Why are swimmers the world over raving enthusiastically about Total Immersion swimming?

Of all exercise forms, swimming recruits the most muscle groups, which means that maintaining good form is a constant challenge. Your brain simply can’t send effective messages to all your muscles at once; the muscles you’re not focusing on are likely to start “winging it” or doing what “comes naturally.”

When you’re attempting to move through water–which is 800 times more dense than air–doing what “comes naturally” to your land-lubber muscles usually has disastrous effect! To the casual observer, it can be described as “flailing.”

The drills you’ll learn with TI help train your body parts to do the right thing even when you’re not focused on them. In the same way that you automatically reach for a light switch or the turning signal on your steering column, muscles can “learn” through imprinting.

When a student practices a musical instrument, they begin slowly and simply. There are two downsides to using that approach in the water: 1) you start sinking and 2) you can’t get air. Total Immersion drills keep you moving through the water but they don’t ask your brain to conduct an orchestra of movement before it’s ready.

How long does it take to learn to swim with the Total Immersion method? One answer to this question is: a lifetime. I know that I am becoming a better swimmer ever time I get in the water. I am focused and I know what skill I am working on with every lap I swim. It’s exciting to me that I can continue to get better–and faster!–than younger athletes because skill makes the difference.

A second possible answer is, about 3 to 4 one-hour lessons. That is how long it takes the average person to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of efficient swimming, and to learn the drills. Once a swimmer understands how to work with the water, instead of fighting it, progress can be made.

Each person will progress at their own rate, but if they are patient, focused and willing to give their muscles time to imprint correct movements, they will become competent swimmers. Where they take the sport from there is up to them!