How not to feel like a fish out of water when swimming

To achieve a lasting effect on fitness and health by breaststroke or freestyle swimming, there are a few important points to pay attention to. An expert explains how to always stay afloat in the pool, lake or sea with lifeguard certification near me.

• Learn the correct swimming technique
• Muscles are trained with the breaststroke and freestyle
• What swimmers should eat

Switzerland, a landlocked country, yet with a population of swimmers! At least that's what the statistics show: according to the Federal Office of Sport (FOPH) study "Sport Switzerland 2020", just under 40 per cent of Swiss people report swimming regularly - that's enough for swimming to settle down. in third place in the ranking of the most popular sports in this country, after trekking and cycling. Marius Frey, swimming teacher at Micros Club School for nearly 30 years, confirms this statistic. «Swimming is and remains a very popular sport! However, at the moment we can almost speak of a boom, we are seeing a considerable turnout ».

If we take a look at the many positive health effects, it quickly becomes clear why freestyle and other styles are so popular. Swimming is one of the sports that stresses the joints the least, refreshes and keeps fit (see also below). But all of this has a small pitfall because of the positive effects in terms of endurance and finesse are mostly achieved only if swimmers truly master the technique with American lifeguard Association Va.

In fact, many know how to swim "roughly" but not "correctly", as Marius Frey reports. “They have acquired a wrong technique, for example, they keep their heads above the water when they swim breaststroke, their movements are not synchronized or they are not breathing properly. But everything in swimming, from technique to muscle tension to breathing, must be corrected if you really want to benefit, otherwise you strain your body in vain and you will never really slide into the water, key word 'fluidity' ». 

Frey and his colleagues from the Migros Club School have therefore set themselves the task of helping the Swiss woman to improve their swimming technique with a wide range of courses . There are currently nearly 70 swimming course proposals, from lessons for children (see below), to offers for beginners, to special freestyle lessons for beginners and advanced. All those who are a little shy to learn the basics of the technique in a group are given private lessons. Advantage: “In this way, the needs of the participants can be met even more individually,” explains Frey.

Become familiar with the water without fear

The declared goal of the Club School teachers: to make the participants "splash around in the water like fish". And this is not achieved by chance: to be able to swim really well, the first thing is to become familiar with the water without fear , as the teacher Frey points out. Many adults have never been adequately introduced to the approach to water, sometimes they are even afraid and oppose it instead of working with it. Water is our training partner. A good approach is basic, which is why we focus on this aspect at the beginning of the beginner's courses. "

Anyone can practice and become familiar with the element of water, adds the 59-year-old. For example by practicing the breathing exercises: "At the beach, standing with your head above the water, inhale, then go underwater and exhale completely". Doing this several times in a row also helps you learn a steady breathing rhythm. Another trick to familiarize yourself with water: lie on your back, stretch your body and try to float like a water lily. Do the same thing on your stomach with your face in the water, like an airplane. Maintain this position for as long as possible, in order to perceive how you float ».

Learn the correct swimming technique

Once you have become familiar with the water you can move on to the next "stage" concerning the swimming technique. Expert Marius Frey explains below what to keep in mind in the three main styles of breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke: