You just need to learn the right way to lie on your back and to relax. Once you tense up you feel as if you can't float.

You can do a lot of things at home to make you feel comfortable in the water.  In the bath put your head under the water and blow bubbles until you need to breathe again. Turn your head to one side with your mouth barely above water level and take another breath and do it again.  You can even try floating in the bath if it is deep enough. Lie on your back arms by your aide with your head tipped well back to get more support from the water and just lie there relaxed and breath normally.

Salt water supports you better than fresh water so swimming and floating is easier in salt water.

Best of luck. Once you learn it is like bicycle riding, you never forget.

Answer 6

1. take a deep breath and hold it

2. prepare yourself, don't panic

3. jump into water (or you can slowly go into it)

4. float

5. get up if you've out of breath

The theory is the same as balloon filled with air (or beach ball), if you throw it to water (pool), it'll float.

Another thing, in swimming, you breathe with your mouth, not nose. Breathe in from nose (above water), hold, then breathe out slowly from mouth.

Answer 7

dont worry, i learn when i was like that too. floating is easy just dont be afraid that your face will be in the water..lie down in the water and open up

Answer 8

if ur trying to float on ur bak then stick your belly up and let your feet sink just a little and lay you head bak and relax.

To do freestyle (which is on your stomach) you need to kick with straight legs and take long strokes with your arms.