Learning To Put Face in the Water

Hi, I need to some help with learning to put my face in the water. I have just started swimming lessons and can't put my face under the water. All the rest of them can do it. What help can you give me?

Learning how to put your face in the water can sometimes be scary when learning how to swim. The best thing to do, if it is something that you find challenging, is to approach it in stages.

We are human beings, and we cannot breathe in water (obviously!) therefore, the natural response of your body when learning to submerge is to raise your heart rate, increase levels of anxiety and generally say, 'no, don't do this..!

The first stage is to get used to your mouth and face getting wet. In the water of about chest or shoulder depth, feet on the floor and hold the poolside if you want, place your chin on the water and blow bubbles. It sounds like a kid's thing to do, but believe me, the next stages will be easier if you can do it.

Next, take a deep breath and place your mouth and nose in the water. With your eyes still out of the water, hold your breath and your mouth and nose in the water for as long as you are comfortable. Five seconds is plenty. Do this a few times until you are relaxed; you can do it for longer, and it becomes second nature.

The next stage is to submerge your whole face; it is best to do this with goggles. Get yourself a pair of comfortable-fitting swim goggles and repeat the above exercise but submerge slightly further. Go as far as you feel comfortable until you can fully submerge your face and remain relaxed.

Wearing goggles allows you to keep your eyes open to see what you are doing. Putting your face in the water with your eyes closed only makes it harder for your instincts to cope.

Once you get used to submerging this way whilst standing on the pool floor or holding the poolside, you can start to work it into your swimming, but only when you are ready.

You are determined to conquer this, or you wouldn't have contacted me in the first place! Patience and perseverance, and do not worry about what the others in your swimming lessons can do. It is all about you; you will learn at your own pace.

My ebook The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming contains all the help and support you need, from relaxing, floating and breathing to all the technique tips for learning to swim the four basic strokes. Click the link below for more information.

How to Open My Eyes In The Water

I would love to know how to open my eyes in the water. Just seven days now since I started to learn to swim. I have learned how to submerge, breathe, and stay afloat. My problem is that I cannot keep my eyes open inside the water at any cost, preventing me from going to the next level.

This problem is easily solved with the use of swim goggles.

If wearing swim goggles during your swimming lessons is allowed, you will find opening your eyes in the water very easy.

I recommend the use of goggles to all of my pupils because it makes the whole experience of learning to swim easier and quicker.

The best place to buy goggles is at your local swimming pool, that is if they sell them. You can try them on and easily change them if necessary.

The two most common designs of swim goggles are two eyepieces joined by a nose piece and the all-in-one style, which incorporates both eyes and the nose. The type and style of goggles you chose is entirely your taste.

To fit the goggles to your face, you must place them onto your eyes and pull the strap over your head. This reduces the risk of injury to your eyes.

They must be a comfortable fit around the outside of your eyes, and you must ensure no hair is caught in them, as this will let water leak in.

When you have used your goggles for some time and got used to them, your confidence in the water will begin to grow very fast. You will be able to swim with a greater sense of where you are and what you are doing. They will quite simply open up a whole new world for you.

I Can Only Swim With The Help Of A Swim Noodle

I can only swim with the help of a swimming noodle or facing up, if I try to swim on my own facing down, my body starts sinking. Could you give me some tips?

From the information you have given us, your problem could be related to the power of your stroke, your ability to relax, or a combination of both.

Depending on which stroke you swim, you will need a powerful leg kick for breaststroke, and an effective arm pull for front crawl.
Try to begin your swim with a push away from the side of the pool. This will give you good momentum to start with, and then you can maintain your movement with the correct leg kick technique or arm technique and swim without sinking.

Also, learn to relax in the water. Relaxed muscles will be more likely to float, but tense, tight muscles will nearly always sink. Push and glide away from the side and float along. Relax and enjoy the water. Then when you come to swim, relax into your stroke by swimming slowly. 'Feel' your way through the water; don't fight.

Sometimes by swimming slowly, you can discover you will remain afloat. Sometimes you can try too hard, and the result is slowly sinking. The key is to relax and go slow. Worry about how far you get when you've learnt to relax.

My ebook The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming contains all the help and support you need, from relaxing, floating and breathing to all the technique tips for learning to swim the four basic strokes Click the link below for more information.

Swim With Head Above The Water

I would like to know which swimming techniques one could use to swim with head above the water.

I am learning to swim, but all the techniques involve head underwater positions and coming up to breathe. I am on lesson four of eight lessons.

I can do freestyle and struggle with a doggie paddle. I want to swim because I am now in a country where there are hotels and pools everywhere, and the most common social situation is to be at a pool. It isn't very comfortable when I am with friends because I cannot swim.

Also, I want to be in the water like they are without sinking... I cannot be with my head underwater all the time when I am with them!!!

Of course, I want to swim for myself, not them. I tried to learn in my twenties, but I was not consistent. Now I am 31 and want to get it right once and for all.

Essential Elements To Swimming With Head Above The Water

• how to swim breaststroke
• how to breathe
• how to relax
• how to glide

Click on a link for more information.

Not Everyone Wants To Go Underwater

I have met many people like you over the years, and your desire is not uncommon. When beginners learn to swim, particularly adults, it can be very black and white when it comes to putting their face in the water or submerging. Either they are comfortable doing it, or they are not!

The fact that you are having swimming lessons tells me that you have tried it and that you can do freestyle tells me that you have been successful at it.

However you have chosen that swimming with your face submerged is not for you.

Breaststroke Is The Way Forward

The swimming stroke you need to learn is breaststroke. Although nearly all breaststroke swimming guides (including mine) will teach you to swim the stroke with your face submerged between breaths, it does not mean you have to swim it this way.

Once you have mastered the leg kick, arm action, timing, and coordination, you can easily swim with your head above the water.

A powerful leg kick action and a relaxed glide will let you swim relatively long distances without putting your face or head into the water.

Relaxing into the technique takes time and practice, but from what you have stated in your question, it sounds like you are halfway there already.

My best-selling book 'How To Swim Breaststroke' contains over 20 separate swimming exercises to help all parts of breaststroke, including the leg kick and the timing and coordination.

How Can I Swim With My Head Always Over Water

It's difficult for me to take a breath. How can I swim with my head always over water?

The easiest way to swim with your head out of the water is to swim Breaststroke.

The body position for breaststroke allows your legs to be deep in the water and your head, mouth and nose out of the water, and the stroke to still be effective. You will need a strong leg kick to keep you up and moving. A long stretch forward with your arms after each pull will also help.

You can download our How To Swim Breaststroke, which contains everything you need to know as well as over 20 exercises to help all areas of your swimming stroke.  Click the link below for more details. 

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