In learning the drown-proofing technique, the first thing to abandon is the urge to keep your head above water. The idea is to drop your head forward in the water and let your body hang vertically, not in the regular horizontal swimming position. Let your arms hang limply from the shoulders. Hang like a rag in the water.
Do not worry; most people will not sink. Your body will float in the water with only the back of your head above the surface. By hanging there, feet down, you are letting the water do the work of supporting you, and you are conserving your energy.
However, since in this position your nose and mouth are under water, what can you do when you need air after fifteen seconds or so?
Bring your arms up in a relaxed and easy manner, crossing them in front of your head. Also, in the same easy manner lift one leg toward your chest and extend it forward while at the same time you extend the other leg backward. Now raise your head, exhaling through your nose. To keep your head above water long enough for you also to inhale, bring your feet together in a scissors kick, and in an easy movement sweep your crossed arms outward. You want the movement of your arms and legs to be sufficient so that you can get a good breath of air, but not so much that it brings your shoulders out of the water.
As soon as you have taken in air, drop your head in the water again, face down, and bring your arms to your sides. Rest with your body completely relaxed. However, do not hang there in the water until your lungs feel as if they are bursting for air, but come up for air again before you feel an urgent need for it.
By alternately resting and coming up for air in the manner described, you may find that you can stay in the water for quite a long time without becoming fatigued. The advantage is that you are not using up your strength by continuous body movements. Rather, most of the time you are actually resting.
Do not worry; most people will not sink. Your body will float in the water with only the back of your head above the surface. By hanging there, feet down, you are letting the water do the work of supporting you, and you are conserving your energy.
However, since in this position your nose and mouth are under water, what can you do when you need air after fifteen seconds or so?
Bring your arms up in a relaxed and easy manner, crossing them in front of your head. Also, in the same easy manner lift one leg toward your chest and extend it forward while at the same time you extend the other leg backward. Now raise your head, exhaling through your nose. To keep your head above water long enough for you also to inhale, bring your feet together in a scissors kick, and in an easy movement sweep your crossed arms outward. You want the movement of your arms and legs to be sufficient so that you can get a good breath of air, but not so much that it brings your shoulders out of the water.
As soon as you have taken in air, drop your head in the water again, face down, and bring your arms to your sides. Rest with your body completely relaxed. However, do not hang there in the water until your lungs feel as if they are bursting for air, but come up for air again before you feel an urgent need for it.
By alternately resting and coming up for air in the manner described, you may find that you can stay in the water for quite a long time without becoming fatigued. The advantage is that you are not using up your strength by continuous body movements. Rather, most of the time you are actually resting.
