Never stop learning

This time-off from work made me realize how much potential I have… especially if I invest on myself through learning a new discipline.

- I plan to study real estate brokerage. My expectation is at least when I buy my own property, I know the ins and outs of it.

- Or I could study an online course?

- Or I could explore a new business. Internet business? Green-themed?

Podcasts

This is my new learning portal. I’ve been downloading audio programs about yoga, climbing and living right.

I’m actually bothered today for picking up that P20 bill which is part of our change. Piggy told me to always leave 10% of the total bill as your tip.

Although I’m practical, I don’t want to be too stingy.

I swam alone yesterday.

I tried to perfect my freestyle, breast stroke and backstroke. I did fairly well. The key is to swim in the right form and to get the right rhythm for breathing.

Freestyle—put an effort to correct my arm positions. I should be able to raise them higher.

Breastroke—should be conscious of the leg position. It should be spread like that of a frog’s and it should be able to kick.

Backstroke—watching the Asian games gave me a better idea how to smim this stroke more correctly. Feet should be kicking like a whip but in a rather relaxed manner. Arms should be propelled in equal strokes.

I’ve learned how to do the breastroke. It’s the easiest to learn and the least strenuous!

Rachel taught it to me. She also tought me how to dive. It was so fun! Rachel, Katrina and I took turns diving through our ‘open legs’. Haha! We’re screaming and laughing like kids. (Katrina slipped on the bathroom floor and we all laughed hard!)

I know how to breathe properly during breaststrokes - every 2 counts. As for freestyle - 4 counts if not yet fatigued, 2 counts if otherwise.

The backstroke is somewhat the most strenuous. My legs get tired sooner than I ‘drown’ (which I do most of the time—almost).

Next Saturday is our last session. Hope I could learn the butterfly and treading.

Backstroke:
I should always keep in mind the position of my head (i.e. my chin a fist-distance away from my chest). Or else I would “drown”.

My head ached when my sinus has gobbled up a huge amount of water. That was so unsettling. It was good that in the last lap of my swim I finally got the movement.

Arm position
Wade backwards (the 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock positions)

Leg position
A review - small quick upward strokes. My coach told me that my leg (moreover - thighs) should create a whiplike stroke.

I was their bibo kid for the day. I got the freestyle form perfect and I was quick to learn the basics of backstroke.

The free stroke should involve a 45 degree plunge of the arm jutting outside the surface of the water—plunge the hand and glide. The other hand that does the same process must be able to tap the hand of the straightened arm (streamlined to the surface of the water).

I should also maintain that my head is below the water.

My kick was perfect.

What I should work for next time is relaxed breathing. I seem to always grasp for air. I should learn how to do deep breathing.

The Patrick
Floating: The body should be straight and relaxed. Special attention should be given to the lower back. It shouldn’t be arched.

Next move is to do the kick. Kicking should be done in reverse. The force should come from the bottom up, feet should be slightly tense and pointed.

My error, however, is that my left foot seems to have the perfect form but my right foot is bent. Hence my swim is in an arc position. I bump into people. (My friends joked about a guy that I bumped into. I interjected: Love at first kick.)

Onwards to preliminary backstroke position, after the Patrick (starfish position), the hands would spread, then arms up the head to a streamlined position. Hands should place above each other.

Great swim! I’m looking forward to our next session!

Freestyle practice

I often forget to breathe correctly.

It’s a mind-and-body coordination. You get your cue when you exhale as your left arm glide. You turn your head to the right and breathe through your mouth.

Holding your breath should be relaxed. Your mouth shouldn’t be stiff. This certain tension and nervousness veers your mind away from thinking of the right form and body coordination.

I also often forget the right form for kicking. My legs tend to bend. Your form should be streamlined to the surface of the water.

I shouldn’t forget the form of the arms—straight and as it moves above the surface of the water it should plunge on an angle like a spear. Always keep in mind that the fingers should point ahead in the middle.

Glide… glide… glide. Swimming shouldn’t take so much effort.

I thought we won’t push thru because of the strong typhoon that had went last Thursday but we did!

Improved on kicking—the legs must be straighter (but not necessarily straight). Power must come from the thighs.

I also improved on my paddling techniques. Full arm must be thrust forward while the other must glide. Do not forget to kick.

New lesson: Free-style swimming

The arms should jut out of the surface of the water. The motion is restricted up to the elbows.

Left arm first – wade; right hand brushes against the thigh and raise elbow above water. The tip of the hand should be the only part that can touch the surface of the water. Arm should be wide enough to cover the length of the head. Then plunge to a 45 degree angle. Plunge it like a spear.

Breathing
Paddle up to the 4th then breathe. The technique for breathing so far is that to exhale gently as you turn your head to the right at a 45 degree angle to inhale. Right hand should exert extra force to push down water for you to have “space” to breathe on.

Breathing may be done on a 2-point pace.

Mistakes: Panicky swimming, bent hands, inefficient kicking, incorrect breathing pace, “inhaling” and swallowing water, lack of focus.

I should also practice continuity. Aside from a steady pace in breathing, I should also manage to kick correctly by the end of the pool—and swim back for 2 full laps.

I’m so excited to swim next week!

It took me two days to write this down: I’ve had my first swimming lessons last Saturday!

It was fun. There were 4 of us: Me, Chel, BB, Ignatius who were training under coach Thalia.

• kicking
• bubbles
• swimming with palms forward (emphasizing on the proper leg techniques)
• breathing (I’m a dud at this :()
• forward paddle

The irony is that I indeed woke up early for this one (at 6 a.m. for the 9 a.m. swim) however, the schedule was suddenly moved to 1:30 p.m. No doubt when I went home I slept for 12 hours!