Triathlon Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Anyone to Master Open-Water Swimming Reviews

• Fantastic

  
  By A2MCDWMFPCQVIG on 2006-04-06
  After struggling with the swimming leg of triathlons I purchased this book and the accompanying Freestyle Made Easy DVD and committed to trying the Total Immersion approach to swimming. After two months of Total Immersion drills my swimming has improved dramatically. I now swim (literally) twice as fast as I did before starting the program while expending about the same amount of energy. I've never used any training program for any sport that improved my skills any where near as much as the Total Immersion approach improved my swimming.
  
  The book is well written and easy to follow but I found that I also needed the Freestyle Made Easy DVD to fully understand how the drills should be done. Buy them both, they're a bargain at twice the price.
  
  

• Swimming is now as easy as walking!

  
  By A3201UAVKYRA9B on 2007-01-21
  I began swimming a few months ago in preparation for my first triathlon. Although I could run a marathon with energy to spare, I could barely cross the pool once without gasping. After struggling twice a week for a couple of months, a friend told me about Total Immersion.
  
  I went online and read the first three chapters (for free at the Total Immersion website) and saw significant improvement in my swimming effort. I purchased Triathlon Swimming Made Easy, and have not even finished the book yet, but have seen tremendous improvement in my speed and energy output. Last time I got out of the pool, after swimming more than a mile, I felt like I had just taken a stroll around the block. But best of all, my fastest friend at the pool, who began her mile swim at the same time as me, couldn't lap me!
  
  Speed and ease of swimming are the benefits of employing the methods in this book. Read it and get faster while saving your energy for other parts of your triathlon.
  
  

• Dive in!

  
  By A1U4CDHQL1WJV4 on 2007-03-19
  This book literally changes the way you think about swimming. We are taught how to swim from an early age, but don't really "think" about it. I went from struggling through two laps to swimming over a thousand yards, and I haven't even finished the book yet. I am training for my first triathlon and was very nervous about the swim. Not anymore.
  
  

• Triathlon Swimming Made Easy

  
  By AGGB2KVOP5NRL on 2007-10-05
  I think I could have went without this book. The whole book could have been condensed to just a few pages. No great images to help you learn the total immersion way. I definitely feel that the original Total Immersion book is infinitely better BUT the video is the most informative. I find myself watching that video over and over. A picture is worth a thousand words... Dont misunderstand me, Total Immersion Rocks! I have only been swimming for a year ( I am 45) and I can bang out a mile or more no problem in about 30 minutes.
  
  

• DO NOT HESITATE!

  
  By A22DT7AQB0Y3WM on 2007-04-04
  I have always been athletic and recently made a new decision to get into triathlons. When I hit the pool I knew immediately my stroke was in desperate need of improvement. This book put into perspective an ideal approach to breaking down the swimming process. I loved the philosophy and practicality of the book so much, I sought out Total Immersion Studio, in New Paltz, NY, and took a private class for the day. Amazing change. I have specific drills to practice and truly enjoy going to the pool with a focus on swimming with a long fluid body rotation and no longer about laps. If no coach is a available, I would recommend the DVD freestyle made easy. Same approach, but in a format that is visual and not intellectual. I'm more than pleased with my purchase.
  
  
• Good resource
  By AEBFKIUD1TS08 on 2006-07-27
  I am a novice swimmer and therefore need all the information in the book in order to eventually swim a triathlon in open water. I realize from reading this book that I need individual swimming lessons and wish there were a Total Immersion swim teacher in my area. It is hard to tell if you're doing it right reading a book and being in a pool alone.
  
  
• Even Better Than The First Book
  By A1PVXHZTY4S6FD on 2007-05-13
  As a triathlete & having read (& been a student of) Terry's first book, this book was great extension. The explanations of why each drill is done & step by step instruction virtually guarantees fast improvement anyone prepared to put in practice.
  Well worth the purchases price.
  
  
• Excellent book!
  By A2MMWYANAFJTE0 on 2007-08-10
  I found Terry Laughlin's book very helpful. I've read it through a few times and am attempting to apply what I'm learning. I've got a ways to go yet, but I see improvements every time I go to the water. I recommend this book.
  
  
• Motivating and useful
  By A2EM28JKUNGGQO on 2007-09-10
  Total Immersion focuses on a swimming technique that will make you swim easier without struggle. It is an easy read and provides handles to swim better and get more comfortable in the water. The book alone is not enough to learn this technique. You will also need the DVD and perhaps the drill cards for the practices. The book is written in a "can do it" style and is motivating to read with useful information.
  
  
• Swim drills
  By AI9L79XHOK2NQ on 2006-06-09
  True, you may need the dvd as well to complement the book. But I bought freestyle/backstroke drills dvd instead of Terry's, so, some terms differ. Maybe I'm a tad slow - had to watch the drills dvd over and over (wondering what am I supposed to feel), plus a quick scan through the book, to understand. Dvd demonstrates how to execute the technics whilst books explains the whys better. No such hope for TI swim workshop here in my country. Started to do the drills comfortably now and hope to improve my speed soon. Never thought I could ever do bilateral breathing, but taking it slow and focusing, surprised myself that I could - 2 weeks, you say? As the book says, the key is to improve technic, not to swim harder.
  
  
• A better swim
  By A1MFJIIXJSXYRE on 2007-11-16
  I feel like after reading this book I have looked at my swim training in a whole new light. Gone are the days of grinding out lap after lap after lap in hope that I will magically improve my swim leg. Total Immersion has tuned me into developing and practicing good swim habits.
  
  This book works best when purchasing the DVD. It helps to view the training exercises. The video is a little dated but not that bad too watch.
  
  
• Well worthwhile purchase
  By A1TMA0BI2BECUT on 2008-09-02
  I purchased this book as a gift for my boyfriend, who is currently training for a triathlon. He loves this book, and frequently tells me how Total Immersion has completely changed his swimming technique. He noticed improvements immediately. This book is highly recommended for anyone wanting to improve their swimming technique.
  
  
• Some good information, but alot of unnecessary filler
  By A8VIHBSINAAQ5 on 2008-11-07
  This book seemed more self serving than instructional. There were good pieces of information, but they were sandwiched around pages of the author telling you how revolutionary his ideas are and how successful his methods have been. The book could have been cut down significantly by removing this fluff, and it would have made for a better read. Everytime I got to a new chapter, I had to sift through pages of filler before I got to any good material. I mean I already bought the book, he doesn't need to continue selling his ideas to me, I can try them out and decide for myself.
  
  Also, I haven't tried to DVD, but I suspect it would be better because it would be easier to visualize the techniques he writes about.
  
  
• the total immersion way for anyone to master open-water swimming
  By A2SGFR8H1KDPPU on 2006-11-10
  this book is very best ..
  
  
• Smooth swimming
  By A1FYAOH8JEED96 on 2008-04-07
  This book helped me prepare for my first triathlon experience and without it I would have fumbled about splashing away valuable energy like so many of the other participants did. This is a must read for anyone considering distance swimming.
  
  

• Freestyle: Made Easy
• The Triathlete's Training Bible (2nd Edition)
• Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier
• ChiRunning
• Your First Triathlon