Holding your breath

Holding your breath
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The theory on breathing has changed over the years, says McCuiston. “In the 100-free I was always taught to breathe every four strokes or fewer than that, and now if you watch the Olympic athletes, they’re taking a breath every stroke,” she says. “Even in the butterfly, they’re breathing every stroke now, which I was never taught to do, so it’s definitely an interesting shift. It makes sense, though: if you’re efficient it doesn’t slow you down, and it provides more oxygen to your body which is beneficial.”

Here are some breathing exercises to help you relax in minutes.

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Not listening to your body

Not listening to your body
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What works for you may not necessarily work for your swim-lane neighbour. Age, body composition and swim distance will all dictate your technique. “Swimming is not one-size-fits-all. As soon as we think one way is right, another swimmer emerges to prove us wrong,” he laughs. “When you look at the top-three finishers in the 1500-metre men’s final in the last Olympics, for example, each used a different technique, because each had found what worked best for him. It’s an evolutionary time in swim-stroke research where things are changing every day.”

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Source: RD.com

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