How to breathe while swimming breast stroke?

Question

I have been trying to learn swimming (breast stroke) for the past 13 days.

The problem is that I do not know how to breathe while doing a breast stroke. I understand that I should breathe in when my head is coming above water. But my head is not coming above the water surface! All I am able to do now is to take in a deep breathe and swin approximately half the width of the swimming pool. Then, in order to breathe again, I end up taking a break and standing up on my feet. Can anyone help me to undestand what could be wrong here? It seems to me that I am not able to achieve a horizontal position in water while swimming. What could I do to achieve this? Could that be the reason that my head is not coming above the water surface? For a beginner, is breast stroke the right one to start with?

I am quite frustrated that I am not able to get it right. Any help, advice will be deeply appreciated

Answer 1

hey that's kinda of the problem of all beginners swimmers; i think yous hould start with the freestyle then move to breast stroke but after at least 2 month of training on free style but here's a tip if you insist on doing the breast stroke , lay on your back with your hands up in front of your body and swim using your legs onlyvery slowly...this way you will forcing your body into an horizontal position and gd luck

Answer 2

The breastroke is not the easiest stroke to start with in my opinion -- it is very difficult to perfect. Freestyle and elementary backstroke is far easier. If your head is not coming above the water, it could be that you're not applying enough downward pressure with your hands to boost your head up. The below video may help.

Answer 3

Try not to dive so far under the water.  Keep your head position at all times during the stroke... if your head moves when you are recovering your arms that could be making you swim down toward the bottom and not forward, making it hard to get to the surface for a breath.

Answer 4

to get ur head above the surface, use ur legs to elevate your upper body.  when u pull with ur arms, come close to ur chest pulling a lot of water to get urself up!!