Hi guys I never learned to swim as a child, and I’ve signed up for adult swim lessons soon. Something I think will help me prepare for the lessons is I don’t know the mechanics/physics behind the motion. So I’m asking
1.) how do people float in water and why is it crucial to swimming?
2.) how do people actually move from point a to b in water while swimming?
EDIT: thanks so much to all who have responded with answers, tips, advice, and encouragement! Trying to read through all your helpful answers ☺️
In: 715
The most important thing is to not panic. Human beings are bouyant and a fairly minimal amount of effort can keep them from sinking. Just.. know that, in your heart.
There are two things to know: 1) how to tread water and 2) how to swim/move in water.
Treading water is literally just being in a standing position and simultaneously scissor kicking your legs below you slowly and moving your arms back and forth under the water like you’re waving a flag like a matador. Essentially, move your limbs slowly so that they push against the water below you in a rhythmic pattern. You do that, and you’ll stay in place and not sink.
Swimming around is laying on your stomach or your back.. pushing the water behind you instead of pushing it under you.. and occasionally turning your head so you can take a breath.. There are three major ways to do it.. freestyle; which is laying on your stomach and kicking your feet like a toddler having a tantrum and making your arms go in a vertical circular motion like a windmill. Breaststroke; which is laying on your stomach and pretending to be a frog from Super Mario 3. Bring your arms together beneath your body, then sweep them behind you. Use your legs to simulate the same movement. Backstroke; lay on your back and do the mirror opposite of freestyle (windmill and tantrum kicking).
That’s how you swim.
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