How to Swim - A Beginner's Guide to Swimming

Swimming is one of the best ways to get a workout in, and it's also a great way to relax and improve your health. But before you jump in the pool, it's important to make sure that you know how to swim correctly.

The first step in learning how to swim is to get comfortable standing in the water and breathing underwater. If you haven't been in a pool since you were a kid, it might feel daunting to do this for the first time. But the key is to start slowly and work your way up.

A good way to build your confidence is to go swimming with other people who are strong swimmers. This way, if you get stuck in the water, someone will be able to help you out.

Getting comfortable with the water is also helpful for making sure you don't panic when you can't breath underwater, and that you can breathe as needed while swimming. Once you're able to do this, it's time to try a few strokes.

Breaststroke is the easiest of the four swimming strokes to learn for a beginner. This is because it's a shallow water stroke, meaning you don't have to put your head underwater to complete the stroke.

Backstroke is another great option for beginners. It's also a shallow water stroke, so you won't have to put your head underwater, and it allows you to focus on breathing as you swim.

To learn backstroke, start with a flutter kick with your legs, then move your arms into the "crawl" motion, lifting one arm straight up and keeping it straight as it re-enters the water next to your head. Then bend that arm and use your other hand to "push" the water behind you as you swim.

You can alternate arms as you do this, so each time you lift an arm up in the air and push it forward, you're doing a crawl with the other one. Breathe while you're doing this, so that you'll be able to take a breath every two or three arm strokes.

Timing is the key to a good front stroke, says Corbin. This is crucial for getting the most out of a front stroke and for saving energy by reducing drag. It's also the hardest thing to master, so it's important to do this regularly.

It's important to have a clear idea of how you want to position your body when you hit the wall, explains Corbin. This will help you avoid having your hips turn in an incorrect position and slowing your exit from the wall, which can cause you to miss your target.

The most efficient swimmers in the world have a well-developed kick, which helps them cut through the water with more speed and minimises the amount of frontal drag they experience. A good kick will also boost your finishing power, preventing your arms from seizing up with lactic acid in the final meters of a race.