{"pages":[{"slug":"test","path":"/test/","title":"test","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":8646},{"slug":"swimming-shop","path":"/swimming-shop/","title":"Swimming Shop","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":6137},{"slug":"cheryl-cross","path":"/cheryl-cross/","title":"Cheryl Cross","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":1456},{"slug":"ian-cross","path":"/ian-cross/","title":"Ian Cross","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":1446},{"slug":"lessons","path":"/lessons/","title":"Lessons","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":1003},{"slug":"useful-resources","path":"/useful-resources/","title":"Useful Resources","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":992},{"slug":"about-us","path":"/about-us/","title":"About us","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":954},{"slug":"your-stay","path":"/your-stay/","title":"Your Stay","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":925},{"slug":"between-lessons","path":"/between-lessons/","title":"Between Lessons","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":922},{"slug":"where-we-teach","path":"/where-we-teach/","title":"Where We Teach","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":919},{"slug":"alexander-technique","path":"/alexander-technique/","title":"Alexander Technique","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":916},{"slug":"our-approach","path":"/our-approach/","title":"Our Approach","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":912},{"slug":"contact-us","path":"/contact-us/","title":"Contact us","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":787},{"slug":"booking-prices","path":"/booking-prices/","title":"Booking & Prices","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":782},{"slug":"feedback","path":"/feedback/","title":"Feedback","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":753},{"slug":"faq","path":"/faq/","title":"FAQ","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":738},{"slug":"terms-and-privacy","path":"/terms-and-privacy/","title":"Terms and Privacy","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":548},{"slug":"delivery-and-returns","path":"/delivery-and-returns/","title":"Delivery and Returns","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":546},{"slug":"store","path":"/store/","title":"shop","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":313},{"slug":"blog","path":"/blog/","title":"blog","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":188},{"slug":"home","path":"/","title":"Homepage","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":7},{"slug":"my-account","path":"/my-account/","title":"My account","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":6},{"slug":"checkout","path":"/checkout/","title":"Checkout","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":5},{"slug":"cart","path":"/cart/","title":"Cart","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":4},{"slug":"shop","path":"/shop/","title":"Shop","menuOrder":0,"parent":0,"id":3}],"posts":[{"slug":"the-support-of-the-water-and-a-helping-hand","path":"/2026/06/28/the-support-of-the-water-and-a-helping-hand/","title":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","excerpt":"Whether you\u2019re learning to swim or just practising doing simple things in the water without tension \u2013 without losing the integrity of your head, neck and back \u2013 the help of another person\u2019s hands is always likely to be useful.","date":"2026-06-28T11:08:25","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","float-without-fear","hands-on-guidance","learning-to-swim","swim-with-stress"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1782649047392.png"},{"slug":"head-shoulders-knees-and-toes","path":"/2026/04/15/head-shoulders-knees-and-toes/","title":"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes","excerpt":"Where are we holding tension? What is helping us to move, what is holding us back?","date":"2026-04-15T15:20:12","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","body-awareness-swimming-for-health","swimming-to-relax","swimming-without-unnecessary-tension"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Compress_20260415_161214_4614.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-for-energy-not-exhaustion","path":"/2026/04/05/swimming-for-energy-not-exhaustion/","title":"Swimming for Energy, Not Exhaustion","excerpt":"Staying underwater seems to be the main difference between a swim that excites and one that relaxes.","date":"2026-04-05T10:42:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","mindfulness","parasympathetic-nervous-system","recreational-swimming","relaxed-swimming","swimming-for-health","yoga"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PXL_20250411_163934670-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"rachel-discovering-her-water-baby","path":"/2026/02/10/rachel-discovering-her-water-baby/","title":"Case Study: Rachel Finds Her \u2018Water Baby\u2019","excerpt":"I wanted to write this account to encourage people like me who have gone through life as a nervous or non-swimmer to visit SWS.","date":"2026-02-10T15:51:54","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","non-swimmers"],"tags":["adult-swimming-lessons","alexander-technique","learn-to-swim","one-to-one-lessons","overcome-fear-of-water","residential-swimming-course"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot_20260210-154652-e1771021556109.png"},{"slug":"swimming-for-health","path":"/2025/10/30/swimming-for-health/","title":"Swimming For Health?","excerpt":"However many lengths you can do, if you\u2019re twisting your neck and gasping for air, you are, in a way, going in the wrong direction.","date":"2025-10-30T12:11:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","lane-swimming","mindfulness","swimming","swimming-for-health","swimming-therapy"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/PXL_20251023_143419858-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"happy-underwater","path":"/2025/09/24/happy-underwater/","title":"Happy Underwater","excerpt":"As any happy 9 year old will show you as they play in the pool, unrestricted by adult imposed ideas and instructions, underwater is the place to be.","date":"2025-09-24T19:34:33","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","breathing","swimming-underwater"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_20190109_083614-min-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"swim-tweaks","path":"/2025/05/03/swim-tweaks/","title":"Swim Tweaks","excerpt":"Get yourself a damn fine coffee, read on and see if you could benefit from our investigative