Total Immersion Swimming

The TI teaching method has been steadily evolving, ever since our first camps in 1989. While the drills have changed, the one constant has been ever-improving results. And no wonder: By teaching about 10,000 improvement-minded swimmers over the past 12 years, we've had limitless opportunity to figure out why people become frustrated and how to make learning easier. Each new insight goes straight to the bottom line: a better workshop experience for swimmers. Today's TI Workshop is better in two key ways: 1. It is much easier for the low-skilled swimmer, yet also works incredibly well for the more-accomplished swimmer. We have replaced several drills that proved difficult for less experienced or less confident students with drills that are easier for anyone to do and which bring the whole class to balance and fluency much more quickly. 2. Progress from step-to-step and from the final drills to whole-stroke swimming is much more seamless than ever before. Every drill is designed to give you exactly what you need to master the next one, with no wasted steps. Here's a summary of what you'll learn at a TI Workshop this summer: To view the videos, you'll need either Quicktime or Real Player.
SESSION 1 SATURDAY MORNING First we videotape everyone underwater, then move on to our foolproof 4-step balance sequence. No more "sinking feeling." No more arm-churning. Within the first 30 minutes, the class is already transformed to relaxed, flowing movement.
Drill #1: Balance on your back This teaches you to relax and enjoy the support of the water, so you can just lie there and feel at home.
Drill #2: Find your Sweet Spot The "Sweet Spot" is where each individual finds true equilibrium and balance. It allows you to relax and learn fluent movement in every drill that follows. You may call it "Bliss."
Drill #3: Lengthen Your "Vessel" This imprints your most slippery body position. It is also the position in which you’ll start and finish every drill.
Drill #4: Balance in the Skating Position The Skating position teaches you how balance will feel when you begin swimming. It's also the best position for freestyle kicking practice.
SESSION 2 SATURDAY AFTERNOON We introduce the Under-Switch sequence which teaches you to tap the effortless power of the Kinetic Chain and the timing that allows you to "swim taller."
Drill #5: Under-Skating This drill introduces active balance and imprints the habit of breathing with body roll.
Drill #6: Under-Switch This drill links your armstroke to core-body rotation for effortless propulsion. It also gives you a visual cue for learning Front Quadrant timing.
Drill #7 Triple-Under This introduces swimming rhythms (steady, rhythmic core-body rotation) to the movements taught in the Under-Switch drills.
SESSION 3 SUNDAY MORNING We introduce the Zipper-Switch sequence, which aids your balance and alignment by teaching a relaxed, compact recovery.
Drill #8: Zipper-Skating This drill provides the clearest sense of where your balance point (your "buoy") is helping you become effortlessly supported by the water.
Drill #9 Zipper-Switch This teaches moments of breathtaking flow and grace by reinforcing a relaxed, compact, unhurried recovery.
Drill #10 Triple-Zipper We bring back swimming rhythms to prime you for an easy transition from skillful drilling to beautiful swimming.
SESSION 4 SUNDAY AFTERNOON The first three sessions have taught fluent, economical, graceful movement; in this session we apply those lessons to whole-stroke swimming. We finish by videotaping everyone underwater.
Drill #11: Over-Switch This drill reinforces Front Quadrant timing and effortless power from core-body rotation.
Drill #12: Triple-Over This drill teaches you how your new "Fishlike" stroke will feel. In fact, you'll be swimming between pauses in Sweet Spot.
Transition to Swimming We guide you through a simple, seamless transition to whole-stroke swimming and teach several Focal Points for improved awareness of when you're in a Fishlike flow.
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