5 PRACTICAL TIPS FOR IF YOU WANT TO START SWIMMING

5 PRACTICAL TIPS FOR STARTING SWIMMING:

1. Hydration

ALWAYS have a water bottle or water bottle with you. You will perspire a lot unnoticed while swimming. In a swimming pool it is often very warm but because you are in the water you do not realize this yourself. Yet you are exercising and you will lose a lot of fluid. To compensate for this fluid loss, drinking water is very important and sufficient with Lifeguard Class Near Me.

Energy drinks or other fruit juices are not necessary and often contain a lot of unnecessary sugars. If you drink too little while swimming, you can suffer from headaches that can last for a very long time or you feel weak and energy less for a longer period of time.

2. Material

If you seriously want to go swimming, it is advisable to purchase a good bathing suit or tight swimming trunks/bikini. Fashionable bikinis with which you lie on the beach in the summer or long wide swimming trunks will especially hinder you while swimming laps and will not improve your swimming performance. Such long wide swimming trunks, for example, provide enormous extra resistance and are not streamlined at all, so that you can also work less well on your technique. For the women, 'normal' bikinis will be especially inconvenient. When you swim even a little faster they will slide and/or sag. A bathing suit/ball squeezer/special training bikini ensures that you don't have to worry about your equipment and you can better focus on your position in the water and your swimming stroke.

In addition, it is of course nice to have good swimming goggles so that you can safely swim with your head in the water and do not show up at school / work with red, stinging eyes after your workout.

I would definitely recommend a swim cap for those with longer hair. Such a hat often costs less than a tenner and you benefit a lot from it. You can of course wear your hair in a ponytail or braid. But when you start swimming a bit fanatically, you will soon notice that tufts come loose and still irritate your face. In addition, your hair gets tangled very quickly and that chlorinated water is not so good for your hair either. Chlorine water is certainly not such a party for people with dyed hair. A bathing cap offers a solution. For most in the beginning it takes some getting used to, but after that they can no longer do without.

You can often get the above materials at a sporting goods store or online. The brands Speedo and Arena are specialized in swimming and I would therefore recommend in this area with American Lifeguard USA Miami.

3. Food

Do not eat (too) much before swimming. Swimming laps on a full stomach can be annoying and you can get cramps more easily. If you are going to swim for more than half an hour, it is advisable to at least eat something (small). Think of a banana, currant bun or protein bar. After swimming, most people often feel more hungry than usual. Swimming uses all your muscles, so your body can use some extra protein. A protein-rich meal after swimming is therefore good.

4. Warming up & cooling down

Even though it is often very hot in a pool, it is still important that you warm up your body and wake up your muscles before swimming. The water is often cold! Build up your swimming training slowly and start warming up/stretching your muscles on the side. When you go into the water, start slowly and don't go the first lane as fast as possible to the other side. A good warm-up ensures that your muscles are at the right tension and you prevent injuries and cramps. Even after swimming, it is best to swim a few lengths very calmly. Lower your heart rate, consciously breathe in and out, and your body slowly recovers from swimming. This way you also prevent injuries but also muscle pain / stiff muscles.

5. Think in small steps

Swimming is a very technical and difficult sport. That's why it's good to know that you won't master the front crawl perfectly within a week or quickly make huge progress in terms of times. In any case, it's already very good that you want to start swimming and those miles and fast times will come later. For example, a first goal could be to go swimming once or twice a week for a month. In the beginning, try to focus mainly on the technique, so you may (in your opinion) slow down a bit, but in the end it will pay off! For example, look at the stroke of better swimmers or take a course. In almost all pools, certain front crawl classes are given or special trim swimming lessons are organized. There is always a trainer or pool employee present who will teach you the swimming stroke better.

You can of course also become a member of a swimming club. But remember that really learning how to swim takes time and don't give up too quickly if you don't succeed within a month, because perseverance will be rewarded. All beginnings are difficult, but then remember that you are doing a great job! It is a fantastic sport, very good for your body and if you succeed after a while, it is even more wonderful to do.