New Mermaid need to practice

[Mermaid Ruthie]

HI every everyone i am Mermaid Ruthie and i am a "beginner" mermaid. I have a small problem with holding my breath underwater, i am only under for not even 30 seconds :thumbdown: my average on land it 50 seconds. Any advice and or tips to improve my breath hold? I am in the water swimming just about every day so that should help right?


Thanks.

[Mer-gal]

Try relaxing before you go down. Slow down your heartbeat. Another thing, don't try and hold your breath for long periods of time right away. Work your way up to it. 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and so on.
Those are just some things that help me, I hope they help you too.

[Mermaid Ruthie]

alright sounds good thanks

[Merman Chatfish]

I agree with Mer-Gal, you can practice with just going as far as you can under water in one breath. Just swimming front craw can increase your breath holding time (keep your head in the water) One thing I do is take a brick, let it sink me to the bottom, and practice walking on the bottom. I use to lifeguard on a beach and we would have to put buoys out. To get them out there or put them back when people pull them in would be to climb down the chain, pick up the two cement blocks* and walk with them in the mud. One summer I was up to 3 minutes. When you go under don't count, don't look at a clock, just go under and relax.

I checked your profile and it says your 14. When you turn 15 you can become a lifeguard (in the US at least). Good breath control is important. And since you are already practicing...well lets just say when I took my lifeguarding class I had to teach myself to swim for 3 months before the class started by mimicking people at the YMCA. By the time the class started I swam my 300 yard prereq while everyone else was just trying to get conferrable in the water and figure out how not to drown.

*One of those summers I found a lifeguard tube can lift 35lbs dead weight.

[Seatan]

I also like to "play mermaid" in my head. I look at the "silly awkward humans " in the water and pretend to chase fish... Taking your mind off of it actually helps you hold it longer, in my experience.

[AniaR]

Just keep at it it takes time :)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Take it slow. Don't rush.

For example, I started with barely 5 secs swimming breath hold. Now I'm up to 25 secs swimming breath hold. With practice, I'll be able to hold it even longer.

[Mermaid Ruthie]

Alright thanks everyone for the advice!