If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you swim with tension, the short answer is: nothing good! Swimming with tension makes it harder to breathe, harder to move, and it tires you out much faster. When your body is stiff in the water, you’re fighting yourself as well as the pool — and that’s never fun. So let’s break down exactly why tension holds you back, and how to relax so you can swim stronger, smoother, and with far less effort.
The Negative Effects of Swimming With Tension
1. Breathing Becomes Difficult
Holding your breath or tightening your face, jaw, and neck creates unnecessary stiffness. When you swim with tension like this, it makes inhaling and exhaling more restricted, which means you’ll quickly feel out of breath.
2. Stiff and Jerky Movements
A tense body doesn’t glide through water — it jerks through it. So, instead of smooth, efficient strokes, you end up splashing and wasting energy.
3. Faster Fatigue
Tension burns energy at lightning speed. Meaning, if you swim with tension, the more rigid you are, the harder your muscles work, leading to both mental and physical exhaustion much earlier in your swim.
4. Increased Risk of Injury
Inefficient strokes and overexertion put more strain on your shoulders, back, and joints. But swimming should build your body up, not break it down.
How to Relax and Improve Your Swimming
Focus on Relaxation
Start by releasing tension in your face, jaw, and neck. A soft, relaxed expression makes breathing easier and keeps the rest of your body looser.
Balance Tension and Relaxation
Swimming does require some muscle engagement, but not everywhere at once. The trick is knowing when to hold tension (like core stability) and when to let go (like shoulders and hands).
Trust the Water
Fighting buoyancy or panicking about water in your mouth only makes you stiffer. So lean into the water’s support and let it hold you up.
Check Your Gear
A poorly fitting pair of goggles leaking water into your eyes is a fast track to stress. Therefore, invest in equipment that fits well so you can focus on technique, not distractions.
The Benefits of Relaxed Swimming
When you learn to let go of tension, swimming becomes a whole new experience:
- Stress relief – glide through the water and leave worries behind.
- Improved flexibility and strength – move more fluidly and build functional muscle.
- Better mental wellbeing – swimming relaxed feels calmer, more enjoyable, and more rewarding.
Ready to Swim Without Tension?
Swimming doesn’t need to feel like a battle. By learning how to relax, you’ll move more efficiently, breathe more easily, and actually enjoy the process.
Want to give it a try in real life? I offer 1-2-1 trial swimming lessons designed to help you release tension, trust the water, and swim with ease.
