Comments on: Lesson 4: Total Immersion Self-Coaching Series: Balance

By: dshen

dshen — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 19:27:00 +0000

Glad it worked out! Alexander Technique is on my list to check out. Too many cool things to check out!

By: Rodolfo Oviedo

Rodolfo Oviedo — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 18:46:00 +0000

Thank you, very much. Your
suggestions helped me in the SG and in keeping balance in swimming. I think the
improvement came in part from shifting the position of the pivot point of the seesaw.
The following is the way I followed your suggestions while using the principles
of the Alexander Technique (AT), which teaches to avoid postural and movement
misuse of the body.

(1) I *think* of opening the *bottom* of my ribcage laterally, especially the
back.

(2) This brings the diaphragm down.

(3) The latter expands my belly without overinflating it. Points (1) and (2),
expand the lateral sides of my waist.

Notes:

1) I just THINK of a my ribcage being relaxed and of the bottom of my ribcage
opening laterally, especially the back. I also scan for any muscle stopping
this natural breathing movement. If I find a group of muscles preventing my
breathing, I mentally order it to stop firing.

2) I know that step (2) above physically produces most of the movement in (1)
above, but I do not think of the diaphragm.

3) I do not actively inflate my belly of actively push my viscera down.

All the procedure above requires a soft ribcage, which in turn requires that
the shoulders do not compress the ribcage; which in turn requires a soft neck
that allows the head rotate forward…

In you have the possibility of taking AT, please do not miss it. TI and AT go
hand in hand, truly!

By: Lesson 3 – Solving The Swimming Problem | Total ImmersionTotal Immersion

Lesson 3 – Solving The Swimming Problem | Total ImmersionTotal Immersion — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:38:51 +0000

[…] Next: Lesson 4 – Remove The Struggle […]

By: dshen

dshen — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 04:35:00 +0000

IMHO you should never breathe through the chest. You should use the diaphragm instead. In case of really deep breaths, then only the bottom of the ribcage should expand, but you shouldn’t be trying to expand the top of your ribcage. Train yourself to belly breathe and you’ll not only swim better but do better in normal life.

By: Rodolfo

Rodolfo — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 03:58:00 +0000

This is Rodolfo Oviedo, owner of a PM Freestyle.

Would you suggest belly, chest or whole breathing for the purpose of balance?

Many thanks,

Rodolfo

By: Tim Woolmer

Tim Woolmer — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 06:26:00 +0000

Don’t worry about it. Stop and start again. If you look at the video above, he starts to sink, then gets up and pushes off again. Enjoy the ride!

By: John Bohannon

John Bohannon — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 23:51:00 +0000

This is John B0hannon. I tried the balance procedure but I haven’t mastered it yet. My feet keep sinking and I go no where. i put on Zoomers and they keep my feet up only if I fluttrer my kick a little. I go one mile 3 times a week I havbe to stop at 25 yards. I lay over on my back and swi9m 25 yards on my back. It takes me about 1 & and a half hours. I should do better than that. Help! lol