breathing during swimming

Question
hi, i m 23 yrs old and its been a month i have started learning swimming. Earlier i had this hydrophobia but now i m able to recover it. i m perfectly gud in my hand and leg movements, but not with the breathing technique. The moment i open my mouth out of water during free style, i cannot sustain much inside the water not even for 2 strokes, and i start feeling choked inside. In such a hurry i generally open my mouth inside water and start breathing through nose while moving my head out as a result i get up water inside my nose and mouth. i have been trying this from last 15 days, and i have not been able to learn it.. the result is i hav got throat infection badly and my doctor has advised m not to go for swimming.. i m feeling so frustrated that at the end of day i feel like crying as m not been able to learn properly and my health is also deteriorating, should i give sum break and then continue learning after getting fit and fine..or should i continue as long as i dont get it.. but this thing is putting negetive effects on to my health as well as effecting me mentally.. pls suggest m wat to do?? i dont wan to end up like a looser!!kindly help!!

Answer
The technique to breathe takes a while to learn. Then combining it with the stroke takes even longer. It's more than can be described fully in this forum, but I will give you an outline that will help. By the way, you're not a loser!

First you have to learn to breathe in the water without swimming. This way you will learn the timing and technique.

1. When you exhale underwater, keep your lips together and slightly puff out your cheeks. Your lips will make a bbrrrrrrrr sound. When you stop exhaling, your lips should seal. This is what keeps the water out.

2. When you inhale, barely open your mouth. If you open wide, it makes the throat smaller and less air gets in. It also mimics a fear reflex making your more tight and afraid.

3. Make sure you exhale completely. You don't need a lot of air on the inhale. Just stay relaxed and try to set a rhythm.

You can work on this technique on land. Place your hand under your nose and imagine its the water. Exhale under the "water", lift your head and inhale. Get the timing down.

Then try it in the water where it is shallow. You should be standing or sitting. When you first learn it, just put your lips under the water for the exhale and keep your chin on top of the water when you inhale. When you can do ten good cycles, then you can do the following progression...

1. Face completely submerged for the exhale, still sitting.
2. Holding on to the wall, and kicking, lifting your face straight up.
3. Using a kickboard (you might need fins) to kick across the pool with your face in and practice breathing.
4. When you do this well, now work on turning your head to the side to breathe. Same technique and timing.

When you breathe on land you breathe about every six seconds. This is how long the cycle should take in the water. Don't try to hold your breath. You need to breathe more, not less to swim.

One note on the cycles. Ten is the minimum. You should be able to do twenty in a row without stopping, wiping your nose, eyes or face. You have to stay relaxed to get it.

Until you can breathe like this, it's impossible to swim and breathe. Let me know when you can do twenty good breaths while kicking and I'll send you the technique for how to add it to the stroke. Best of luck!