Need some help with swimming? Beginner?

Question

What is the correct way of breathing when doing the breaststroke.

Answer 1

Breastroke is done by this method...which you can say to yourself  as you do it....(In your head of, course)  Pull and breathe, kick and glide.  You begin your pull and at the same time lift forward and low to breathe in the mouth.  As your arms come together, you should be ready to put your head down and exhale slowly out the nose as you kick and glide.  Repeat.  Timing is crucial in breastroke.  Many people breathe too late....after they pull.  This throws off the stroke and your balance.  

Answer 2

Ziggy is incorrect...The best way to breathe during breaststroke is to let the head follow the spine. When your elbows have reached the line of your eye and have begun to rise your head starts to lift. If you use your high elbows as a hinge for the inward sweep of your hands and forearms, you'll create the leverage you need to use your abdominal muscles to bring your hips forward. When your hips move forward, your chest, shoulders and upper back will automatically lift up. Breathing is usually done during the beginning of the insweep phase of the arms, and the swimmer breathes in ideally through the mouth. The swimmer breathes out through mouth and nose during the recovery and gliding phase. Breaststroke can be swum faster if submerged completely, but FINA requires the head to break the surface once per cycle except for the first cycle after the start and each turn. Thus, competitive swimmers usually make one underwater pull-out, pushing the hands all the way to the back after the start and each turn.

Some people keep their head above water at all times when they swim breaststroke. This is not only difficult and unpleasant, but also dangerous for the spine. Swimming with the face held out of the water puts undue strain on the muscles of the neck and back which can lead to damage of the spine’s interior facet joints.

Answer 3

As you swim you turn your head to (left or right) - take a gulp of air - then face down for two strokes (but don't hold your breath! You need to exhale gently as you use your arms - not as easy as it sounds and you'll probably take in half the pool before you get the hang of it!) - then raise head and turn (left or right) to take another gulp of air - then face down ..... continue this process until you reach the other side!....

:)