Understanding these 4 essential movements makes all the difference.
The Philosophy of Life in the Breaststroke
I have a swim spa in my backyard. Almost every morning, I get up and go for a swim. It doesn’t matter whether there is snow on the ground, rain falling from the sky, or the sun beating down—I step into the spa, stretch for a few minutes, and then begin my routine. I usually do the breaststroke.
Over time, I’ve come to realize that the breaststroke isn’t just a way to exercise; it’s a metaphor for life. The four essential movements of this stroke—Glide, Pull, Breath, and Kick—mirror the rhythm of how we navigate our journey through challenges, growth, and renewal.
Glide: Finding Stillness and Direction
In the glide phase, you stretch out your body, fully extended like a torpedo. This is a moment of stillness, direction, and quiet momentum. In life, we often experience moments where we simply need to trust the path we’re on, to let our past efforts carry us forward.
Gliding teaches us patience. It reminds us that we don’t always need to be in a rush, constantly exerting effort. There is a time to move, but also a time to pause and let the current of our actions carry us forward. It’s in these moments that we gain clarity and a sense of purpose.
Pull: Drawing Strength and Taking Action
Next comes the pull—the moment of effort, engagement, and control. In swimming, this is when you draw your arms back, gathering the water to propel yourself forward. In life, the pull represents the work we put in, the challenges we take on, and the obstacles we overcome.
This movement requires strength, discipline, and intention. If you pull too weakly, you don’t move forward enough; if you overexert, you exhaust yourself too soon. The lesson here is balance: knowing when to push, how much effort to exert, and understanding that each pull contributes to forward progress.
Breath: Renewal and Perspective
The breath phase of the breaststroke puts you in a cobra-like shape, lifting your head above the water. This is the moment of renewal—a chance to take in air, to pause, and to prepare for the next cycle.
In life, we also need to pause and breathe. Whether it’s a moment of reflection, a break after intense work, or simply appreciating where we are, breathing is essential. Without it, we burn out. The breath phase teaches us that renewal is not just necessary—it’s an integral part of sustainable progress.
Kick: Generating Power and Momentum
The final movement in the cycle is the kick. In this phase, your legs extend in a powerful motion, propelling you forward like a frog leaping into action. The kick is where true momentum is built.
In life, kicking represents those moments of bold action—the times when we make decisions, take leaps of faith, and push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. The strength of your kick determines how far you move forward. A strong, intentional kick ensures progress, while a hesitant or weak kick limits movement.
The Cycle Continues
Just like in swimming, life is a continuous cycle of these four stages. We glide through moments of peace and reflection, pull through challenges with strength and determination, breathe to renew ourselves, and kick forward with power and intention. Then, we do it all over again.
Each phase has its purpose. Each movement contributes to growth. And just like in the breaststroke, mastering the rhythm of these stages allows us to move through life with grace, purpose, and resilience.
So the next time you find yourself struggling, take a step back and ask yourself: Are you in the glide, the pull, the breath, or the kick?