How to Breathe While Swimming Butterfly

Butterfly is the most technically difficult and tiring of the four competitive swimming strokes. Learning to breathe properly allows your body to stay in the correct position, making the stroke less difficult and allowing you to continue swimming for a longer duration. Unlike other strokes, butterfly incorporates your entire body into the stroke, and your breathing must be in sync with your body's movement.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Dive in the water or push off the wall in a streamline position with your arms fully extended and your hands touching in front of you.

2. Do several dolphin kicks with your feet together until you are ready to begin stroking.

3. Push your hands down toward your chest at the same time. When your hands get to approximately chest level, the force of your press will cause your torso to rise to the top of the water.

4. Lift your head up far enough so your mouth is out of the water. You should be looking either forward or down at the water.

5. Take a breath as soon as your mouth exits the water.

6. As your arms emerge from the water and begin to swing forward, lower your head back into the water. The rising and lowering of your head will follow the natural movement of your body.

7. Release your breath underwater while you take another stroke and then repeat steps 3 through 6.

Tips & Warnings

• Breathing every other stroke is a good way to practice your breathing when swimming butterfly. Being able to perform the butterfly pull without breathing helps you better fit your breath into the stroke.

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