How To Hold Breath Underwater Video

Holding breath underwater is an important part of learning to swim. Knowing how to hold breath underwater can prevent choking and drowning. Get expert tips and advice in this swimming video.

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Key element in swimming
Prevents choking & drowning
Take deep breath
Hold cheeks & purse lips
Gradually let air out while surfacing
Begin on pool steps

About this Author

Phillip Toriello has 16 years of competitive swimming experience. 12 of those years he has been teaching and organizing swim events for swimmers of all levels and ages. He is has competed in all four strokes, and their corresponding events. Though his favorite race, is the individual medley. Phillip is the Aquatic Director at the high end Avila Bay Athletic Club.

PHILIP TORIELLO: My name is Philip Toriello and this is how to hold your breath underwater. Holding your breath is the key element into learning how to swim or to do any of your strokes. Holding you breath means simply keeping your mouth closed so no water comes in and you don't actually inhale water and subsequently choke while swimming, which can induce thew drowning type effect or a feeling. To hold your breath, simply take a deep breath in, [INHALES], hold your cheeks, first your lips and you can go underwater. Once you feel like you've held your breath for a give period of time, slowly blow your bubbles out, and then float up to the top, take another breath and then put your face back underneath the water with your lips pursed, slowly blowing your bubbles out again. The best way to practice holding your breath is to do it near the steps, so you can hold onto to something and keep yourself comfortable. Oftentimes, what parents can do with children is go ahead and work with their children holding their breath in the water when they're in the bathtub at home, which is a really nice feature, and helps up quite a bit as far as new swim students are concerned. You can put goggles on their face, give them some toys, entertain them, make the experience as fun and happy one so that they can have fun at home and in the bathtub. They can play with the toys, put some little diving toys underneath the water, and just ask them to pick up the toy while holding their breath and then slowly blow their bubbles out like they're blowing out birthday candles on a cake. To learn more about holding your breath underwater, please contact your local swim instructor or a swim coach.

How to Hold Breath Underwater Video

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