How I did it: When I finally decided to get serious about this, I signed up for two weeks of adult beginners lessons at the YMCA. By the second day I had the basics down; it turns out your body wants to swim and it doesn't really take too much urging to get it going. My major problem was that my instincts went against breathing while swimming. It took me a long time to get over that, but in the last few days it finally clicked. I can freestyle, backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke and tread water pretty decently now. The main thing I need to do is just practice to build up my muscle and breath capacity. The important thing is, I can survive in the water now. Plus, it's really fun!

Lessons & tips: Get used to keeping your head in the water before anything else. Swimming becomes 100% easier when your head is horizontal as opposed to vertical.

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Jul 16, 2009, 08:21AM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers