Though the brain makes up just 2 percent ofthe body’s weight, it consumes 20 percent of its energy. Normally about 50percent of the brain’s energy consumption goes to managing balance. But whenthe brain senses imbalance–and particularly when it thinks you’re sinking–it goes intocritical mode and nearly 100 percent of its energy is consumed with trying tofix that.
雖然大腦僅佔據身體2%的重量，但是它卻消耗了20%的能量。一般來說遊泳時50%的大腦能量用於維持平衡。但是如果大腦監測到身體處於不平衡的狀態，特別是它認為你在下沉的時候，幾乎100%的大腦能量會用來解決這個問題。
Until you fix 『that sinking feeling,』 youhave no chance of becoming comfortable or efficient. And with that amount of energy waste, itmakes no sense at all to try to 『tough it out.』 Before tackling even the mostrudimentary skills, we need to send the brain unambiguous signals that we』vegot control of body position. That frees up the mental energy to focus onskills that require some degree of calm focus.
除非你消除了這種下沉的感覺，否則你就不會在水裡感覺舒服和有效率。考慮到會消耗如此多的能量，想辦法死撐下去是不明智的。即使是練習最細微的技術，你也要給大腦明確的信號，你的身體是平衡的，你能夠控制它。這樣才能把你的大腦解放出來，用於更需要專注的技術環節。