Swimming Lessons Day 3: Free Styling

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I think I'm already getting the hang of it. Well, sort of. I find that I still need to shove fear and apprehension once in a while. Sometimes, I just throw my body in the water to go to the face-down floating position. I just have to remember to take in enough air through my mouth.  My little experiment with inhaling through my nose to prevent abdominal muscle pain didn't take me far enough to the other side as there just isn't enough air to sustain me.  The pain was still there at the start but it subsided.  I'm beginning to think it's just the anxiety and tension causing the tightness in my upper abs. Whatever it is, am just glad the pain was gone after a while.

Day 3: Basic Arm Movements or Free Style Stroke

In the last session, I could already traverse the width of the  pool.  I float face down, my hands straight out above my head (prone position) and my feet moving up and down the waters (flutter kick).  This time, I was told to incorporate arm movements or the basic free style stroke.  First, it's just the right arm.  I have to sweep it downwards and inside the water, going down all the way to my side and coming up to position that arm above my head again.  I was to do that as many times as I can until I reach the other end of the pool, and then, go back again, this time with the left hand doing the movements.  If I can do it alternately, that's actually the right thing to go about it.

Sounds easy huh?  Most things sound easy, until you start doing it.  I realize I had to synchronize four things: floating, holding my breath,  do the flutter kick and free style arm stroke.  I could do the first 3 things, easy peasy because I've been practicing on that the last two sessions.  But when I move my hands, I seem to forget the flutter kick so I end up sinking, not to mention that the water resistance doing the arm movement is quite an effort to break for someone like me who's still quite a newbie.  But the hand movements are a great workout for the triceps and shoulders.  I know because I could already feel the beginnings of muscle pain in those parts towards the end of the session.  You know, once you get the hang of it, it's pretty cool because the arm stroke actually propels you forward so I get to reach the other side faster.  As always, I am giddy when I learn something new.

I wonder how I would fare, on the next lesson that would involve the same movements but with head turning to the side to take in air.  I hope it would be air and not water lol!

The good thing about this day, aside from being able to do some arm movements is that I can now stand up the proper way, that is by drawing down my knees at the same time before finally touching the floor tiles.  I pushed myself to figure it out once and for all because at some point, when I had to stand up, I landed on my left foot first (as I am used to) and almost toppled backwards because my foot slipped.   Everyone in the pool saw me flailing my arms as I try to regain my footing hehehe.  Not a nice scene if I keep doing that, aside from the unsafe aspect of that stance.  It's actually simple now that I have figured it out.  Well, I had to practice, starting from the prone position, then simultaneously lifting my head out of the water while folding my knees and not struggling instantly to touch the floor.  The key is still to relax.  

I'm already excited but admittedly, a bit nervous too for Day 4, but it's all a part of the learning experience.  Soon, being in the water would already be like a second nature... I hope!

In this series:

• Learning How to Swim...Finally (or Hopefully)
• Swimming Lessons Day 1: Breathe Then Let Go
• Swimming Lessons Day 2: Treading the Waters
• Day 4 and 5: Front Crawl, Breaststroke and Frog Kick
• Swimming Lessons Day 6: Learning to Back Float
• Final Swimming Lesson: Treading and Diving in Deep Waters