Swimming is a very popular sport for keeping fit. It can be fun and allows physical expression of fluidity and grace, as well as strength, speed and endurance.
Swimming strengthens the cardiorespiratory system and tones and strengthens the body. This makes it a great tool for improving and maintaining fitness throughout life.
But if not approached properly, it can turn into a grueling and unbearable struggle that makes you feel like you’re drowning. It is estimated that less than two percent of Americans who call themselves swimmers are able to swim more than 500 meters without stopping.
Most swimmers are limited by technique, not physical fitness. Their technique consumes so much energy that they tire quickly and have to stop long before they get any aerobic advantage.
For these people, swimming is more of a survival technique than a way to get in shape. They can swim for a long time, but they can always do better.
Maybe you’re swimming now to keep fit, you’re training for a triathlon or Masters competition, or maybe you’re just swimming in the water for fun.
In any of these cases, you probably envy some swimmers who are faster, more efficient, or just more like real swimmers.
Swimming is a sport where technique is paramount. In that respect, it is more like golf than athletics or cycling. Like golf, almost anyone willing to put the time and effort into training can learn and maintain the skills necessary to swim smoothly and gracefully.
The benefits of improving physical fitness can be enormous. There are not many alternative activities that provide a full-body workout that people can do well beyond the age when other sports become unthinkable. Few swimmers reach the stage of fluency and grace without following the plans of a coach, instructor, video, book, or a combination thereof. My hope is that this book will serve as a road map of sorts to help you get started and continue on the road to an enjoyable and rewarding lifelong relationship with the water.
