It's still crazy to me how exhausting swimming can be. It probably doesn't help that I tend to sink like a rock so I have to work harder; even so, it's such a simple motion one would think it isn't that great of a workout, but it definitely is. And it just goes to show that people don't need all these fancy workouts, machines, ranges of motion (like yoga) to get in great shape. Just do what feels natural, like your body's meant to do.
I've been thinking about finding a nearby place to swim regularly but the only place nearby is the YMCA, and from what I recall as a kid, the pool isn't exactly clean.
As for yoga, I've done P90X a couple of times and for those that don't know, according to Tony Horton, yoga's an essential part of working out. But something about it never really sat right with me, and reading the other comments here has helped me pinpoint why. When I would do yoga, the first few times I'd make it through the entire hour and a half (first 45 minutes were various Ashtanga Vinyasa sequences; last 45 minutes were balances/stretches) and the last half always made me really uncomfortable. I told myself it would get better once I got used to it, but after a few weeks it didn't get any less uncomfortable so I just stopped doing the stretches/balances; and if anything, I'd bet this this actually helped with my overall fitness. When I was balancing on my neck/shoulders and putting my legs behind me, I remember thinking every time, "How can this possibly be good for me?" Lo and behold, I wasn't alone. These days when I do yoga, I just do my own thing (whatever feels natural) and it seems to work pretty well because I usually have sweat dripping off of me by the end.
> "and from what I recall as a kid, the pool isn't exactly clean."
Sad but true, but any pool that isn't horrifyingly exclusive is going to be the same way. I spent years swimming competitively and have had the plantar warts (and the treatments) to show for it.
> "It probably doesn't help that I tend to sink like a rock so I have to work harder"
This is the wrong way about it. If you have trouble staying afloat, or moving forward, swimming harder will just tire you out and make you sink more - you need to swim smarter and with better technique. Swimming is really quite effortless if you've got decent technique. Flailing about in the water will tire you out quickly, and from an exercise perspective isn't as effective as simply going a couple of miles with good form.
I suppose a good analogy would be an untrained runner deciding to simply sprint his heart out - he's going to run out of juice pretty quickly, feel horrible, and not get as much exercise as if he'd paced himself.
It's a great technique and I improved vastly, but I've spent maybe between 100 and 200 hours practising (rough estimate) and I still can only swim between 50 and 100 m before I run out of breath.
And I'm still sinking like a rock. There's an exercise we do, exhale and submerge, and sit on the bottom of the pool. Every instructor does it with some effort, so much is their buoyancy, but that's the one where I shine.
And I know my problem, every instructor tells me - I have to be more relaxed. Well, except that I can not tell myself to relax and just do it - somehow it's a long and slow process, and so far I don't see the way to learn 'relaxing' quickly and effortlessly.
There was no quick fix, I just swam twice a week for years until (a) my muscles became more used to the exercise and (b) I learnt to relax and enjoy it.
I've found that not kicking at all and focussing purely on the arm movements helped a lot.
In fact, I swam 2km yesterday without kicking at all.
I'm trying to kick as little as I possibly can, as in 2-beat kick. But I don't have years of practise, so if I try to swim without kicking at all, I'd just start sinking very, very soon. :)
Swimming skill and the learning ability somehow does not correlate with things like fitness, strength, flexibility or even coordination - I practise a martial art and weight training, my body is much better developed compared to an average person ... ON LAND. But in the water - everyone, no matter how old or large or stiff - progresses faster and swims better ... that's frustrating and motivating at the same time.
I've been thinking about finding a nearby place to swim regularly but the only place nearby is the YMCA, and from what I recall as a kid, the pool isn't exactly clean.
As for yoga, I've done P90X a couple of times and for those that don't know, according to Tony Horton, yoga's an essential part of working out. But something about it never really sat right with me, and reading the other comments here has helped me pinpoint why. When I would do yoga, the first few times I'd make it through the entire hour and a half (first 45 minutes were various Ashtanga Vinyasa sequences; last 45 minutes were balances/stretches) and the last half always made me really uncomfortable. I told myself it would get better once I got used to it, but after a few weeks it didn't get any less uncomfortable so I just stopped doing the stretches/balances; and if anything, I'd bet this this actually helped with my overall fitness. When I was balancing on my neck/shoulders and putting my legs behind me, I remember thinking every time, "How can this possibly be good for me?" Lo and behold, I wasn't alone. These days when I do yoga, I just do my own thing (whatever feels natural) and it seems to work pretty well because I usually have sweat dripping off of me by the end.
Listen to your body, folks!