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Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier
Swim better -- and enjoy every lap -- with Total Immersion! Terry Laughlin, the world's #1 authority on swimming success, has made his unique approach even easier for anyone to master. Whether you're an accomplished swimmer or have always found swimming to be a struggle, Total Immersion will show you that it's mindful fluid movement -- not athletic ability -- that will tur...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
May 18th 2004
by Touchstone
(first published August 2nd 1996)
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Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
686)
Jul 25, 2012
Bunnyhugger1
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fitness-bodies,
reviews
I've had this book for several years. It's excellent. I've practiced the techniques to enable more "slippery" swimming which definitely improved my free style. It used to be so laborious for me - kicking so hard and furiously - when really it should be nearly effortless when you are streamlining the angle of your body through the water. I've also carefully watched some of Terry Laughlin's videos. I'd love to have a few lessons from him because it is really hard to assess oneself. A few years ago...more
Jan 26, 2009
Jared
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
athletics,
non-fiction
Almost the first half of the book is an explanation of why the "old" method of swimming is incorrect and why this "new" method is superior. It was a little redundant. I wanted to read the book to learn the total immersion method so I was already sold on why it is important.
I am new enough to swimming to not have any real pre-conceived notions of proper swim technique, but all of the suggestions and arguments for the Total Immersion technique make sense to me. It just seems logical. Plus when I a...more
I am new enough to swimming to not have any real pre-conceived notions of proper swim technique, but all of the suggestions and arguments for the Total Immersion technique make sense to me. It just seems logical. Plus when I a...more
so far I've read the first 3 chapters and just got back from practicing the first two drills and.... I LOVE IT!!! The drills were a little difficult at first, but after practicing a while it really made a huge different in how it felt to swim freestyle and even the breast stroke. I'm already a fan! So if you want to swim, whether learning or just to get better, I recommend this. Can't wait to finish the book and get back to the pool. (p.s. when you read about swimming backwards when you kick, re...more
I've been using these techniques for the past two or three years since my bro gave me the book. it works and takes a lot less effort. I like that technique can take me farther and swimming longer without stopping than youth and muscle could.
the updated video Terry Laughlin made recently has a few different things like xy hand position in the water and hip rotation to turn to breathe; also a brief thing about flip turns. also an indispensable aid to more efficient swimming. becoming a more effici...more
the updated video Terry Laughlin made recently has a few different things like xy hand position in the water and hip rotation to turn to breathe; also a brief thing about flip turns. also an indispensable aid to more efficient swimming. becoming a more effici...more
Since I'm violently adverse to the treadmill, I needed some way to get a good workout during the winter months. Swimming seemed like a good option; the only problem was I get fatigued after one length. A friend recommended this book, telling me that it completely changed the way she swam.
If you're looking for a good read, this book will disappoint; it's extremely redundant. But as far as great ideas about swimming go, it was really helpful. Since I'm pretty much new to swimming, I need to watch...more
If you're looking for a good read, this book will disappoint; it's extremely redundant. But as far as great ideas about swimming go, it was really helpful. Since I'm pretty much new to swimming, I need to watch...more
Taking a book to the swimming pool is not a good idea. It will get wet and the pages will stick together, it's also really hard to read when you have to keep coming up for breath...
Ok so this isn't really literature, it's a book about swimming technique. It's devoted solely to the Front Crawl or Freestyle if you want to go all Olympic on me. If you've ever swum more than just casually you will have realised that in swimming technical skill far outweighs athleticism, hence the beauty of the book....more
Ok so this isn't really literature, it's a book about swimming technique. It's devoted solely to the Front Crawl or Freestyle if you want to go all Olympic on me. If you've ever swum more than just casually you will have realised that in swimming technical skill far outweighs athleticism, hence the beauty of the book....more
May 13, 2008
Christine Theberge Rafal
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
non-swimmers, wannabe triathletes,
Shelves:
sports
I learned from this book to practice only pleasure and never practice struggle. "Fitness is what happens to you when you're practicing."
I totally enjoyed reading this book and teaching myself a new way to do the freestyle stroke. Laughlin really breaks it down by skills that build on one another beautifully. It seemed important to swim each drill in the order presented before reading to far into the book. You can tell he has a great deal of teaching experience. I was relieved when he said sinker...more
I totally enjoyed reading this book and teaching myself a new way to do the freestyle stroke. Laughlin really breaks it down by skills that build on one another beautifully. It seemed important to swim each drill in the order presented before reading to far into the book. You can tell he has a great deal of teaching experience. I was relieved when he said sinker...more
I have always loved water and have lots of bouyancy. However, I could never swim very well and it was a struggle to make it a small fraction of a lap without being totally exhausted. After studying the theory and practicing the techniques in this book on how to relax and quit fighting the water, I soon was swimming laps with ease. Within six months of buying this book, I entered a mile swim competition at our local aquatic center.
The Total Immersion videos are excellent as well.
The Total Immersion videos are excellent as well.
I never finished this book, but got through at least 75% of it. As others have said, the first half is REALLY repetitive. Great bits of information throughout, though, so it is hard to suggest jumping ahead.
