The ongoing pandemic has denied us access to training, which may cause anxiety. The thought of not being able to do water workouts is just too much to bear. But, worry not – with the proper mindset and lots of effort, you can survive this ECQ and still be physically and mentally fit as a swimmer.
Keep Your Vision Intact
Remind yourself of all the hardships you’ve been, and that the current situation is just another phase you will eventually get through. Stay in touch with your support group – your team, your coaches, as they remind you of your goals and why you are training in the first place. If you have been swimming for quite some time, perhaps you’d understand when I say water has become my refuge. It is not only the sensory experience that makes it comforting but the memories itself. Those days when your coach was giving you hell; days when your muscles were sore but you continued anyway, those memories will help you stay mentally connected and may serve as a positive distraction to your growing anxiety.
Stick to Your Workout Routine
While your mental stability is essential, you cannot pull it off without sticking to your usual daily time table. Water training may be inaccessible at the moment, but you should still wake up early, eat healthily, and do workouts, just like you do every day. Focus on increasing your speed and stamina by either asking your coach for a particular drill to follow or mixing it up to make it more fun. Here are some indoor workouts I personally like (considering that we are on a total lockdown)
1. Stretch cord – For me, this is such an underrated tool that can develop one’s strength, mainly when a pool is unavailable. It will help you replicate your underwater workout as it targets your major muscles.
2. Core exercise – Every swimmer knows this: A strong core gives you an edge underwater, as it allows you to pull, push, and kick effectively. Proper core exercises reduce drag as it helps you maintain your hips high. This can be done in different forms, with the classic planks being one of them.
3. Meditation – Just because swimming is a very physical sport doesn’t mean a mindful or meditative approach to training will not help. Sometimes, no matter how physically prepared you are, if your mind is not into it, it will be difficult to apply all the techniques you learned. The outside world can be full of distractions, and you can make use of the ongoing quarantine by gathering all your thoughts and turning them into a positive scenario in your head where you are focused on winning and winning alone. Meditation helps us relax, particularly if you are experiencing anxiety, as it improves blood circulation. It is about awareness of both your physical and mental state.
Good habits contribute to your success. Maintaining a positive disposition, combined with continuous indoor workouts, will help you stay swim-ready.
