Swimming for Total Fitness: A Progressive Aerobic Program

"This book by jane katz is awesome and is flexible both for use of professionals trying to sharpen performance etc or the beginner with just the basic knowledge on the skill. I would definetely recommend it to anyone interested in making themselves fitter,faster and swim smart."
~ Written on 2006-03-09

"I have carried this book around with me for weeks, have been swimming laps since late June. Lost 8 lbs (so far and today is Sept 14). Don't believe those websites that say swimming laps does not burn fat. I have lost 2 inches of fat just from my waist and 2 inches from my back.... SO, get this book, read it and get in the pool! Swimming is great for the body AND the mind... (-;"
~ Written on 2005-09-15

"Excellent book for those of us adults who are timid about the water, but want to learn how to swim. I especially like how she has you practice exercises on land 1st, then apply them in the water. It gave me so much more confidence when I approached the pool. And I also recommend the "swimmers shape-up" exercises early on like she introduced as I found they really helped keep my muscles loosened up and avoid undue muscle soreness and stiffness after swimming. I also like that she doesn't assume the simple things come naturally (ie., even how to wipe the water from your face). I look forward to seeing how far along I can get with her progressive fitness programs at the end of the book once I'm comfortable with all 10 swimming lessons."
~ Written on 2004-08-07

"I bought this because I wanted a better understanding of swimming as a sport. I had learned the skill of swimming like most people do in their youth, but since I wasn't very interested in or good at sports my learning stopped as soon as lessons did. In adulthood I rediscovered the joy of swimming and I wondered how I could develop more sophisticated skills. I also wondered how "real" swimmers think and feel about their sport and how they go about their training: what challenges them, what kind of routines do they use.
This book was perfect for me. The author began with the absolute fundamentals of having a relationship to the water and went on to suggest basic routines for the beginner like me. She then took her descriptions to routines for those on the advanced competitive level. I liked being able to see where a more talented person could and would go which is in itself very interesting even though I'll never reach that level; this insight puts my own beinning work into perspective.
After reading this book I was inspired to swim and continue improving my routines. I would never need another book on this subject after this one, it's that all-encompassing for the amateur."
~ Written on 2003-01-20

"After years of aerobic dance, running, and weight lifting, I wanted to find an aerobic activity that was less injury-prone. I turned to swimming, and found it to be the perfect alternative. An avid childhood swimmer, I just needed some tips for refining my technique--it wasn't until I picked up this book that I discovered that my breathing technique was all wrong! I also liked the ideas for progressively more intense workouts that went beyond just endless laps. This book gave me all that and more--I'm now doing flip turns and as Katz says, my joi de vivre now includes joi de l'eau!"
~ Written on 2002-06-01