Benefits of Breaststroke
At Steve Wallen Swim School, we teach swim lessons for all four competitive swimming strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. These four strokes can take you anywhere in the water and will serve you well, no matter the aquatic setting. Many lifelong swimmers have long relied on freestyle and backstroke to complete their water workouts. Lifeguards rely on a fast, powerful freestyle, often with their heads raised high above the water so as not to lose sight of their victims. Breaststroke also has its fan club, with many swimmers as lifelong devotees.
Breaststroke is also a favorite as a full-body workout. Many love it for the rhythmic actions of the arms and legs combined with a smooth, hydrodynamic glide. Others love the fact that they can swim breaststroke and not get their hair wet; this stroke can be performed with the head submerging or leaving it out of the water. A swimming stroke that has been around since 1696 must be a winner!
Appropriate to Learn at All Ages
For our newest, least experienced swimmers, breaststroke is introduced after learners are confident and comfortable in the water and proficient with floats, glides, and kicks. Unlike freestyle and backstroke, breaststroke moves the arms simultaneously in a powerful underwater pull and the legs simultaneously in a hefty whip kick. The movement sequence is quite complex but deceptively simple: arms sweep out, arms sweep in, breathing phase, whip kick, extension, and glide. In terms of easy learning, breaststroke is quite forgiving; the glide phase can be held longer as your brain catches up and works out how to move the arms and legs again!
Perfect for All Fitness Levels
Breaststroke is a great way to get into better shape or to maintain your already hard-won fitness. Many love to do breaststroke at a leisurely pace, enjoying the full range of motion and resistance of the water. Others go hard, and if you have ever observed an Olympic swimmer perform breaststroke, you will realize how hard you can really go! As far as a cardiovascular workout goes, breaststroke is a winner. By controlling the pace, you can tailor the stroke to your exact cardio workout needs.
The mechanics of breaststroke, coupled with the resistance of the water, provide an excellent resistance workout for the quadriceps, hamstrings, upper back, chest, and arms. When done correctly, the core will also be worked. Use caution, though; the whip kick can be tricky for those with problem knees. If your knees are good to go, consider that many experts believe breaststroke is the superior stroke for calorie burn.
Breaststroke Is Handy at the Lake
If you enjoy lake time, breaststroke is an excellent stroke for pulling things, such as towing a float into place or towing a boat back to shore after running out of gas. This stroke offers a great deal of forward-directed vision, so it is perfect for long-distance swims on the lake; because every breath allows for sight, it’s easy to stay on course. Of course, if you are performing long-distance open-water swims, always have a well-crewed support vessel alongside!
Contact Steve Wallen Swim School today in El Dorado Hills or Roseville for more information. You’ll be glad you did!
