Total Immersion - Yes or No
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
I have read the TI book, but never took a class. My opinion is that if you could find a tri-specific swim coach in your area you'd get more for your money there. Where are you located? I have a couple I can recommend, but they are useless if too far away :)
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iamtb13 posted 1 year ago.
I am with Kylie on this. I read the book but never took a class. I have a tri-coach which has helped me a lot.
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
I'm a Tri/Swim coach, and I'd also vote for having someone local look at your stroke. Twenty sessions with a coach would run you less than one TI workshop, and you would be getting one-on-one coaching for your particular stroke/habits/issues.
Also, while I believe in some of what TI teaches, I (and most swim coaches I know) part ways with them on many issues of technique. I have yet to meet a really good swimmer come out of TI.
For most of the triathletes I work with, taking 5 minutes off of a 1500 m swim is something that is easily accomplished in 20 sessions or far less (depending on how much work they do in between sessions.) Three of my swimmers this season have taken almost 3 minutes off of their 500 m time already.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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stewarba posted 1 year ago.
I got the book and the video, but never took a class. I think there are some benefits in the video at least with some basic balance type things. After working with it for about a year, I'm not sure that actually doing a TI swim class would help and I say that because you are talking about a weekend. Once you leave, you will be back to doing it "on your own" and any flaws in your stroke will just go undetected.
If I was going to drop some serious coin, I would look into a local swim coach that can watch your progression over time. If you're curious about TI, I would spend the ~$50 dollars on the DVD and get a better feel for whether you like it.
Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
Also check your public library. My library had a copy of the TI video and book.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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cweder posted 1 year ago.
I took the TI course and, honestly, do not think it was worth the price tag. However, I do think that it depends on the course instructor and how many students are in the class. I took my class in Chicago and, in my opinion, my head instructor was not very helpful in teaching the technique. She was relatively new to swimming (surprising for a $500/student class!) and not very helpful to students. We had one extremely poor swimmer in the course who struggled all weekend and received a ton of attention from both the instructors. I feel for the student as she was a new swimmer but it really took away from the other 11 people taking the class.
Overall, I really think the value of TI lies in the instructor. If you can get the inventor of the Program (Terry L) I would say definitely go for it. Check out who teaches your perspective course and get some background on the person.
I do think the TI technique helps to increases strength and efficiency in the pool but I also think it can be learned through diligent work with the book and DVD and a private coached schooled in the technique. Anyways, just my opinion....
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RV posted 1 year ago.
I have the book and video - while it did help me quite a bit initially - mostly getting comfortable in the water etc. - I found that it does not really help you to get any faster. I looked at the classes but they were cost prohibitive for me.
I agree with the others that a tri-coach would be a better approach.
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jhudalla posted 1 year ago.
I took the TI swim course, and while I did learn a ton about body positioning and techniques which practically eliminated excessive energy expenditures in the water, afterwards I joined a masters group and though the coach changed up a few things in my stroke, the background made the combo better than either alone... IMO. Let it be known however, prior to the TI class, I could barely muster much more than a struggle for life in the pool. Now, nearly 1 year later, I can swim for hours. It really depends on the disposable income you want to spend.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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robbie posted 1 year ago.
Thank you all for you valuable input. I will take your suggestions to mind and act on them.
Hi Folks,
Sadly and as frustrating as it is, I have always found myself at a handicap at exiting the swim. My last Olympic Triathlon (yesterday) 1.5km swim took me thirty three minutes. Pathetic at best.
Then again I find my struggle a challenge and a desire to make better of myself and work on my weakness. I am competitive in the bike and the run. Sadly though, my swim time throws me way back that I spend the rest of the race doing catch up.
My question is should I just fork out five bills for a Total Immersion swim shop? Yes, I can get a regular swim coach but from what I have heard, TI seems so purely dedicated in making a swimmer more efficient in the water. I feel I expedite so much energy in the water and by the time I get out, I have wasted my resources.
The TI swim shop is a lot of money but if I can shave five minutes or so from my swim, then I would refer to it as a success.
I can opt to go for the sprint triathlons as the swim distance is much shorter but I feel that I am merely masking a problem.
I would love to hear from anyone who has taken the TI swim shop.