My magic bullet for my breathing problem

[ZinZen]

I read through all the threads on this issue, even the twenty page ones but still I struggled swimming past 25m where I'd be out of breath completely. So when I cracked this issue for myself I felt obliged to share here in case anyone stumbles upon this section as I did, in search of answers.

The issue was clenching my jaw. So simple, but I didn't realise I'd been doing it. Although I knew that I was not holding my breath, clenching led to all the same issues as breath holding since I couldn't breathe in or out efficiently. Not clenching takes some work, but instantly I can swim lap after lap without getting out of breath or exhausted.

While I've read over and over about the importance of keeping relaxed, which I believed I was doing, I hadn't read anything specificllaly about clenching your jaw. HTH someone else.

[daveblt]

Another thing that is bad for your breathing is holding your lips to tightly together .A bad habit I used to have and will still do if I'm not careful. You have to tell yourself to relax you face and neck and get a constant exchange of air in and out .

Dave

[sclim]

Originally Posted by ZinZen

I read through all the threads on this issue, even the twenty page ones but still I struggled swimming past 25m where I'd be out of breath completely. So when I cracked this issue for myself I felt obliged to share here in case anyone stumbles upon this section as I did, in search of answers.

The issue was clenching my jaw. So simple, but I didn't realise I'd been doing it. Although I knew that I was not holding my breath, clenching led to all the same issues as breath holding since I couldn't breathe in or out efficiently. Not clenching takes some work, but instantly I can swim lap after lap without getting out of breath or exhausted.

While I've read over and over about the importance of keeping relaxed, which I believed I was doing, I hadn't read anything specificllaly about clenching your jaw. HTH someone else.

Interesting, someone else clenching their jaw. I noticed myself doing it when trying very hard to pull (I know, I'm not supposed to do that) to achieve a lower, hard to reach SPL. But I'm only clenching during the hard pull, not when I breathe ( I think). And I'm working on not pulling so hard.

[bx]

+1 here, I'm a jaw clencher, though mostly when waking up, and a timely reminder to me to lay off the coffee!

I know that when I'm feeling relaxed swimming, I can't help but smile, and a whole bunch of jaw tension melts away.

I read somewhere that everybody has an area of their body where tension accumulates. Some people are frowners. Others hunch their shoulders. And others get it in the neck and jaw...

[novaswimmer]

Wish I could find a 'magic bullet'. LOL!

[sclim]

Originally Posted by bx

+1 here, I'm a jaw clencher, though mostly when waking up, and a timely reminder to me to lay off the coffee!

I know that when I'm feeling relaxed swimming, I can't help but smile, and a whole bunch of jaw tension melts away.

I read somewhere that everybody has an area of their body where tension accumulates. Some people are frowners. Others hunch their shoulders. And others get it in the neck and jaw...

Since becoming aware of the tension I often carry while swimming, I find I can consciously smile, and that makes the jaw tension melt away like you described -- except that I'm not passively depending on happening to feel relaxed, I can actually make it happen by consciously smiling, and it jumpstarts the relaxed feeling.

[novaswimmer]

There are so many reasons for breathing issues in swimming.

I would speculate that MOST have to do with improper balance, and the resultant issue with reaching air ... resulting in an urge to use the legs or arm movements to raise the head to get air. This takes a lot of energy!

It just takes a lot of serious self-scrutiny to determine the cause -- or just get a coach and save some time!

[bkjagadish]

Originally Posted by bx

+1 here, I'm a jaw clencher, though mostly when waking up, and a timely reminder to me to lay off the coffee!

I know that when I'm feeling relaxed swimming, I can't help but smile, and a whole bunch of jaw tension melts away.

I read somewhere that everybody has an area of their body where tension accumulates. Some people are frowners. Others hunch their shoulders. And others get it in the neck and jaw...

The Last Para is a revelation for me !!...So True !!... Thanks for Sharing it !!....