Ah, the Backstroke. Old Baloo the Bear from The Jungle Book movie knew this stroke well. Though he was able to float around luxuriously with food on his belly, we recommend eating after your swim. As the most awkward stroke in terms of arm movement, the Backstroke is done on the swimmer's back, like the name suggests.

Though this stroke allows for easy breathing, since your head is facing away from the water, it does require some skill to direct where you are swimming. No doubt your first go will send you into the next lane, but after a little practice you'll be able to navigate properly.

Similar to the Front Crawl, swimmers combine a backward, alternating arm scoop with a flutter kick to propel them through the water. With each stroke the palm of the hand is always facing away from the direction you are swimming, pulling the water towards your feet. Your alternating kicks in a flutter kick movement will help stabilize your body in the water, though your arms are responsible for most of your speed.

Swimmer's Tip: Vary your swim work outs. Be sure to incorporate easy and hard swim strokes into your routine so you develop skills that will keep you from getting bored. Also, it's best to swim often and to incorporate drills in your work out. Drills help refine your technique and will extend your exercise time.