LilySlim Exercise days tickers

Apr 29, 2013

Swimming Lessons Day 3: Free Styling

Swimming Students
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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:




46 comments:

  1. Good luck Ms. Aileen. I know you can do it. Gusto ko rin matutong lumangoy and I'm hoping na matuto rin ang anak ko. I thought I can enroll her this summer kaso sa down town lang hinohold ang swimming lessons and that is 18 km travel from us. Hindi ata nmin carry :(

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  2. Wow, you're making good progress! :D Go go go!

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  3. i missed day 1 and 2, balikan ko na lang...
    goodluck

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  4. Go, Aileen! Triathlon (or Biathlon hehe since you don't bike), here comes Aileen! Seriously, sis, I am so glad you are getting the hang of it!

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  5. Good luck! just hang in there, I know you can do it:)

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  6. I want to learn swimming too...

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  7. You are my fitness inspiration, Aileen; from the rubber lanes to the swimming pool!

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  8. i love to attend swimming lessons but then i am really afraid to do the strokes and everything...

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  9. Isama mo si Mommy Maye, para di masyado matakot hehehe.

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  10. Oo sis, sayang ang fee kaya dapat matuto ako lol!

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  11. nuksss!!! keep it up! next time post ka ng video that you are swimming! XD

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  12. I wish...kaso no one would take a video kasi yung kasama ko nag-aaral din mag swim. Dyahe sa instructor hahaha!

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  13. Wow! I'd love to learn how to swim too. But I'm definitely getting my kids to do this next summer.

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  14. You're getting there. congrats!

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  15. Wow kaingit ka sis! How I wish I can learn too..

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  16. Good to see you progressing in your swimming lessons. I am sure in a few months time you should be able to swim very confidently.

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  17. Siiiis. I'm reading the series in one sitting. How did you do it? Bakit marunong ka na? Hahaha! Nagbabasa pa lang ako, takot na ako!

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  18. I agree with Maan, you are indeed a fast learner. Ako kahit ata 6 months ako magtake ng ganyang lessons, never pa din ako talaga matututo. Hahaha. But I'm glad knowing that you're enjoying a lot. I could see your determination to learn plus you have the passion for it, so best of luck Sis!

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  19. Doing things simultaneously sounds so hard! It's like driving, which I am scared of.

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  20. I would like to learn swimming too. This says to me, it's not too late after all!

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  21. you're right it's sounds easy but I doubt if I can do it in a snap.. haist.. i wish i could learn how to swim too..

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  22. Sis, some years ago, some friends were trying to teach me pero I never did learn kasi nga, nakakaangal ako sa kanila. With an instructor, you can't do that lol! Sis, my heart still beats a tad faster when I write about my swimming experiences, so the fear is still very real even when I can already flutter kick and do a bit of free style. And just thinking about my future lessons, specially at the deep end of the pool gives me shivers....but I promised myself I will learn this, one step at a time.

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  23. Sis, I couldn't believe nga that I can already do a lot of things in just 3 sessions. 6 months sis? You'll be a pro na by that time hehehe. Seriously, the key is only to conquer my fear in water. Not yet totally fearless, but every time I decide to plunge my body to floating position, the panic sets in for a brief second only. Once in the water, I just have to remember to do the right things. It's still not as scary because anytime, I can still stand up. I'd probably freak out a bit when I can't touch the floor anymore hehehe. Just thinking about that makes my heart race again hehehe.

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  24. I sure hope so Dominique. After my 12-session basic swimming, I will practice on my own, regularly. Maybe later, I will enrol in advance class

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  25. Thanks Anne! :-)

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  26. That's very far, sis. Kind of not very economical too.

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  27. That's why we need to constantly practice until it all becomes automatic....I look forward to the day I don't always have to remind myself to breathe deeply, relax to be able to float, and all of that. Someday, I'll be channeling my inner mermaid lol!

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  28. goodluck Ms. Ai hope to see your own video while swimming hehehe

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  29. LOL! We all have an inner mermaid. :-)

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  30. Maybe next year, I will enroll my kids at swimming lessons :) Thanks for this one!

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  31. You're doing just absolutely great! Swimming the width of the pool after just three lessons - wow! It'd probably take me a dozen lessons to do that. :P Still a scaredy-cat. I'm paying attention to what you're sharing. They'd be very useful once I'm brave enough to try a few lessons. :)

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  32. Good luck with this Aileen! You're doing great! Swimming is a skill/sport that for me, is important for everyone to know how. :) Keep it up!

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  33. My very own tip for you just enjoy the water. As long as you're enjoying it your body will flow with the water. Keep it up and congrats for having courage to learn swimming.

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  34. Im such coward swimmer.bsta lumagpas na sa didbdib ko ang water level feeling ko di na ako makahinga.kaya way to go sis. You.are really breaking through.

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  35. Aww. Same experience here when I was into swimming lessons too. I couldn't synchronize the kicking of my feet with the movements of my arms! So sad. And I couldn't move my head sideways to take in air, too! It's depressing for me because until now, i still don't know how to swim. huhu. good for you, sis that you're slowly but surely getting there. goodluck. I know you'll learn how to swim in no time! :-)

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  36. I'll see what I can do with that and if my instructor would allow it hehehe

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  37. My hat's off to you, sis! You're committed to having a healthy lifestyle. I admire you for that.

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  38. Ito ang maganda if one is having swimming lessons. Ang proud kong magsabing I can swim, langoy aso lang naman ako hehe. Doing great, Aileen!Ngayon, imememorize ko mga strokes na yan and include them to my "langoy-aso" stroke lol

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  39. i haven't had any formal swimming lessons/ training. It must be nice knowing the "proper way" of doing it.

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  40. Wow, you've gone this far na pala! I thought things will fall into place when you're in the water (breathing, arm n leg movement, etc). I decided to give up on my swimming lessons decades ago coz i was afraid of not being able to touch the bottom of the pool at all times. :))

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  41. Medyo excited na ko sa next installment ng kwento mo about swimming. I haven't perfected free style, napapagod ako. Mas breaststroke ako, but I'm sure i'm not doing it the right way hehe. :)

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  42. So true. I'm enjoying it but still a little fearful going in the deep waters...will get there someday.

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  43. Sis, tips naman on treading....I still sink! Not totally because my feet don't touch the floor but my head is submerged in water. Ano to, lead and buto ko? Hehehe

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  44. Go, go, go sis! Later I'll write about my experience yesterday when I dived waaaahhhhhhh!!!!!

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