But which swimming stroke should you learn first?

Oh, Swimming! You sweet sweet act. A relief in the summers, a movement in the stagnant life, a chirp in the silence. The very touch of water soothes us down to a calm. Each stroke we make massages our body and our soul. But as relaxing as this activity seem, as dreadful it can become for those who do not know the way of waters. You might not even want to dream of yourself in the pool’s deep without having any idea about how to deal with it. This is where swimming comes in. And as a swimmer, one of the most important things to learn is how to swim using different strokes. But picking up too many strokes, and that too as a beginner, can guide you towards vast and deep confusion. It can be overwhelming to choose which swimming stroke to learn first. I’ve been at such a stage, and I don’t want you to be there too. Thus, here are a few waves of knowledge to bathe your mind with.

Freestyle: The Basic Stroke

Freestyle, also known as front crawl, is the play class of the swimming school. It is the most basic and commonly used swimming stroke. Whenever you go to a swim class, know that this will be the first stroke that most swimmers will be learning there. It's a great way to build your swimming skills. Freestyle involves alternating arm strokes and kicking your legs to propel yourself through the water. If you are still not able to know which style it is, just close your eyes and imagine a few swimmers swimming in the sea. The image you get will be the freestyle.

It's a great way to develop your cardiovascular endurance and improve your breathing technique. So, I’ll say, this will be the first stroke you’ll be learning. But what next?

Backstroke: The Upside-Down Freestyle

Now, once you are comfortable swimming on your stomach (which is freestyle) it is time to show water your back. No! We don’t mean telling you to run away. What we mean is to swim on your back, which is called Backstroke. It is the second most popular swimming stroke, and it's similar to freestyle in many ways. The main difference is that you swim on your back instead of your stomach.

At first, it might seem a bit trickier and give you some headache as the water goes down your nose into your sinuses. But as you spend more time in the water, your nose muscles will train themselves to stop the water. This stroke can be a bit trickier to master, but it's a great way to develop your balance and coordination in the water. If you're comfortable with freestyle and looking to branch out, backstroke is a great next step. To start with backstroke, you need to know how to back-float. So, learn how to back-float before you move your arms.

Breaststroke: The Slow and Steady Stroke

A slower and more relaxed stroke than freestyle and backstroke. Backstroke involves a simultaneous arm and leg motion that propels you through the water in an easy and fluid motion. It is a great stroke for beginners because it's easier to learn than freestyle and backstroke. However, it is not recommended to start with because of the complexities in coordination involved. The water might get inside quickly too.

Butterfly: The Advanced Stroke

Something that is most difficult to master – backstroke involves a dolphin-like motion with both arms moving at the same time, followed by a powerful kick. If you’ve seen Phelps or Dressel storming forward on the bellies with both arms moving at the same time, it was this stroke. It requires a lot of upper body strength and coordination, so it's not recommended for beginners. But if you think of yourself as some Goggins or sort, got for it.

So, if you ask me about the style to start with, I’d recommend you to free yourself in the water with freestyle. Once you have air in your lungs, know that your body will automatically float unless you panic and do weird strokes. Also, do not enter the pool without the proper sporting goods necessary for swimming. But the required stuff from alternatives to eBay and get yourself swimming.