Fitness Swimming (Fitness Spectrum Series)

Rating:
Summary: Very easy to understand and put to use. I see the light!
Review: I decided to try and swim for a regular fitness routine and since I have not swum regularly (and never competively) I thought I needed to take the opportunity to brush up/work on technique to get the most out of my workout. I swam a couple of times before I got the book and once I got the book and put just a few of the skills into effect I could not only see the logic in the technique but I could also see a difference in my swimming. It is a very worth-while investment in a routine I want to continue for a long time. I'm not crazy about all the drills (I understand they are there for a purpose and to teach you the proper techniques), but I can't get over the goober effect I feel like it would have while at the pool (I do perform some of them). I'm not reaping all the benefits as I would if I would faithfully practice all of them , but I figure I will gradually incorporate more as I continue. I think this book will also be helpful in teaching my children in case they don't get a swim coach who believes in swimming smart. I've been swimming now for 3 days a week for about 5 weeks and I'm really getting into the routine and loving the workout!

Rating:
Summary: Very easy to understand and put to use. I see the light!
Review: Not only did I enjoy this book,I also use it as a manual.The work-outs are simple and not confussing for a beginner swimmer.I should have bought this book when I was first forced in the pool due to an injury.I understand drills more by reading the color coded work-outs,witch are essential to great swimming techinque. Its also a coaching tool from beginners to fittness swimmers;and you never know.....a future olympician swimmer !

Rating:
Summary: The Swimmer's "Manual"
Review: Not only did I enjoy this book,I also use it as a manual.The work-outs are simple and not confussing for a beginner swimmer.I should have bought this book when I was first forced in the pool due to an injury.I understand drills more by reading the color coded work-outs,witch are essential to great swimming techinque. Its also a coaching tool from beginners to fittness swimmers;and you never know.....a future olympician swimmer !

Rating:
Summary: Don't just get your feet wet, but dive right into this book!
Review: There's an old saying about paradigms--"If you continue to do what you've always done, you'll continue to get what you've always got." I have been a "triathlete" for the past ten years. Well, at least that's what I told people. Trouble was, I couldn't swim the length of a 25-yard pool. However, every year I was determined to learn how to swim and finally become a "real triathlete." And every year I continued to give up after struggling to do it on my own. Finally, two months ago I was fortunate enough to attend a "Total Immersion" workshop which was coached by Emmett Hines. I couldn't believe it when the first thing he said he wanted me to do was swim the length of the pool, let alone the fact that he was going to videotape it. I skipped the warm-up laps everyone else was doing just so I could have enough energy to swim the entire twenty-five yards! Well, when my turn came, I took a big deep breath and swam to the other side...barely. Next came the fun (ha-ha) part--evaluating the video. The way Emmett was talking about the others, who were mostly experienced swimmers, I hoped he forgot to turn the camera on for my turn. But then this swimmer came on the monitor who made me start laughing...yeah, it was me. It took me 21 strokes to swim the length of the pool. Although I prayed that Emmett would just give me a book to read and I would learn to swim by the end of weekend, I found out we were actually going to have to swim in the pool! We began in the classroom, where Emmett instructed us on proper "fishlike-swimming" before we returned to the pool to practice the techniques. I found out after I bought "Fitness Swimming" the next day that everything Emmett taught came right from his book. Less than 24 hours from the first day's videotaping session, Emmett videotaped us again. Although we hadn't spent much time actually swimming, Emmett just said to concentrate on the drills we had practiced the day before. The results...12 strokes! And I wasn't even tired! However, as we sat in the classroom for the last time, I had just one question for our instructor, "How was I going to keep improving when I returned to Sicily (the workshop was in Dallas) and what was I supposed to do next?" It was at this point that Emmett brought out a little box containing copies of "Fitness Swimming." Needless to say I bought the book immediately and have read it and re-read it so many times the past two months that I need another copy. The book is very well organized and easily readable. In fact, in my library of several hundred fitness-related books, I can say without a doubt this book is by far the best in every category! One last thing, did I mention that by following Emmett's schedule in his book, I swam 1,500 meters this morning! So shift your paradigm, buy this book!!!

Rating:
Summary: An OUTSTANDING book for any swimmer
Review: This book has been extrodinarily helpful to me. I am a former beach lifeguard and thought that my freestyle was pretty good until I read the author's extremely clear, detailed descriptions of how it feels to swim correctly. I now realize that I what I used to do was really akin to stabbing through the water, rather than gliding over it as I do now. I've been using the drills and workouts in the book for only about 2 months and already I've brought my stroke count (on 25 meters) from 22 when I started to 10-11 now. I expect that this improvement will continue as I progress farther into the drill sequence. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to swim for fun, fitness, or competition, regardless of their current ability. Swimming is one of those sports where one's technique can always be improved further.

Rating:
Summary: An OUTSTANDING book for any swimmer
Review: This book has been extrodinarily helpful to me. I am a former beach lifeguard and thought that my freestyle was pretty good until I read the author's extremely clear, detailed descriptions of how it feels to swim correctly. I now realize that I what I used to do was really akin to stabbing through the water, rather than gliding over it as I do now. I've been using the drills and workouts in the book for only about 2 months and already I've brought my stroke count (on 25 meters) from 22 when I started to 10-11 now. I expect that this improvement will continue as I progress farther into the drill sequence. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to swim for fun, fitness, or competition, regardless of their current ability. Swimming is one of those sports where one's technique can always be improved further.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on freestyle swimming
Review: This book is excellent. I read it in three days and it is a wonderful source of information about swimming the right way. I am a beginner/intermediate level swimmer who has had some formal instruction but never was on any team. Part I of the Book explains in detail how to swim in the most efficient way. It is well written, clear and full of wonderful humor. Part II gives you plenty of workouts organized by color (green, blue, purple, yellow, orange, and the red zones) based on duration and intensity. The workouts include lots of drills which I feel will almost invariably make your freestyle stroke better. The book does focus exclusively on the freestyle stroke. Part III tells you how to set up your own year-round swimming program.

Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: This is the best book I've read on swimming.
instead of just work-outs and the benefits of the swimming, this book actually helps to improve technique - in a step by step guide.
It has all the workouts etc that other books have.

As I siad - the best I've read - wish I'd had it years ago...