In this video lesson, Swimming Instructor, Peter Elizondo, teaches techniques for breathing with counts in swimming.

Video Transcript: "In this section I'm going to cover on freestyle swimming, is step nine. I just covered your breathing, which I hope you got. Remember, so the breathing again, is going to be just a nice, slight little turn. So if you took your head, and just slightly turned it just one way, breathe, put it back it, breathe. Never, ever, ever, breathe on the same side. So let me teach you something. It's called a one count, a three count, a five count, and a seven count. If you notice, all those numbers are odd. The reason why they're odd is, if you do it on an even count you're going to continuously breathe on the same side. So, what does that mean to you? You know how people will strain their necks because they're swimming, and you breathe on one side, swim, breathe on the same side, swim, breathe on the same side. Well if you notice it's an even count. So you're going one, two breathe, one, two breathe, one, two breathe. Now make it odd. One, two, three, breathe, this arm's going, one, two, three, now you're breathing on the other side. So, you always count either one, three, five, or seven in your head, whatever you feel comfortable with, because everyone's lungs work differently and you've got to build up towards it. So, most typically, you're taught to do every three strokes. Every three breaths--every three strokes you take a breath. So, let me show you. One, two, three, breathe, this arm goes, one, two, three, breathe. And if you remember, I'm breathing as I'm pulling. That's when I take my breath. Not as I'm going on three, trying to breathe, because my arm is blocking. So, it's kind of common sense, really, when you're learning how to swim. So, just remember, whichever arm you start to begin your pull that is the side that you want to breathe on. And then in your head you want to learn how to count. So, really, if you want to learn it the best, try to do it out of the water first, and count in your head. So count one, two, three, breathe, one, two, three, breathe, one, two, three, breathe. And this is something that I do outside of the water with people all the time. Then we go into the water, we try it, and if I notice that you're not able to do it, then we'll get back out of the water and do it again. Because this is definitely one of the harder things to learn if you don't know how to do it, because it's all like, you've got to count in your head. And your arms--don't ever think that because this is one, the next time it's one. They just switch. So, the way I explain this to people is, don't ever try to figure out which hand is what number. Just count in your head, and just move. So, any arm could be one, two, three. Whichever one you start off with. So, remember, it's a one, three, five, seven count for freestyle swimming. All right, in this section of freestyle--this is a continuation of step nine--and so now that you know how to breathe, you want to do it on different counts. So you'll do it on a one count, but typically you'll do it on a three count, a five count, or a seven count. So, for example, you go, one, two, three. As this, whichever arm it may be that's three, as it's moving back pulling, you want to breathe to one side. Take a breath. Then one, two, three. As that arm is moving back, you'll breathe to that side. Take a breath; put your head back in the water. Two, three, breathe on that side. So, for every three strokes, you'll end up taking a breath."

1. How to Float in Water
2. How to Flutterkick for Freestyle Swimming
3. How to Flutterkick Away from the Wall in Swimming
4. How to Flutterkick with Head in the Water
5. Swimming with Hands Closed
6. How to Use the Arms in Freestyle Swimming
7. How to Pull the Body in Freestyle Swimming
8. Breathing Techniques in Swimming
9. Breathing Counts in Swimming
10. Freestyle Swimming Strokes

In this course, Instructor Peter Elizondo gives 10 easy video lessons with swimming tips and techniques for freestyle swimmers or beginners. Learn how to swim the freestyle stroke in this free swimming video. Topics covered in this series of videos are: Floating in Water, Flutterkicking, Breathing Techniques, different types of Strokes and many more.