I am one of those that Laughlin describes who seems to do better at the "feel" exercises rather than the drills. His ideas make total sense, but the drills elude me. Swimming by "feel", however, really worked for me. He has five great "feel" exercises -- swimming downhill, weightless hand, re...more
I am one of those that Laughlin describes who seems to do better at the "feel" exercises rather than the drills. His ideas make total sense, but the drills elude me. Swimming by "feel", however, really worked for me. He has five great "feel" exercises -- swimming downhill, weightless hand, re...more
I have been swimming since I could walk; some of my earliest childhood memories are from swimming pools where my mother took me for lessons. I continued taking classes and working out in the pool through college. So, imagine my surprise when along came a book that takes you all the way back to the shallow end, so to speak. I am now in the process of unlearning all the "right ways" and learning the "better ways" or as Laughlin puts it, "how to swim like a fish." After studying how the best swimme...more
My son was a fabulous swimmer during his high school days. This is the method with which he was trained.
As a way of explaining the philosophy and history behind the method, the book is thorough, as a book to read to actually learn the method...uh...no.
I needed to be IN a pool with a "total immersion" coach. Watching youtube videos was much more informative for a visual learner, such as myself.
As a way of explaining the philosophy and history behind the method, the book is thorough, as a book to read to actually learn the method...uh...no.
I needed to be IN a pool with a "total immersion" coach. Watching youtube videos was much more informative for a visual learner, such as myself.
Hard to get through. Very discursive style that was, to be blunt, really irritating. Here, in print, Laughlin is not at all the charismatic, fascinating raconteur whom we see on U-Tube. My advice to those who need no convincing: go straight to the drills, they're all in Chapter 8. Or skip this book entirely and go straight to the DVD (or, for you my fellow cheapskates, go to U-Tube).
I read this on the recommendation of some friends to help improve my swimming for my first triathlon at the end of the summer. It is awesome! I know how to swim but I've never swam laps or any sort of distance. This book taught me a lot of technique. I watched the video that goes with it to. I'm swimming much lighter in the water now and loved the whole book!
The physics of swimming are explained and yes, they are logical..go figure. You should try to streamline your bodyposition, don't spend hours swimming wrong, do the drills. I have used the advice and it works. I would advise buying the DVD with the book as a package on the Total Immersion website, you will want to see the demonstrations.
I'm a sucker for new and improved ways to do things (see Square Foot Gardening). This book says swimming is more about being slippery that strong, and it gives drills for how to practice it. Very popular with the triathlon crowd.
I loved this book. At first I didn't know if I'd be able to stay awake reading an entire book on swim technique but it had fabulous information on proper form, drills and was very conversational in tone. It confirms everything I'm already learning from my swim coach but this helped me reinforce it and learn the science behind it.
Oct 30, 2010
Alison
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
read-in-2010
I've been a swimmer all my life and a couple ideas from this book really made sense to me even though I would have never thought of them myself. I scanned and skimmed to pick out the relevant information - to me, the author was very redundant. I wish they would have shown actual photos of swimmers in the water, performing some of the skill drills. If you're a visual learner and/or a beginning swimmer, some of the concepts might be a little hard to picture.
I grew up swimming, but I knew I needed something "more" when I started training for a triathlon. I kept hearing about this system, and now I know why: it's great! Very efficient and effect way to swim presented in a very clear style with lots of drills and pictures. The DVD companion is also great.
Wow. Swimming has gone from something I flog myself through to something I really look forward to. You can get a lot from the book and youtube videos...but it also helps to book one lesson with a TI swimming instructor to examine and tweak your technique. I highly recommend this approach to swimming.
A while ago, I bought a few swimming training sessions from a coach. I could never do the crawl/freestyle. He told me that, while it technically did fall under the category of "freestyle", it did somewhat appear that I was being eletrocuted.
While this book certainly did not turn me into an olympic champion, it - combined with the DVD, mind you - has certainly dialed down the level on the electric shock.
Swimming the crawl has yet to become effortless for me, but it is something at which I'm bec...more
While this book certainly did not turn me into an olympic champion, it - combined with the DVD, mind you - has certainly dialed down the level on the electric shock.
Swimming the crawl has yet to become effortless for me, but it is something at which I'm bec...more
Good book for helping a poor swimmer become mediocre. Unfortunately some of the habits taught in the book (gliding, leaving hand out in front, trying to focus only on stroke length) can lead to being stuck at a mediocre level. I recommend the Swim Smooth book instead.
The Total Immersion method changed my entire approach to swimming and enabled me to finish the swim in my tri this summer. It is, however, a little difficult to follow without some additional outside instruction from someone who already knows the method.
This book is the one to read for the person who wants to understand the skill of swimming. It's not how hard you work, it's how well you work - gliding through the water comes naturally to me, this book helped me to understand the technique.
So far so good. I've done a number of the drills and I feel it is helping me feel the error of my ways. Balance balance balance. So knowing these things isn't helping me too too much yet, but I can feel slow improvements.
I love this technique of swimming. I feel like I can glide through the water. Even though I haven't taken a workshop I have studied the skills and tried to teach myself so I am happy with the improvement I have made on my own.
This book was life changing for me. I was training for a triathlon and the swimming was kicking my butt. Now I can swim without feeling like I'm going to die and I took 3 min off my 300 meter time.
From my observation, those who have learned and who use the techniques in this book swim very efficiently. I tried, however, I will need actual coaching to learn. Old habits are hard to discard.
A decent starting point but will only get you to a certain level. Perhaps the most approachable and least intimidating inroad for the non-swimmer to self-teach.
Helped me very much to change my way of swimming. Did improve my speed and easyness of swimming. Couldn't believe what a difference the new technique would make.
Wanting to become a better swimmer I found this book very educational. It teaches different methods and highlights the complete art of swiming
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