As a child who refused to swim because of a strong fear that sharks might live in my swimming pool, my relationship with swimming has come a long way. I now consider it one of my favorite ways to get my heart rate up . One lasting emotional holdout was the backstroke; I just didn’t like it. These days, however, I am loving it. I find the backstroke to be the perfect antidote to hunching over a computer all day. Backstroke opens my chest and I feel

my entire body lengthening out as I reach back to pull the water forward. Swimming backstroke outside in the early morning or evening allows me to enjoy a view of the sky. Freestyle and backstroke are perfect complements to each other, working opposite muscle groups. I like to use backstroke as a break when training for swims with lap after lap of freestyle. How do you feel about backstroke? Do you love it or hate it?

Originally posted here: 
Learn to Love: Backstroke