My swim class is suddenly a much better deal
I started my breaststroke class last night. I debated whether to take it for quite a while - $100 for three classes is kind of steep - but, given my love/hate relationship with the front crawl (actually it's more tolerance/hate) and my zig-zagy backstroke, I feel like I need another stroke to keep me motivated. So I decided it was worth it ... and I was the only one there! So it suddenly became three private lessons for $100! Not bad at all.
The class went pretty well. We worked almost entirely on the kick, which feels fairly natural to me and seems kind of Pilates-ish (there are a number of Pilates exercises that draw power from the adductors, like the breaststroke kick). I had some trouble breathing without using my arms - I'd end up sinking and throwing my body out of alignment - so it was hard for me to do more than a few kicks in a row. Most of the time I was stopping after a few kicks anyway to get the instructor's feedback, but having trouble coming up for breath made it hard to get into a rhythm. It also made it COLD - it was surprisingly chilly last night, so I got cold every time I stopped moving. But overall I was very encouraged.
Next week we're going to do the arm part, and I think the last week will focus on the timing of the two parts and the difference between slow, relaxing breaststroke and faster, competition-style breaststroke.
The instructor is super-nice, pretty much the polar opposite of the instructor I took a freestyle class from last fall. Not that that one was mean, but she was more of a stereotypical coach type - "Keep going! Go faster! When it starts feeling hard you're doing it right! Swimming isn't easy! Go!" Holly is much more laid back. I respond better to niceness (it offsets my generally unpleasant nature).
Also, I was relieved that Pure Austin, while perfectly nice, isn't nicer than Castle Hill. I was afraid I was going to have gym envy.
I feel oddly sore today, but it's everywhere - arms, legs, back ... I think I have to blame most of it on lack of sleep rather than swimming. I've had a terrible bout of insomnia for the past several nights and am little more than a zombie at this point.
The class went pretty well. We worked almost entirely on the kick, which feels fairly natural to me and seems kind of Pilates-ish (there are a number of Pilates exercises that draw power from the adductors, like the breaststroke kick). I had some trouble breathing without using my arms - I'd end up sinking and throwing my body out of alignment - so it was hard for me to do more than a few kicks in a row. Most of the time I was stopping after a few kicks anyway to get the instructor's feedback, but having trouble coming up for breath made it hard to get into a rhythm. It also made it COLD - it was surprisingly chilly last night, so I got cold every time I stopped moving. But overall I was very encouraged.
Next week we're going to do the arm part, and I think the last week will focus on the timing of the two parts and the difference between slow, relaxing breaststroke and faster, competition-style breaststroke.
The instructor is super-nice, pretty much the polar opposite of the instructor I took a freestyle class from last fall. Not that that one was mean, but she was more of a stereotypical coach type - "Keep going! Go faster! When it starts feeling hard you're doing it right! Swimming isn't easy! Go!" Holly is much more laid back. I respond better to niceness (it offsets my generally unpleasant nature).
Also, I was relieved that Pure Austin, while perfectly nice, isn't nicer than Castle Hill. I was afraid I was going to have gym envy.
I feel oddly sore today, but it's everywhere - arms, legs, back ... I think I have to blame most of it on lack of sleep rather than swimming. I've had a terrible bout of insomnia for the past several nights and am little more than a zombie at this point.