This article is designed for those new to swimming. Every once and awhile I have a group of new swimmers that don’t have a ton of experience swimming. I try to give people the easiest way to correct their swimming form, so here are some details about swimming that i always tell my clients that seem to help them out:

!. You need to empty your lungs in order to get a fresh breath of air. So, blow out bubbles when your face is in the water and then when your face is out of the water, take a fresh breath of air.

2. Kicking is a tough skill that everyone should be able to master; it just takes practice to be able to do it efficiently. First, make sure you’re using your hip muscles to kick. Your legs should be relatively straight with only a minimal bend in the knee. The last important aspect is you should be breaking the surface with your feet and legs as you kick. Remember, there should always be white water coming from your feet.

3. Correct breathing is not just a turn of the head, but also a turn of the whole body. So I tell my clients that your shoulder should point to the sky and your hip needs to point to the sky; once you master that rotation you will establish more space to breathe. To see this in action, check out my freestyle drill video on this site.

4. Always bring a bottle of water to the pool!

5. The only thing you need to get better is yourself. i see many swimmers with a bag of equipment. Equipment is a great addition to any workout, but you can make improvements without purchasing any special equipment.