Balance Point

Hello Fellow Swimmers!

One of my favorite things to work on with newer swimmers who are comfortable with their faces in the water: Balance Point!

This is, as they say, easier said than done. Thinking about your balance point while swimming will help keep you more flat on top of the water. 

What do I mean by saying balance point? Think of your body as an unbalanced teeter totter. The part of your body that floats the best is where all of your air is. Everything above your lungs is much lighter than everything below. In order to stay flat on top of the water, we need to find a way to push the lighter side down. (Image of a person sitting on a teeter totter all alone!)

One way to help balance your body out, when on your front, is to start with both of your arms reaching in front of you. When your arms are fully extended, and your hands are together, this is called streamline position. In this position, keep your chin tucked, squeeze your abs, and focus on both keeping your body straight and pushing your head and chest down. Think about having good body posture.

Similar will be done when on your back though there are some differences. You will have more of your head out so you can breath. Make sure to have your ears in the water and an untucked chin. You want to look up and behind you a little so you can compensate and achieve good body posture.

With practice, doing this will help you to keep your legs closer to the top of the pool whether on your front or back. When you are flatter on top of the water, your body will glide along with the water - decreasing the resistance and allowing your body to move more smoothly through the water.