How to Float On Your Back
Floating on your back is usually one of the first tricks a new swimmer will learn. It’s easy to see why: It doesn’t involve paddling, kicking or anything extreme movement at all. However, it’s also better that you already know how to swim before you learn how to float. Learn how to float and relax on top of any body of water or swimming pool here.
Choose a spot. Practice floating in a swimming pool before attempting it in a natural aquatic body, like a beach or a lake. This will lessen your nervousness. Go to the most shallow part of the pool and ask someone to help you out.
Relax. Being relaxed is important when attempting to float, so try to relax even before you assume the floating position!
Support. Ask the person you are with to support your back as you lie down in the water. The person should not be carrying your weight and should really just provide support. Your ears should be at most halfway in the water. If you do not like water in your ears, wear ear plugs.
Position. Spread your limbs so you’ll assume a star position. Relax your limbs, breathe and don’t be rigid. Ask your companion to stay there until you are comfortable enough for them to let go.
Back position. Your back should be slightly arched (not rigid) and your hips slightly thrusting outward.
Focus. Focus on other things like the sky, the water, the trees around you or even the people swimming around you. The less self-conscious you are about floating, the better.
Let go. Ask your companion to let go of supporting you without telling you. This will help you transition better from supported to not being supported more smoothly.
Balance. Balance is
Move around. Once you are completely comfortable with floating in place, you can start moving around by doing little flutter kicks to the direction you want to go.