Options
Total Immersion
TRIumphant
Posts: 850
in General Chat
I've been attempting to self teach myself this method of swimming for about four months now, and it's slowly sinking in. However, my swim times haven't really improved, but I'm exiting the water feeling a lot fresher.
Is it worth persevering with it for the energy benefits it brings, and would I progress quicker with lessons?
Is it worth persevering with it for the energy benefits it brings, and would I progress quicker with lessons?
0
Comments
You are seeing some results... but... you will not be doing it right - simply because it is really really difficult to assess how your swimming is.
You could go for a TI course, or something a bit shorter such as a coached session in an endless pool with video.
Further, people can get genuine TI instruction about a ten minute drive from the facility you have named by coming to see me at SwimShack in Loughborough http://www.swimshack.co.uk/
I learned basically from scratch by TI and it has worked brilliantly - sadly coaching was in NZ and I'm guessing you're not too keen on going that far
I do now have (apparently) great, relaxed technique but I am having a couple of problems which I'm told are typical for TI bods: I'm having difficulty increasing stroke rate and so going faster and the low head position/high elbow recovery are great for the pool but not so hot in a wetsuit OW swimming!
On the plus side I now love swimming FC and if there is no one else around to show how slow I'm going I look great too!
I have reached the read-the-book, tried-the-method, like-it stage of learning about TI, but have accepted I now need a REAL coach to help me out. Anyone know any good coaches, hopefully with TI experience in the South West - am based in Bath. I have contacted TI to see if they fancy hosting a course down here in the deepest darkest corner of England, as the other courses seem far far away from here. If there is interest from "us" there may be interest from "them".
So coaches? Interest in TI courses in SW?
Shout out!
I have tried "normal" swim coaching and did not get as much from it (performance wise) as reading the TI book and trying some of the drills, so would like to find out more about it. I appreciate it isnt for eneryone. Many swim sets (even beginner ones) start with a warm up that is not far off of my maximum distance, and have a totla distance beyond that which i am capable of, and I know how long it took me to get to that point!
I am happy with my bike and run training so am looking for swim only advice, plus the Amphibians a bit on the expensive side for me. I have free pool access so what is already expensive becomes even dearer as their membership includes pool fees.
Ta though.
you know i could step up to OD now if i was only sure i could swim a mile....so while your dishing out advice dish some to me....i'm not really interested in going any faster...i'm interested in it getting easier....if i could swim front crawl all the way i'd shave 3 minutes from my time....and if i could swim fc for a mile i'd be happy to just finish.
where should I start???
I'm not sure that helps you though
tricentral have an endless pool near me, though i'm not sure what their rep is like or whether their coaches push for speed or ease....if you get what i'm saying, i want distance not speed.
I've got the TI swim with ease or whatever dvd so i'll have a look and see if that helps...if not...looks like its lessons over the winter
Part of your anxiety I'm guessing is a bit of the fear creeping in/self doubt which I'm very familiar with. These questions that went through my head may sound familiar
"Will everyone be better than me?", "Will I hold people up?", "Will everyone think I'm wasting their time?"
I went so far as to email swimfortri cancelling the day before my first session but they convinced me to do otherwise and I'm bloody glad I didn't.
Best thing is to get in touch with a swim coach, whoever it may be. Be honest about your goals, what your current level is and if you don't like their response, find someone else. Its your cash you can choose to spend it where you like!
I can guarantee you won't be the worst swimmer they've ever seen. Good luck mate!
Get in touch with someone good, talk to them first about what you want and how they suggest going about getting it and make sure it is someone you trust. After all its your money so you get to choose what you focus on - it's not about their goals in the end.
And if it's any consolation you can't possibly be worse than me when I started and had a panic attack and pretty much spent the whole first session out of the pool and that's before the session where I threw a paddy and said I never wanted to do FC again and broke down in tears and the one where...... Still it is all worth it in the end honest
Good luck