Swimming (again)
I went swimming today. Wanted to go yesterday but didn't feel like buying a box of tampons just to go swimming. Today I could go, though.
Vivianne showed me some exercises with the kickboard and leg float-y things that focus on either arms or legs, not on both. I did four laps with the kickboard; two nonstop flutter kick, two mostly non-stop frog kick. Then I practiced breast stroke while keeping my legs from kicking with the float thingy. I did two laps of that. Then I moved on to two laps of freestyle, which I really enjoyed after being held to a much slower speed by isolating muscle groups as I did. I also did one lap of breaststroke and one of back stroke/floating, and then finally got out of the water because I was getting tired.
My stamina is improving. My technique is improving. My muscles are gaining shape and size, such that when I see my bare shoulders in a mirror, I have to stop and look for a second because I'm not used to seeing upper arm/shoulder muscles that defined. My leg muscles are also gaining definition. It's pretty awesome. Next week I want to work on the butterfly technique/the dolphin kick that I need to learn in order to do the butterfly stroke, which is pretty hard. But I'm happy to see the improvements in all areas. The improvements and the endorphins both make me happy, actually, and help lift me out of any low mood I might be in (or raise an already good mood!).
Next semester I want to join the Advanced Beginner's swimming class, probably for fourth quarter, although I may try Advance Beginners in third quarter and then go to Swimming for Fitness, the highest level. Vivianne said, and I tend to agree, that I should belong in Advanced Beginners. I can swim, and I have some technique now, but I certainly am not a strong enough swimmer to be okay in the Swimming for Fitness yet. Even so, I want to take a swim class next semester.
Vivianne showed me some exercises with the kickboard and leg float-y things that focus on either arms or legs, not on both. I did four laps with the kickboard; two nonstop flutter kick, two mostly non-stop frog kick. Then I practiced breast stroke while keeping my legs from kicking with the float thingy. I did two laps of that. Then I moved on to two laps of freestyle, which I really enjoyed after being held to a much slower speed by isolating muscle groups as I did. I also did one lap of breaststroke and one of back stroke/floating, and then finally got out of the water because I was getting tired.
My stamina is improving. My technique is improving. My muscles are gaining shape and size, such that when I see my bare shoulders in a mirror, I have to stop and look for a second because I'm not used to seeing upper arm/shoulder muscles that defined. My leg muscles are also gaining definition. It's pretty awesome. Next week I want to work on the butterfly technique/the dolphin kick that I need to learn in order to do the butterfly stroke, which is pretty hard. But I'm happy to see the improvements in all areas. The improvements and the endorphins both make me happy, actually, and help lift me out of any low mood I might be in (or raise an already good mood!).
Next semester I want to join the Advanced Beginner's swimming class, probably for fourth quarter, although I may try Advance Beginners in third quarter and then go to Swimming for Fitness, the highest level. Vivianne said, and I tend to agree, that I should belong in Advanced Beginners. I can swim, and I have some technique now, but I certainly am not a strong enough swimmer to be okay in the Swimming for Fitness yet. Even so, I want to take a swim class next semester.