My latest lessons ... Read on if you get back/shoulder pain or just like coaching
gentlygently
Posts: 752 Member
I thought I'd share what I've been learning in my latest coaching. It is Alexander Technique based - which - in case you do not know - is really good for people with bad backs, RSI etc and based on relearning really good/natural body alignment. I started them as I noticed when I was trying to increase my speed/distance that despite a reasonably good technique I was getting some mild back and shoulder ache. The coach is great and in the water with me, guiding hands, demonstrating etc.
So breaststroke: lots of work on finding the natural rise of the body from under the water and using that to be the focus of your timing, and changing of head position then arms. (I now think feet together, rising?, head up slightly, arms final push to front and scoop). And I am was really surprised how much body movement (chest down, arms aiming really low in the pool) to use to get a body wave before the kick.
2 lessons later and it feels really good. I am using less strokes to get across the pool and not a twinge.
Front crawl: I picked the changes up here really fast, and now have a much better body rotation and a better sense of when to time the stroke. I was starting too early and not rotating enough. (Here I am now thinking left arm out front, rotated body. Bring, right arm out at 5o'clock, relaxed up and over, as elbow reaches ear rotate to neutral, left arm relaxes to help form the kink, start to pull as right arm extends and body rotates)
One practise later and I can feel a much smoother stroke, and better arm use in the catch - plus a real Rhythm to the rotation. Two less strokes to get across pool even though not yet even trying to pull hard. And no shoulder twinge.
So, so far so good!
I am about to book backstroke and fly lessons. ... Great use of my 50th birthday money!
So breaststroke: lots of work on finding the natural rise of the body from under the water and using that to be the focus of your timing, and changing of head position then arms. (I now think feet together, rising?, head up slightly, arms final push to front and scoop). And I am was really surprised how much body movement (chest down, arms aiming really low in the pool) to use to get a body wave before the kick.
2 lessons later and it feels really good. I am using less strokes to get across the pool and not a twinge.
Front crawl: I picked the changes up here really fast, and now have a much better body rotation and a better sense of when to time the stroke. I was starting too early and not rotating enough. (Here I am now thinking left arm out front, rotated body. Bring, right arm out at 5o'clock, relaxed up and over, as elbow reaches ear rotate to neutral, left arm relaxes to help form the kink, start to pull as right arm extends and body rotates)
One practise later and I can feel a much smoother stroke, and better arm use in the catch - plus a real Rhythm to the rotation. Two less strokes to get across pool even though not yet even trying to pull hard. And no shoulder twinge.
So, so far so good!
I am about to book backstroke and fly lessons. ... Great use of my 50th birthday money!
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Replies
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Fantastic, gently - please keep us posted on what you learn.....0
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What an awesome use of birthday money! And it sounds like you found a good coach too. Having someone in the water with you can make such a big difference. It's all about making it right, and then learning what that feels like.0
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I'm too cheap to pay for a coach
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Ah that sounds like it would be perfect for me! How did you manage the find this coach?0
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Www.artofswimming.com.
You might need to move to London ? Or come have a UK holiday.. (The link to let me take Peek at your profile doese not work in my tablet) or Google Alexander Tecniique swimming ... Which is how I found them ... Set up by a chap called Steve Shaw.0 -
Lol, I'm in the US, but hooray for another reason to revisit the UK! I loved it there when I visited the first time, and always wanted to go back.0
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Well they seem to do swimming holidays...!0
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Did a walking Holiday through the Lake district and Scotland ( or was that Scotch). Never thought of a swimming Holiday.0
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