Master the Art of Swimming: Raising Your Performance with the Alexander Technique [Paperback]

Steven Shaw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2006

Swimming improves your flexibility, tones your body and can help to boost your self-esteem and produce a sense of well-being. It is the nation's most popular sporting activity with 11.9 million people swimming regularly. However, most people don't know how to swim properly. This book is based on a 35-year voyage of discovery into the art of swimming. Steven Shaw's method takes the Alexander Technique into the swimming pool - focusing on releasing tension from the head, neck and back. Steven has evolved a unique way of breaking down strokes into a series of therapeutic movements, which can be practised individually or with a partner, in a pool or on dry land. These provide the building blocks, which combine to make it possible for anyone to recraft their own strokes in a way that promote good body use and avoid injuries. Instead of performing physical actions in an automatic way, you begin to learn body awareness. This way of swimming not only feels freer and more open, it is graceful and has a sense of flow, often absent from the way many people swim. Shaw looks at the most popular strokes - front crawl, back stroke, breast stroke and butterfly - focusing on maximum efficiency and minimum strain.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Collins & Brown (May 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843403498
• ISBN-13: 978-1843403494
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Alexander Technique

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swim well with perfection, July 4, 2007

By 

Jose Luis Henriques - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master the Art of Swimming: Raising Your Performance with the Alexander Technique (Paperback)

In my opinion, I rate this book with 5 stars. I have been swimming since childhood and went to a professional swimming school but have never come across a good swimming method like the "Shaw method" Alexander Technique. The book is very well illustrated and explains step by step how the swim without strain in freedom. With a good technique comes great speed without injury. This book has all you need to swim well in safety and perfection. I myself have tried all these methods and techniques and have improved my swimming. I gain more confidence in water taking out benefits from precious time. This book taught me to appreciate swimming in a graceful way with better performance. I let go and went with the flow instead of pushing myself. For example, I learnt to swim butterfly the "Shaw method" believe me I swim the technique with less strain limiting the energy expended on non propulsive movements. Try it yourself, I feel more confidant in water with these methods in all my stroke :-)
Louis Henriques.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Specialty Book, For Adult Audience, August 10, 2010

By 

Red Sun (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master the Art of Swimming: Raising Your Performance with the Alexander Technique (Paperback)

Some people would give it a rating of 5, some rating of 1. Depends on who the reader is. For a general audience or younger swimmers, this book is slow and hard to follow. But for mature readers, this book helps them to continue enjoy swimming.

So the title is a bit misleading. The focus is more on the art of swimming (flow, form, etc), instead of competitive swimming.

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for advanced swimmers, July 20, 2006

By 

W. Ciaccia "bchach" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Master the Art of Swimming: Raising Your Performance with the Alexander Technique (Paperback)

1-2 stars because, while I have to admit I do not practice the Alexander Technique, I thought I would examine this book to see how it may help my strokes. Well, the printing is wonderful and it is a well produced book, but it really seemed less geared toward advanced/competitive swimmers than I expected. There was alot of basic stroke breakdown, which is good for intermediate swimmers but not for advanced swimmers (or maybe just me?) who have had coaching. I personally prefer the book Swimming Fastest for technique--it is the bible. I am continually disappointed by the clarity of swim books (mainly because nothing takes the place of good instruction--you can't see yourself swim!), but Swimming Fastest still is my favorite for guidance and I continually reference it. If you are intermediate and looking for stroke improvement, this could be good for hints and has clear photography (it does excel at this). It did illustrate some things I do overlook! Bottom line was I returned it, unfortunately.