subject: Swimming - Learning The Freestyle Correctly [print this page] There are many great exercises that focus on making you aerobically fit. The most popular is obviously running. Its popular because it is simple to do, you can do it anywhere and you do not need any equipment to do it. However, running can be very hard on your joints such as your ankles and knees. All that repetitive pounding on hard surfaces can start to take its toll.
That is why swimming is a great alternative to running. Because you are in the water your body is supported. Swimming does not put any stress or pressure on your body. Because it is a low impact sport it is also used for the rehabilitation of people such as athletes to build up their strength after an injury. Swimming is also a great aerobic exercise that will strengthen your cardiovascular system by giving your heart and lungs a seriously good work out. This means it is also very effective at burning calories which can help you lose weight.
If you are thinking of taking up swimming again to keep fit then it is advisable to consider swimming lessons to hone your technique. The great thing about a swimming is that are many different styles that you can choose from. These include the breaststroke, front crawl or the butterfly.
Each of these styles have their own unique way of engaging the body to propel you forward. For this article I will focus on the front crawl style. The Front crawl is also known as the free style.
The front crawl is considered an upper body style because most of the power is derived from the arms, back and shoulders. This style is most intense and is great for fitness health and swimming over longer distances.
As with any swimming technique you have to do it correctly to derive maximum power and benefit from it. The following guide will help you how to do it properly:
Roll your body from side to side when you are in the water. The rolling gives your body momentum to move forward as lying flat limits your momentum.
Following through on the stroke is very important. When you finish each stroke ensure you bring your hand out from the water after it moves past your leg and recover the arm with a high raised elbow.
It is important not to extent your neck forward. Practice keeping your head in line with your spine. When doing the freestyle it is important to breathe in a rhythmic and relaxed manner. When your head resurfaces breathe out slowly. When you turn to breathe in raise your head slightly above the surface to clear the water from your mouth.
If you have a health or medical condition always seek the advice of a doctor before doing a new form of exercise.
