My natural breathing side is left, but I've been doing alternate for many years. Today, a bad right shoulder limited breathing to my right. Breathing every other stroke is not quite enough oxygen for me, but every stroke has me hyperventilating. I had to hold on to each stroke to reduce the excess amount of air ....and....yay....much smoother, many fewer strokes, far better roll, more opportunity for my natural loping style, about the same speed, altogether an improvement.
I've been experimenting with breathing to the other side a lot myself. It's probably the one thing we can all do that has the most potential for significantly improving our swimming. There can be some unmined gold there. Unfortunately, it's caused me some shoulder problems. But it was a heck of an idea! Eric
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Quoted message said:
Cool!
I've been experimenting with breathing to the other side a lot myself. It's probably the one thing we can all do that has the most potential for significantly improving our swimming. There can be some unmined gold there. Unfortunately, it's caused me some shoulder problems. But it was a heck of an idea! Eric
When 'unbalanced breathers' come to our clinics, the coach suggests that for a while they stop breathing on the comfortable side (in drills where you can do that, and in workouts). It takes time and practice, but those who persist end up improving.
