Sport & Fitness

...and her body rotates in the water

We progress to ‘the archer’ in which one hand is at a 40 degrees downwards angle in a handshaking position while the other rests on the thigh as my legs gently propel me forward. The key throughout is to keep the head and neck in line and to keep facing down. Even by the end of the first session, my body is feeling more graceful and efficient in the water.

Shaw teaches people to let the water work with them and not against them. He pays special attention to the alignment of head, neck and back so that as you swim you don’t put any strain on these areas. If fact, the technique can actually help to release muscle tension. You get the same fat-burning workout from your swim as with other methods, but you will leave the pool relaxed and invigorated rather than just knackered.
Feature continues

Session two and I’m ready to start combining the fluid moves through the water with a new arm action. The basic idea is that as one arm goes into the water the other arm anchors you, before passing by your body and propelling you forward in one easy, fluid movement with no awkward arm recovery. It feels liberating and completely different from what I’ve been doing up until now.

By my third and final session, I’m ready to incorporate the breathing into my newly learned stroke, in which my arms now feel like graceful
propellers instead of awkward ‘chicken wings’. My swimming has been revolutionised. Not only do I feel faster and more streamlined but I realise that I’ve completed the length in just 16 strokes. Result.

Art of Swimming (020 8446 9442/ www.artofswimming.com). Londonwide one-day workshops for all levels from £120. Private tuition from £70 an hour. ‘Raising your performance with the Alexander Technique’ by Steven Shaw is published by C&B at £12.99.

To sponsor Maggie in the Swimathon visit www.swimathon.org and go to ‘sponsor a swimmer’ or ‘make a donation.’ Money raised goes to Marie Curie Cancer Care.