Archive for the ‘Swim for Health and Happiness’ Category

I Don’t Want to Become a Stiff, Sore Old Person
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on January 22nd, 2014

 This is the second guest post by noted writer and blogger Mariah Burton Nelson.  It’s an honor to feature a respected author and thinker like Mariah. We’re delighted she’s thinking a lot about her swimming now, and making connections between her TI practice and  how she goes about the rest of her day. In  A Splash-Free Life, Mariah wrote […]

A Splash-Free Life?
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on December 20th, 2013

I’m delighted and honored to present this guest post from noted writer and blogger—and recent convert to ‘splash-free’ swimming—Mariah Burton Nelson. What would it mean to lead a splash-free life? To splash is “to cause water or other liquid to move in a noisy or messy way.” In swimming, leading a splash-free life means gliding […]

Swim Faster; Be Healthier (Maybe even live longer!)
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on December 6th, 2013

When you train the TI way, efforts you expend to swim faster aren’t for the momentary ego gratification of the time itself, nor for the higher placing it may bring in an event. The more compelling reason is because those efforts can bring proven benefits to physical and mental health. [Also because time provides an […]

SAME Strokes for Different Folks
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on November 20th, 2013

Different strokes for different folks is a seldom-questioned axiom among old-school swim coaches. It says that people with different body types and goals should use widely varying styles. Put another way, anything goes when it comes to form. This week’s webinar will feature three swimmers who make a persuasive case for a very different–even revolutionary–credo: Same Strokes for Different […]

Bad Advice: Tell Yourself, “This feels good.”
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on November 12th, 2013

Last week (Nov 6 to be precise) the NY Times published an article with the headline Keep Telling Yourself: “This Workout Feels Good.” This is a prime example of what I call  the Western Industrial Exercise Complex. The article’s main message was that if you practice exhortatory self-talk you’ll get better at enduring unpleasantness while […]

Video: Swimming for ‘Epic Experience’
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on September 29th, 2013

Last week during TI OW camp on the Mediterranean, in Ciralu Turkey, Coach Mat Hudson posted this on his Facebook wall: “Johnny Widen  [a TI coach from Sweden] asked if I keep my mind completely consumed with stroke counting and focal points like Terry Laughlin does.” While keeping track of ‘metrics that matter’ is a […]

Swim 3 Open Water Miles and Enjoy Every Stroke? Yes!
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on August 24th, 2013

This is a guest post by TI/OW enthusiast Christian Miles of Washington DC Back in January I’d registered for the 3-mile open water swim event– part of the Kingdom Swim in Newport, VT–scheduled for July 6th. At the time it struck me as a good challenge and a great adventure which I could share with lifelong […]

‘Drafting Off’ My Inner Voice
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on July 29th, 2013

In my last post, Enjoyment Meets Improvement I wrote that I’ve reduced my racing schedule this summer to preserve bandwidth for writing e-books (the first, “How Swimming Works . . . and How It Doesn’t” should be released in October.)  But in practice, I still focus on improvement—it’s addictive and it stokes my creative juices. […]

Enjoyment Meets Improvement
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on July 12th, 2013

Prospects for improvement are best when practice produces a state of such intense Happiness that it’s the best part of your day.

Strong Body, Sharp Mind: How swimming can give it to you
by Terry Laughlin

Posted on April 26th, 2013

If you emphasize neural training, you always receive quality aerobic training.