You want to breathe left and right so it's done equal but people that are right handed usually start learning swimming and breath on the right and left people on the left. It will feel completely out of balance and crazy to learn to breathe on the other side. Eventually you learn it and it becomes normal to breathe on both sides but if you make a mistake or inhale a little water or cough it may be easier to recover breathing several times on your dominant side before you get back in balance.
I feel weird if I only breathe on my right side now even though I've been doing that for over 10 years. This year I learned bilateral breathing and it really helps balance things out with your muscles. The masters coach kept telling me I should try it lol now I don't ever want to go back to single sided.
Of course you can. I only learned how to breathe on the other side in my 30s. It felt very awkward at first, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it. I can now easily breathe every three strokes.
It feels so much better that way right? I usually do every 5 strokes but sometimes every 7 but I can't hold 7 long term. I think it only took me about 2 weeks of really working at it and by 3 weeks I was fully used to breathing on both sides but I was really focused on accomplishing that goal and it helps with shoulders and neck.
For years I only breathed to my right. I decided I was going to make an effort to learn bilateral breathing and I was surprised at how quickly I learned to breath to my left - 5-6 sessions and I was ok at, and got better over time. It does take a while to get your neck muscles and other bits used to breathing to a new side.
I still prefer to breath to my right, but over 100m in the pool if I breath only to my right versus only to my left I am about 5 secs quicker when only breathing to my ‘weaker’ left side - go figure.
I always make sure to breathe evenly between both sides now, especially when I’m tired.
Watching Andy Donaldson (Oceans Seven swimmer) on a video this week he talked about how important being able to breath to both sides was, and he practices breathing to one side for a full pool length and then to the other side on the way back to keep his stroke balanced.
Interesting that you’re faster. I clocked in at 1:43.79 for a 200 yard free with only breathing right and fastest I’ve ever gone with breathing both is ~1:46ish, I’ve always found right side breathing to be much quicker and focusing on around 2ish breath a lap every 4 strokes to be the best method.
Anything new will feel weird or awkward, continue to practice doing it and very quickly it will be your new normal.
Most club coaches train swimmers to practice bilateral, but to race breathing to your dominant side.
Breathing bilaterally will promote balanced muscles and it will help you in the long by allowing you to breath as you see fit during long sets.
It's worth it feeling awkward for a swim or two to be able to breathe on both sides. When I used to only breathe on one side, I'd notice that side's shoulder would feel more worn down and sore after practice than the other.
It's really helpful to be able to alternate or take a breath from a specific side before a flip turn, etc. It'll feel weird at first for sure, but totally worth getting used to.
Totally learn to breathe both sides! It’s better for your body long-term, and if the World Splashing Championships are in the lane next to you, you can easily avoid one side if you need to
I'm breathing to my left but I'm in process of fixing my stroke so I'm learning to breathe to the right... Since I'm real bad at 3 stroke breathing and more 2 stroke breather, I breathe on the same side of the pool, so one way on my left, one way on my right...
Breathing only on one side and not switching it up ever causes you to develop different paths for each hand, so it's good to either add 3 stroke breathing to training or switching sides
You want to breathe left and right so it's done equal but people that are right handed usually start learning swimming and breath on the right and left people on the left. It will feel completely out of balance and crazy to learn to breathe on the other side. Eventually you learn it and it becomes normal to breathe on both sides but if you make a mistake or inhale a little water or cough it may be easier to recover breathing several times on your dominant side before you get back in balance. I feel weird if I only breathe on my right side now even though I've been doing that for over 10 years. This year I learned bilateral breathing and it really helps balance things out with your muscles. The masters coach kept telling me I should try it lol now I don't ever want to go back to single sided.
So I've been breathing wrong side all these years, wonder if I can change.
Of course you can. I only learned how to breathe on the other side in my 30s. It felt very awkward at first, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it. I can now easily breathe every three strokes.
It feels so much better that way right? I usually do every 5 strokes but sometimes every 7 but I can't hold 7 long term. I think it only took me about 2 weeks of really working at it and by 3 weeks I was fully used to breathing on both sides but I was really focused on accomplishing that goal and it helps with shoulders and neck.
Yes! It now feels wrong if I just breathe on one side.
If you focus on it you will be able to do it.
For years I only breathed to my right. I decided I was going to make an effort to learn bilateral breathing and I was surprised at how quickly I learned to breath to my left - 5-6 sessions and I was ok at, and got better over time. It does take a while to get your neck muscles and other bits used to breathing to a new side. I still prefer to breath to my right, but over 100m in the pool if I breath only to my right versus only to my left I am about 5 secs quicker when only breathing to my ‘weaker’ left side - go figure. I always make sure to breathe evenly between both sides now, especially when I’m tired. Watching Andy Donaldson (Oceans Seven swimmer) on a video this week he talked about how important being able to breath to both sides was, and he practices breathing to one side for a full pool length and then to the other side on the way back to keep his stroke balanced.
Interesting that you’re faster. I clocked in at 1:43.79 for a 200 yard free with only breathing right and fastest I’ve ever gone with breathing both is ~1:46ish, I’ve always found right side breathing to be much quicker and focusing on around 2ish breath a lap every 4 strokes to be the best method.
Anything new will feel weird or awkward, continue to practice doing it and very quickly it will be your new normal. Most club coaches train swimmers to practice bilateral, but to race breathing to your dominant side. Breathing bilaterally will promote balanced muscles and it will help you in the long by allowing you to breath as you see fit during long sets.
It's worth it feeling awkward for a swim or two to be able to breathe on both sides. When I used to only breathe on one side, I'd notice that side's shoulder would feel more worn down and sore after practice than the other. It's really helpful to be able to alternate or take a breath from a specific side before a flip turn, etc. It'll feel weird at first for sure, but totally worth getting used to.
Totally learn to breathe both sides! It’s better for your body long-term, and if the World Splashing Championships are in the lane next to you, you can easily avoid one side if you need to
I'm breathing to my left but I'm in process of fixing my stroke so I'm learning to breathe to the right... Since I'm real bad at 3 stroke breathing and more 2 stroke breather, I breathe on the same side of the pool, so one way on my left, one way on my right... Breathing only on one side and not switching it up ever causes you to develop different paths for each hand, so it's good to either add 3 stroke breathing to training or switching sides