The basics of bubbles is breathing.

Breathing is a fundamental aspect of our daily lives that often goes unnoticed. We take our respiratory system for granted, not realizing the importance of conscious breathing. However, focusing on our breath can have a significant impact on our overall well-being, especially when it comes to activities like swimming.

Swimming requires a unique approach to breathing, with individuals exhaling through their nose and inhaling through their mouth. This technique is crucial for preventing water from entering the nose or lungs while in the water. Children are often taught to blow bubbles with their mouth first, gradually progressing to nose bubbles. Adults who struggle with this technique may find swimming uncomfortable and challenging.

Fortunately, there are various ways to improve breath control and enhance swimming skills. One effective method is practicing breathwork exercises, which can be easily found on platforms like YouTube. These exercises not only help with swimming but also promote overall relaxation and mindfulness.

Learning to control your breath is essential for swimming and can have a positive impact on your daily life. By mastering your breath, you can better regulate your emotions and improve your overall well-being. This skill is particularly important for adults looking to overcome their fear of water and become more confident swimmers.

For children, incorporating breathwork into swimming lessons can be a fun and engaging experience. By starting with simple bubble-blowing exercises outside of the water, kids can gradually build their confidence and comfort in the pool. Encouraging children to practice blowing bubbles in the water can help them overcome any initial nervousness and develop essential swimming skills.  One simple exercise involves blowing bubbles. To start, take the child's hand and blow on it with your mouth, then ask them to do the same to your hand. Once in the bath or pool, repeat the process with their hand slightly in the water to create bubbles. With some encouragement, the child will learn to blow into the water and celebrate the bubbles.

When a child is ready to learn to blow out through their nose, they can practice blowing bubbles with their nose. It is natural for boogers to come out while swimming, and they can be easily wiped away. Practice exhaling through the nose should begin outside of water. A fun way to practice this is by using a finished roll of toilet paper and a small yarn pom pom. Place the pom pom in the roll and exhale through the nose to shoot the pom pom out. This can be turned into a game to see who can shoot the pom pom the farthest. Once the child is comfortable with exhaling through their nose, they can practice nose bubbles in the water.

Breathing is an instinctual habit that we can learn to manage to become more aware of ourselves and better operators of our lives. By incorporating breath control techniques for adults and teaching children these simple breathwork exercises, we can help develop a healthy relationship with ourselves and the water.