Swimming improves flexibility, tones the body, helps boost self-esteem, and produces a sense of well-being. Here, enhanced with the unique insights of the Alexander Technique, is a complete guide to swimming for health, fitness, and emotional relaxation. Breaking down each stroke into a series of therapeutic movements—which can be practiced alone or with a partner, in water or on dry land—it provides the building blocks for a better, more healthful swimming experience. Instead of performing physical actions in an automatic way, the reader learns to develop body awareness, and soon begins to move more freely, openly, and gracefully. Covering all the most popular strokes, this approach allows anyone to swim with maximum efficiency and minimum strain.
Steven Shaw learned to swim at an early age and soon became a competitive swimmer. In 1990 he started the three-year Alexander Technique teacher training course and during this time he explored his relationship with the water which has led to his new and very successful teaching approach: The Shaw method. This method has had huge acclaim over the past 10 years and Steven holds workshops and courses all over the world. He lives in North London.