Inconceivable

Never Saw It Coming

All the pools I frequent have a shallow end

 Sometimes the gift we receive isn't what we were expecting 

When I first got the advice to "swim downhill" from swim angel Page - I was stunned
It was something I later heard someone else say as if it was common knowledge
At the time I found the advice anything but common - it was mind shattering

After getting that advice, I changed the way I placed my arms into the water each time
This change might be difficult to describe or for the reader to properly appreciate
Apparently this piece of advice is all over Reddit and is now accessible to anyone

Getting the advice to "swim downhill" is some of the most fabulous advice ever
There was something about it that seemed to speak to me directly
As mentioned earlier, we can only do one thing at any given time

For whatever reason, that piece of advice was what I was needing
Not to be creepy but I started making my arm more like a scythe
I'm no mechanical engineer but a scythe is the opposite of say,
The floppy brush-strips on a car wash as a gas station
It's rigid rather than flexible - hand angles toward feet

Using arm with this new "angle of entry" gave me speed
I started swimming faster with less internal tension
I was already prone to shoulder injury
This advice changed the torque

One lesson builds to next - focus on only one thing and the next thing will appear

Gleefully reveling and awash in the form-benefits of this new advice
I did something that I never would have thought possible
I stubbed my fingers on the floor of the swimming pool

That's the mistake - First I had to fix my arm swing
Then in a moment of cosmic humor - I stubbed my finger
How this goes - fix something - then be hit with something else

It was surprisingly painful - perhaps because it was such a surprise
I didn't realize that by extending my arm, pulling with my scapula
Exerting proper rotation and demonstrating radical torso rotation

That my hand would reach down so far - I would touch bottom
I’ve done dumber things than that - like swimming into the wall
Technically this was not a dumb thing at all but quite prodigious

Couldn't think of this as a comprehensive work without mentioning it
That part about pulling with the scapula was part of what I got from Aces
It didn't come into play - until Page taught me I need to be swimming downhill

Lesson Summary

Swim angel Page gave the advice to "swim downhill," which initially stunned the recipient but later proved to be transformative. The change involved adjusting the arm placement in the water, resembling the motion of a scythe. This modification led to increased speed and reduced internal tension, benefiting someone prone to shoulder injuries.

• Receiving the advice to "swim downhill" was considered fabulous and spoke directly to the person.
• The new arm motion with the angle of entry improved speed and reduced internal tension.
• Focusing on one thing at a time in swimming lessons can lead to noticeable improvements.

Despite the positive impact of the advice, a surprising mistake occurred when the person stubbed their fingers on the pool floor due to the extended arm motion and torso rotation. This unexpected mishap highlighted the notion that fixing one aspect can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges.

• The person encountered a painful surprise when their hand unexpectedly touched the pool floor due to improved arm and torso movements.
• The incident of stubbing fingers on the pool floor, although unexpected, was considered significant as it showcased the deeper reach achieved through proper swimming techniques.
• While seemingly unusual, touching the bottom of the pool was seen as a notable achievement even amidst minor mishaps like swimming into walls.