Swimming Question

[Anonymous]

I realize this is kind of an obscure topic for DCUM, but here it goes. I swim for exercise a couple of times a week, and I breathe only on my right side (I'm right handed). I've heard that bilateral breathing (i.e., alternating breathing on both sides) leads to better techinique and prevents uneven muscle development. I've tried, but breathing on the left side feels so completely unnatural. Any tips?

TIA.

[Anonymous]

Some of it is just practice. You have ingrained a muscle memory of how to swim that only includes right side breathing. So it will take some practice to be comfortable with left side breathing.

But also make sure you are breathing on an odd number of strokes:

left arm forward...breathing on right side
right arm forward
left arm forward
right arm forward...breathing on left side.

[Anonymous]

I used to do this too (but on the left). I hadn't heard that bilateral breathing was better, but I started doing it because I needed to breathe every 3 strokes 2 was too short and 4 was too long.. Breathing on my right side is still less comfortable but I got used to it after not too long. Of course I haven't been swimming in about a year... but I used to love it!

[Anonymous]

try hanging onto the wall and taking a stroke on your left side and breath. Do only that for a few minutes, then practice for one length breathing every-other stroke (3 -3-3 etc.) You will immediately feel the muscle differences between your arms. Use that feeling to guide how to then correct your stroke to make breathing on your left easier. Do you not pull all the way through with your right arm? Are you gliding too much? Not kicking hard enough to keep your body afloat?

[Anonymous]

I don't alternate. I do one lap all right side and then one lap all left side--that way you don't have to remember which you last did and you stay even.