Comments on: Total Immersion: How I Learned to Swim Effortlessly in 10 Days and You Can Too http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:32:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ditch the Gimmicks: 5 Ways to Get Fit for Free | Real Men Eat Green http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/comment-page-1/#comment-63854 Ditch the Gimmicks: 5 Ways to Get Fit for Free | Real Men Eat Green Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:08:57 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=435#comment-63854 [...] been to the pool in a while, it may be time to pull out those swim trunks. I came across the Total Immersion method for swimming on the Blog of Tim Ferriss. It’s an approach to swimming that can make the sport a lot more fun (and help you move a lot [...] [...] been to the pool in a while, it may be time to pull out those swim trunks. I came across the Total Immersion method for swimming on the Blog of Tim Ferriss. It’s an approach to swimming that can make the sport a lot more fun (and help you move a lot [...]

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/comment-page-1/#comment-62573 Anonymous Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:47:16 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=435#comment-62573 Unfortunately, swimming cannot be taught by simulation, like driving can.The biggest problem is the breathing part. One can learn to drive a vehicle (including aircraft) by simulation and NASA used that fact to train astronauts. That made the Apollo 11 moon mission as well as the rocket possible. But swimming cannot be learned by simulation. That is too damn bad.You have to try it and get it right on the first try. Otherwise you must abort the attempt OR drown! Unfortunately, swimming cannot be taught by simulation, like driving can.The biggest problem is the breathing part. One can learn to drive a vehicle (including aircraft) by simulation and NASA used that fact to train astronauts. That made the Apollo 11 moon mission as well as the rocket possible. But swimming cannot be learned by simulation. That is too damn bad.You have to try it and get it right on the first try. Otherwise you must abort the attempt OR drown!

]]> By: wolfgang koster http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/comment-page-1/#comment-62396 wolfgang koster Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:00:24 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=435#comment-62396 Just ran across the term "immersion swimming" and came onto this website. I've been lap swimming for close to fifty years...will be eligible for medicare in a few months...but it was only twenty years ago that I decided I was trying way too hard to put in my laps. I started to see how "few" strokes I could do to cover a pool, not how many. To my surprise my energy increased, along with my endurance and speed. At the age of 50 I was doing 150 to 200 laps 4-5 times a week. I loved to study seals and dolphins at various aquariums and was fascinated with the ease at which they slipped through the water. Then I began to realize that swimming is mental and emotional, not physical. Now I realize that is called "total immersion" swimming. I'm not saying I discovered it, but thats what I've been doing doing for over 20 years. By the way, there is something akin to "runners high" when you're swimming, but it usually doesn't happen until I swim at least 130 laps or so. When that happens I could swim forever...what a feeling!! Anyway, due to a hip injury I stopped a few years ago, but as soon as I get me a brand new (titanium) hip, I'll be back in the pool..... Just ran across the term “immersion swimming” and came onto this website.
I’ve been lap swimming for close to fifty years…will be eligible for medicare in a few months…but it was only twenty years ago that I decided I was trying way too hard to put in my laps. I started to see how “few” strokes I could do to cover a pool, not how many. To my surprise my energy increased, along with my endurance and speed. At the age of 50 I was doing 150 to 200 laps 4-5 times a week. I loved to study seals and dolphins at various aquariums and was fascinated with the ease at which they slipped through the water. Then I began to realize that swimming is mental and emotional, not physical. Now I realize that is called “total immersion” swimming. I’m not saying I discovered it, but thats what I’ve been doing doing for over 20 years. By the way, there is something akin to “runners high” when you’re swimming, but it usually doesn’t happen until I swim at least 130 laps or so. When that happens I could swim forever…what a feeling!!
Anyway, due to a hip injury I stopped a few years ago, but as soon as I get me a brand new (titanium) hip, I’ll be back in the pool…..

]]> By: Michelle Nicholson http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/comment-page-1/#comment-61194 Michelle Nicholson Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:22:09 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=435#comment-61194 Tim, I have been a swimmer my whole life. All your tips are great. Here is a challenge for you. In high school, our coach made us, during spring break no less, do 100 x100 with a 30 second break between each 100. He did give us a 3 minute break at the 50 mark though. If you wonder if your arms will ever fall off, give this a try. Just don't drive til a few hours after. We did it and all we got was a lousy t-shirt. But I can tell you that I wore that t-shirt til it disintegrated. Still wish I had it! Cheers. Michelle Tim,

I have been a swimmer my whole life. All your tips are great.

Here is a challenge for you. In high school, our coach made us, during spring break no less, do 100 x100 with a 30 second break between each 100. He did give us a 3 minute break at the 50 mark though. If you wonder if your arms will ever fall off, give this a try. Just don’t drive til a few hours after.

We did it and all we got was a lousy t-shirt. But I can tell you that I wore that t-shirt til it disintegrated. Still wish I had it!

Cheers.
Michelle

]]> By: cogiterium http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/comment-page-1/#comment-60538 cogiterium Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:44:18 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=435#comment-60538 My wife is going scheduled for her 1st triathlon. We're working on our swimming together, now. I've finished about 20 tri-s, mostly Olympic distance and X-terra courses. TI swimming really helped me, too. (Love your page of hand written notes...good stuff!) My pearls: 1. One really good thing to learn for triathlon is "peeping" (just lifting your head enough to site the buoy). If you do it right, your goggles only come half-way out of the water. That saves energy by keeping your hips high and your momentum going forward. If you lift your head completely out of the water to see where you're going, you sink as your legs drop and you start swimming "uphill." (Wastes mucha energia.) 2. Also, alternating interval sprints (for speed and power) with slow gliding (for technique) maximizes your time in the pool. Sort of like Fartlek running for swimmers. 3, Getting time in the open water is also a really good idea before you experience the mayhem that is a triathlon start! 4. If you get a wetsuit, don't get one that's too small. It will constrict your range of motion and increase the work of breathing. Swim on friends! My wife is going scheduled for her 1st triathlon. We’re working on our swimming together, now.

I’ve finished about 20 tri-s, mostly Olympic distance and X-terra courses. TI swimming really helped me, too. (Love your page of hand written notes…good stuff!)

My pearls:

1. One really good thing to learn for triathlon is “peeping” (just lifting your head enough to site the buoy). If you do it right, your goggles only come half-way out of the water. That saves energy by keeping your hips high and your momentum going forward. If you lift your head completely out of the water to see where you’re going, you sink as your legs drop and you start swimming “uphill.” (Wastes mucha energia.)

2. Also, alternating interval sprints (for speed and power) with slow gliding (for technique) maximizes your time in the pool. Sort of like Fartlek running for swimmers.

3, Getting time in the open water is also a really good idea before you experience the mayhem that is a triathlon start!

4. If you get a wetsuit, don’t get one that’s too small. It will constrict your range of motion and increase the work of breathing.

Swim on friends!

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