The Art of Swimming: In a New Direction With the Alexander Technique [Paperback]

Steven Shaw (Author), Armand D'Angour (Author), Victoria Wood (Foreword)

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Politicos Publishing; Revised edition edition (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853980951
• ISBN-13: 978-1853980954
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,105,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you swim, you should get this book., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Swimming: In a New Direction With the Alexander Technique (Paperback)

I've been a regualr swimmer for about 30 years - 4 to 5 times a week, an hour or so each time. About 2 years ago, a friend gave me a book about the Alexander Technique to read, saying it might be of interest to me and my swimming. I was quite interested and managed to attend a workshop where I got some hands-on experience with the work. One evening, a group of us went to the pool with one of the teachers and she showed us how to apply some of the ideas to swimming.

I couldn't believe how much of difference that little bit of information made! I realized that I had been using too much, and the wrong kind of effort, particularly with my back stroke. I'd always loved to swim, and the feel of the water, but now swimming became a whole new experience for me. Much more fluid and with less effort, and yet just as invigorating. Several friends have commented on the change.

The Art of Swimming is, as far as I know, the only book devoted specifically to swimming and the Alexander Technique. I found it very readable and I think it would make a good introduction to the ideas of the Technique for swimmers. I'd also recommend the book that got me started by Rickover, called "Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique". Also a book called "The Authorised Summaries of the Four Books of F.M. Alexander". END