Breathing question

[KeithT]

I think breathing is dictated by how hard/fast you are going. Not just the effort but the SPM. I can be going at a moderate pace but doing 2 breaths as the SPM is low or I might be going faster but doing one breath as the SPM is higher. However, in general I find I switch to 2 breaths per stroke when things ate getting tougher. It's a bit of a "feel" thing but I think it is good to pay attention to it to avoid getting an odd pattern.

[GlennUk]

While rowing, I just breathe. I don't think about it, and I doubt very much that it is synchronized with my stroke.

Keep breathing is the key action indeed

I think your body will automatically feel what is needed, and your personal pattern will emerge by itself. It is a learning process, your body won't get it right directly, but it will after some rowing sessions get better at it.

I breath 'on-demand'.

I am curious to know if what is being advocated is like swimming, where one co-ordinates strokes and breathing in the same fashion as a swimmer does in freestyle?

[JaapvanE]

I am curious to know if what is being advocated is like swimming, where one co-ordinates strokes and breathing in the same fashion as a swimmer does in freestyle?

I guess the problem with swimming is that you need to sync it otherwise you might try to inhale while under water. Here your body position in the water dictates your ability to breathe. In performance skiing they taught us to exhale slowly when landing on jumps, which is a trick to absorb the energy in your body. Here, your body position relative to (expected) forces on the body dictates your breathing.

But in rowing, there might be a case for a complete exhale just before the catch (less pressure on the underbelly), but also for a complete inhale on the catch (as it is more natural to exhale while pushing with the legs). Personally I don't see any strong forces that would force it either way: the breathing isn't forced by body posture during the stroke per se. Given my current build, exhaling for the catch would be wise (too much belly), but I inhale and just push through.

[underwater]

First, thanks for all the great guidance. Today, I started 2 breaths per stroke when my HR reached 150. I set a PB by 4 meters, but was up 66 meters from last week. I could have done even better but I started out too slowly since I didn't know how it would work out for me. Next week I will try to do even better now that I have a better idea of what my capabilities are.

[Dangerscouse]

First, thanks for all the great guidance. Today, I started 2 breaths per stroke when my HR reached 150. I set a PB by 4 meters, but was up 66 meters from last week. I could have done even better but I started out too slowly since I didn't know how it would work out for me. Next week I will try to do even better now that I have a better idea of what my capabilities are.

Well done. That's good progress in one week

[Citroen]

I breath 'on-demand'.

I am curious to know if what is being advocated is like swimming, where one co-ordinates strokes and breathing in the same fashion as a swimmer does in freestyle?

In and out one after the other from the moment the midwife slaps your arse until the moment you turn up your toes.

Breathing for swimming has to be co-ordinated so you're breathing out under water and lifting your head out to breath in, that's so you don't take a lung full of H2O which is somewhat detrimental to health.