Total Immersion

Hi guys, 

I've got a 90 minute swim analysis booked at a total immersion studio on Saturday. Has anyone had one before? What should I expect? Did it help? Did you have any follow up coaching?

I had a series of TI lessons which were all filmed and given to me on DVD but I felt at the end of it all that there was far too much focus on balance in the water and far too little on actual stroke mechanics.. I'm no faster now than I was at the start, although I can swim long distances without tiring. But how much of that I can attirbute to TI I don't know, since I've done a lot of self-study too, particularly on SwimSmooth. 

Everyone's different though.. you may find it's just what you need so an open mind is best I feel.

Thanks Bokster. In your opinion do you think its worth having lessons on stroke mechanics too?

I need help with every aspect of swimmimg . Your TI instructor may take a different approach from mine, but personally I would have expected the whole stroke to have been dissected in the time we had. Endless drills holding yourself in different positions is just boring (IMHO).. but see for yourself, it may be good for you!

I would ask though before committing to a course of lessons exactly what you will be doing in those lessons..

Thanks Bokster. I guess its just a matter of 'suck it and see'. At least now I know what to look out for! Much appreciated.

Hi Mat

I'm having TI lessons and I love it. I started with a 90min analysis which was very useful. I was filmed swimming and then my stroke was broken down into good bits and what could be done different. We then went on to do some basic balance drills and talked about what I wanted to get out of my swimming, and if TI was right for me. 

I'm a bit faster now, but when I started I couldn't swim much distance fc at all and had to keep alternating breast stroke. I can now do a comfortable 1000m all fc so its helped. But apart from that I love my lessons. Where are you going or did you go? 

Bokster wrote (see)

I need help with every aspect of swimmimg . Your TI instructor may take a different approach from mine, but personally I would have expected the whole stroke to have been dissected in the time we had. Endless drills holding yourself in different positions is just boring (IMHO).. but see for yourself, it may be good for you!

I would ask though before committing to a course of lessons exactly what you will be doing in those lessons..

Yes, the balance drills go for a while and you think you are getting nowhere, but then it comes together. I'm now concentrating on arm recovery and the 2 beat kick.  I like to have things to concentrate on, for me it makes swimming more interesting. 

Interesting SD... I was told that the 2 beat kick would be the very last thing since it was so difficult to coordinate with everything else, and everything else needed to be very well drilled first... just shows how even within TI, there are different approaches.

Pleased it's working for you, you must be looking forward to putting it all together when summer comes!

Cheers SD. I'm going in about an hour! Its the one over in Surrey. Englefield Green?

 I'm new to swimming FC and hadn't swum anything for over 10 years. Ive had a few lessons recently and I do 2k in about 34mins in a pool at a comfortable pace. I not sure my technique is particularly good though. I'm just strong and have lots of integrated buoyancy. AKA Lard! That's my theory anyway!

Is that swimsolutions? I go there! Tracy is ace and a mastercoach. Trust her, she's good. 

I find the 2 beat kick quite easy and it feels more natural than the flutter kick. It was taught to me by a stand-in coach when Tracy was ill, she was planning to teach it me later but I liked it so I've stuck with it. I only ever concentrate on one aspect a time anyway. Thats what I like about the TI approach. 

It is indeed! m seing Tanya. I think Tracy mght be away at the moment. Anyway, Ive just had a power nap and now m off now. Wish me luck! 

*wonders how Matwitt got on*

Good the hear it went well. I love going there. Shame its so expensive, I haven't told him indoors what I've spent. 

Good stuff Mat - actually 34 mins for 2k in a pool is pretty good anyway so if you can maintain that pace and be less knackered it can only be good 

You'll never improve your swim times as much as you can improve your run times, particularly over longer distances - what distances are you training for?

And the cost is the very reason you want to be sure that you'll get the results you're after - it takes a great leap of faith to accept that you'll have to spend a fortune on doing drills that don't seem to be getting you anywhere before you move onto "real" swimming - if I were you I'd want to know exactly was going to be taught in each of the lessons that you'll be paying for, a sort of "syllabus" as it were...

Soupy, have they taught you to swim and talk at the same time yet?

Apart from that, I have no idea what you are talking about two stroke kick etc but it must mean you are waaay better than me now. Roll on Thorpe!