Body balancing in water is considered as a difficult aspect in swimming as well as maintaining a streamline position while propelling you forward. This is also considered as the correct swimming technique. The main keys when it comes to swimming usually involve balance – horizontal body position, streamline body position as well as the hip roll. Remember that to be able to improve your efficiency and speed when swimming, it is essential for you to learn how to maintain the streamline and the horizontal position of your body.
Balancing usually involve two axis, the lateral and the longitudinal movement. The ideal position is when you are flat top on the water while your spine is in a neutral position. Your eyes should be straight down, your shoulders as well as your upper back should be backed out of water, and your head back at the water surface. Your butt and heels should be out of the water as well. You have to make sure that your body is maintained in a straight line from your head down to your toes. Lateral axes will then play an important role while you are swimming. You should be using the hips in order to add more power into the strokes and by adding a streamline while your body remained straight.
When swimming and doing the correct swimming technique, you have to make sure that you are focused on the balance of both your lateral and longitudinal position. You also have to make sure that you are keeping your movements in minimum and memorize the positions that you can perform while doing drills. To be able to do this, make sure that you are using both visual and kinesthetic cues in order to maintain a more balanced position.
When doing the one arm stroke, remember that you should start on the side where you can easily breathe on. You may start by pushing yourself off of the wall in an “I” position and then glide. Start stroking using one arm and make sure to keep the other arm extended in an “I” position and then apply a gentle kick. You have to make sure that your stroke is slow and then pause as you extend the arm that you are using to stroke forward. Remember to breathe after each stroke and take note that it is essential for you to maintain a slow stroke in order for your breathing to stay normal and to prevent hyperventilation. You may repeat this position using alternate arms on every lap. Bear in mind that your non-favorite side when it comes to breathing will be a lot harder so you should first go on a drill down with your favorite side before trying your opposite side. Remember you’re your goal here is to keep a balanced I position while stroking.
As for the no arm stroke, you should start off in an “I” position with one of your arms on your side. Use a gentle kick to be able to rotate the hips and your torso for breathing. Make sure to keep the rhythm of your breathing just like how you do it in the one arm drill. Your goal here is to start rotating your hips while keeping the torso straight. Avoid letting your hips and shoulders rotate separately.
Remember that when you are doing body balancing in water, it is also important to practice the right breathing techniques. Drills can be very helpful as well when it comes to body balancing in water so make sure to start off with a drill before practicing different swimming strokes and to be able to learn the correct swimming technique.