Freedom to Float - Module 1. The Posture Stretch 

Below is the transcription of this video ========== Freedom to Float Module 1: The Posture Stretch Thank you for downloading module 1 of four in the Freedom to Float technique. In this module, I want to show you how to attain the correct position on the water in order to float and to swim correctly. This is a module that you can practice at home. At swimmingteacher.com, we do not believe in using any artificial flotation aids or paddle strokes. Our aim is to teach you to swim correctly first time around so you look like an experienced swimmer not like a beginner. In order to do this, at this very early stage, we'd like to introduce you to what we call the posture stretch. The posture stretch is just stretching your body into a streamline position that will enable you to move smoothly through the water. This is a simple exercise that you can do against the wall in your room upon your tiptoes and stretching your arms up behind you. It's not something that will come too easy to all of you because we all lose our posture as we get older. But the posture is critical at this stage in what we're trying to teach you. Try this little practice at home. Lie down in front of your telly on your tummy and watch TV with your chin up in the air and see how uncomfortable it is for you. Unfortunately this is the way that most people learn how to swim. Not here at swimmingteacher.com . Here we teach you to relax your head and allow your limbs to move freely with your spine relaxed. We want to enhance the natural flotation ability of the body by taking an extra oxygen into the lungs and allowing your body to float. The posture stretch is very important. You need to take your time with this. Don't rush it take as long as you need. All you need is a flat wall to stand with your back against. In order to demonstrate this, I'm going to call on one of our advanced teachers Edward to show you how to achieve this. So we have a flat wall and Edward standing with his back straight against the wall. Now raise your heels up onto the wall Edward. So you're up on your tiptoes, still flat against the wall. And stretch your arms out in front. There's no hurry to do this. Feel you're comfortable against the wall. Now take a breath, blow out, and breathe in slowly. Now drop your head forward. So he's released his head off his spine. His head is relaxed. His spine is relaxed. Now he raises his arms up as high as he can. Don't go onto the wall at the moment. And he's not able to make the wall. He's finding it difficult. That's fine at this stage. And relax again down everybody doing this nice and slowly. And blow out, blow out. So we'll repeat that, slow it down, and we practice. You can stretch a little bit further each time until your arms reach the wall behind you. And again Edward, blow out, breathe in slowly. His arms are nice and straight, gets rid of the weight of his head chin down, and slowly stretch. Don't bounce it! If you can't make, it it doesn't matter. In time, you can stretch fully and actually touch the wall behind you. That is the full posture stretch. And that is the correct swimming and floating position in the water. And relax. Though you can see, it looks quite simple, but it probably takes you a little bit longer than you think. It's critical that we achieve this. There's no point in going down to the swimming pool if you're unable to get your body into a floating and a swimming position. So please practice this as many times as you like as slowly as you like, before you move on to module 2.

Frank Kennedy, I am surprised that i missed your post since three years! I have been teaching basics to my friends and this tip you have shared is great. I had not thought of this and now I feel this is one of the first and foremost workout every serious swimmer ought to keep revising. Thank You. VishG

First Step.... Before you go near water you can start top practice streamlining your body. Yes it is simple, but you need to practice and feel it. If your body bend's like a banana in the water, you will float (actually sink) and swim like a banana. Good body posture is vital even at this stage if you are to float, and later swim.. correctly.

Thank you for your free tutorial. This really help me to float, i almost can't believe that i really can float in the water. Now i'm not afraid to put myself in the water. Many thanx

Thank you, sir! Great lesson and kind explanation!~

Is it possible to begin learning to swim at 50?