How to Manage Your Breathing During A Swim

Many would think swimming and breathing at the same time is easy? Right? Believe it or not, learning how to breathe whilst swimming is a lot harder than you’d think with the element of the water, gravity, buoyancy, propulsion, water resistance and more! Let’s explore the fundamentals of how to breathe when swimming.

Inhaling and Exhaling

By prioritising the exhalation process, the human reflex to inhale will naturally occur. Rather than adhering to a predetermined breathing pattern, such as every two, three, or four strokes, allow your breathing to follow what feels most comfortable for you. Many swimmers find it helpful to turn their breathing focus upside down, consciously focusing on exhalation instead of inhalation.

It is essential to exhale whenever you find yourself submerged in water. Retaining your breath can disrupt the rhythm of your stroke. If you delay exhaling until you are desperate for air, you are depleting your reserves. Ensure that you exhale during all phases of your stroke; simply do so while facing downward.

You should be inhaling during the pull phase of your stroke. It’s usually better to start taking your breath early in the phase so you have enough time to get a deep breath in. 

Head Position

Having the correct head position is important to make sure you have the right timing to breathe. As your body leans onto the side of your extended arm, rotate your head to the side just enough to inhale without taking in water through your mouth or nose. Keep your head in line with your body.

- Aim to keep one goggle lens under the water and one out, so you see the water surface as a split screen.

- Make sure the head is in a neutral position, not straining your neck, or tilting your head up or down

- Keep your ear right against the shoulder of your extended arm

Bad breathing habits whilst swimming can set off a chain reaction that affects your overall race performance.The main considerations you need to focus on when learning how to breathe when swimming are the effectiveness and the efficiency.