Swimming: Getting back to the basics.

BODY POSITION

The first thing to establish in being able to swim well is good body position and this starts with floating. As we are all aware, fat is buoyant and floats and muscle is heavier and therefore it sinks. So not surprisingly it is quite common for athletes and particularly triathletes who are lean with well developed leg muscles to have a problem with sinking hips and legs. One of our areas that floats the best is our chest due to the air in our lungs. In theory, if we push our air filled chest down into the water, the water will push back thereby lifting our hips and legs to the surface. Below are listed exercises and drills in progression to help with body position and balance. Make sure you are proficient in each one before moving on to the next.