swimming tips

Getting started with cold water swimming - By Annie Brooks (www.talesofanniebean.com )

If you love your pool swims and enjoy those open water swims, then this winter you might be ready to take on cold water swimming! Unlike hopping into to your local heated swimming pool to run through your drills, or dipping into that beautiful lake during the summer time, cold water swimming not only challenges physically, it tests you mentally also. Knowing you’re about to step into water that barely reaches double figures, can be a challenge, but this is exactly why it’s fantastic because that sense of

Check out the newest top 10 reasons to take up OPEN WATER SWIMMING - Courtesy of Adam Walker

Where to swim

There are many lakes up and down the country which have organised sessions and have suitable safety in place. I would recommend you swim in one these locations and as there will be other like-minded swimmers there who you can buddy up with and swim in pairs or a small group. In addition you can also make new friends as open water is a very social sport. Not only is it another good safety measure, it makes training easier supporting each other.

Acclimatisation

Due to the climate, open water in lakes, rivers and the ocean

Swimming is often thought of as a summer activity but it’s actually the perfect sport for staying in shape and having fun throughout winter.

If you don’t already have a regular swim routine, now is the ideal time to create one: pools are generally quieter at this time of year so you’ll have more space to try new strokes and improve your technique or if you’re a nervous swimmer, build up your confidence in the water.

Here’s a few tips on how to

On holiday, backstroke gives you the opportunity to enjoy blue skies or even stars overhead, and in a pool, the chance to vary your workout. But the stroke is not without its difficulties, not least because the majority of us are asymmetric, making even swimming in a straight line somewhat challenging!

The following technique tips for perfecting your backstroke will help you learn how to master the stroke and enjoy your swims, anywhere:

he Guardian newspaper recently described open water swimming as the “trend of 2015” and with more open water swimming events taking place across the UK in 2015, we couldn’t agree more!

If you’re thinking of taking the leap from the comfort of your local swimming pool to the challenges of the open water in 2015, Zoggs open water swimming Ambassador Adam 'Ocean' Walker, the first Briton to swim the toughest 7 oceans in the world, has put together 7 expert tips to will help you make a smooth transition…

1. Equipment
Buying the right equipment is key! This includes a swim hat (

A pull buoy is designed to help you focus on building your upper body strength and stroke technique. The Zoggs team has put together a guide to how they work, and how you can make them work for you….

Better balance, better stroke
With a pull buoy positioned between your thighs, your body will stay high in the water creating a more efficient, streamlined body position. Unless you’re a very strong swimmer, the pull buoy will probably do a better job of thi

Butterfly is generally accepted as one of the toughest of all strokes both in terms of technique and strength. The butterfly technique burns around 750 calories per hour, working the abdominals, triceps, pectorals, shoulders and quadriceps. Perfecting this physically demanding stoke can often be difficult.

To help, the team here at Zoggs have put

We ask our Learn to Swim Ambassador the top 10 most frequently asked questions about swimming.

1. What is the best time of day to swim?

Personally, I prefer to swim in the morning before I work or start the things I need to do for the day. But, if you prefer, during your lunch break is also a good time. Ultimately, you want to be relaxed in the pool, not stressed and not thinking about the day.

2. Why are water exercises good for you?

Water exercises can help support the body to develop strength, fitness and stamina whilst also burning calories. As water is a relatively weightless

This blog is a shout out for all of you that LOVE swimming and also a reminder for those who wonder what all the fuss is about.

Personally I could go on forever about the benefits of swimming but let’s keep things short and sweet and see if any of these tickle your fancy.

1) Enjoyment World Wide – You can swim and enjoy different water environments anywhere in