Guide to Treading Water ... In a Swimming Pool

Thanks to a blogger named "david", I'll include a treading tutorial. Don't try this on your trip to Hawaii!

Treading will come naturally for some and very difficult for others. Here are 5 basic tips to treading.

1. You must be relaxed and remain calm. Practice only in deep water. At least two feet deeper than you're tall, so that your feet won't touch the floor. Stay about an arm distance from the wall, but not too near. As long as its within reach. I like to practice about 2 arm distance from the wall where I can move freely and I'm within reach with a kick.

2. Take a deep breath and hold. Relax your muscle and remain calm. Stand vertically in the water, motionless, with your arms to your side, straightened you legs and lean your head back as if you're to kiss the ceiling or the sky. At this point, your face will be just above surface level. You can maintain in this position without getting tired for as long as you can hold your breath.

3. As you exhale, your lung will deflate and you'll lose your buoyancy and your head will sink underneath the water surface. Don't panic. Quickly inhale and you will surface again. However, water may have already entered through your nose and caused you to choke. You can invest in a $3 nose clip from Modell's, but remember, you should try to inhale through your mouth and exhale through your nose. The trick here is to replenish oxygen in your system without losing buoyancy, so exhale quickly and inhale even quicker. Remember, do this while your limbs are motionless.

4. Now, to stay afloat while you exhale. Bring your arms out onto surface level. Cup your hand and gently in the wave it back and forth in a sideway "8" figure as if you're a kid playing with water in the bathrub or like a music conductor leading the orchestra. Don't fight the water as it takes too much energy. Instead, use it to help you stay afloat. This movement should be enough to keep you up.

5. Try the techniques above first and keep practicing and when you are absolutely sure you can't tread, then apply this technique. Your legs are very powerful, reliable and can greatly assist you in treading if you do it properly. On the same token, it can also quickly drain your energy. There are two ways to use your legs. Some people are comfortable with the bicycle method where you move you legs as if you're pedaling a bicycle. In my opinion, the scissor method is the more efficient way. Open and close you legs in the motion of the scissor. Basically fluttering them as if you're doing the free style vertically. Regardless of your preferred method, the key is to be relax, conserve your energy so that you're not fighting the water and keep them moving in a steady rhythm.


Just so I won't get sued, please do not try this without supervision.