observations.","date":"2025-05-03T17:53:33","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","breaststroke","front-crawl","swimming-technique"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PXL_20250503_1706159732-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"reflections-on-the-poolside","path":"/2025/04/14/reflections-on-the-poolside/","title":"Reflections On The Poolside","excerpt":"This magical element is there to support you, young man. And you have all the ability you need for that \u2013 too much ability for you to see it. That\u2019s what I was like when I was his age, what I\u2019d tell my younger self.","date":"2025-04-14T13:51:55","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique-in-water","hotel-costa-calero","mediation","swim-training","swimming-for-health","yoga"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PXL_20250408_160704631-min-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"what-can-we-guarantee","path":"/2025/04/14/what-can-we-guarantee/","title":"What Can We Guarantee?","excerpt":"People often say after the first day that they can\u2019t believe they\u2019re doing what they\u2019re doing. \u2018Why has nobody ever told me this?\u2019 is something we frequently hear.","date":"2025-04-14T11:56:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers"],"tags":["intensive-swimming-course","learn-to-swim","residential-swimming-course","swimming-without-stress"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PXL_20250409_154436920-min-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"can-you-let-the-water-support-you","path":"/2025/02/04/can-you-let-the-water-support-you/","title":"Can You Let The Water Support You?","excerpt":"The water is a unique source of support and it helps us most when our main goal is to let it support us and enjoy it. Any other agenda gets in the way.","date":"2025-02-04T08:24:58","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["adult-swimming-lessons","alexander-technique","learn-to-swim","swimming-for-fitness"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_20190108_163244-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"streamlining-whats-your-position","path":"/2024/11/12/streamlining-whats-your-position/","title":"Streamlining: What\u2019s Your Position?","excerpt":"It\u2019s always useful, in Alexander work, to give something up, at least temporarily, that you feel you have to do.","date":"2024-11-12T21:57:42","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","alexander-technique-directions","breaststroke","streamlining"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG-20241112-WA0004.jpg"},{"slug":"putting-it-into-practice","path":"/2024/10/04/putting-it-into-practice/","title":"Putting It Into Practice","excerpt":"Everything fell into place and it was a joy to bob about as you can probably see from the attached photo.","date":"2024-10-04T13:03:53","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","going-swimming"],"tags":["case-studies","wild-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1000019118.jpg"},{"slug":"the-gift-of-giving","path":"/2024/09/07/the-gift-of-giving/","title":"The Gift of Giving","excerpt":"What we get back from giving ourselves to the water. The activity I find most valuable of all, as a foundation for swimming, and as something which stands happily alone, is floating by letting the water take the weight of my head, resting my forehead and sending my face towards the floor. Then waiti","date":"2024-09-07T14:50:53","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","breathing","fear-of-water","floating","learn-to-swim","neck-free"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1000017168-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"why-relaxing-your-neck-is-necessary","path":"/2024/07/16/why-relaxing-your-neck-is-necessary/","title":"Why Relaxing Your Neck Is Necessary","excerpt":"The less we do in water, the more simple we keep things, the easier it is to keep our neck free.","date":"2024-07-16T11:05:05","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_20190720_083147-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"the-other-side","path":"/2024/04/04/the-other-side/","title":"The Other Side","excerpt":"But, at the other side of all this, sometimes actually beneath you, hidden in plain sight, is pure, clear water, untainted by our striving.","date":"2024-04-04T10:38:52","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["childrens-swimming-lessons","learn-to-swim","lessons-in-penzance","swimming-lessons","swimming-with-stan"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_20180625_122906_513.jpg"},{"slug":"from-rosemary","path":"/2024/03/15/from-rosemary/","title":"From Rosemary, Still Enjoying Front Crawl In Her 80th Year","excerpt":"I swim a kilometre of front crawl three times a week and it\u2019s wonderful.","date":"2024-03-15T19:03:59","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","front-crawl","front-crawl-in-80s","swimming-for-exercise"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_0503-1-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"what-do-you-really-want","path":"/2024/01/24/what-do-you-really-want/","title":"What Do You Really Want?","excerpt":"We can help anybody in the water, with all our years of experience, but some people need our help more than others and some people have goals that make it less easy for us.","date":"2024-01-24T19:54:05","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["first-triathlon","learn-front-crawl","learning-to-swim-properly","triathlon"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_20180529_074757_149.jpg"},{"slug":"thinking-about-learning-to-swim","path":"/2023/10/31/thinking-about-learning-to-swim/","title":"Thinking About Learning to Swim?","excerpt":"The new experience awaiting you is a healthy relationship with the water. All good things that happen in water depend on that.","date":"2023-10-31T06:12:22","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","learn-to-swim","residential-course","swimming-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_000000_000000-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"taking-a-breather","path":"/2023/07/14/taking-a-breather/","title":"Taking a Breather","excerpt":"I went for a lane swim this morning. I thought I\u2019d take some full, deep breaths before each length and then, if I needed to come up for air, do some very gentle nose breathing. A couple of deep breaths through my nose easily gave me half a length. When I needed air, I took [\u2026]","date":"2023-07-14T05:50:25","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming","uncategorized"],"tags":["alexander-technique","buteyko-breathing","nose-breathing","wim-hof"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20160205_084714-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"drowning-in-the-sea-of-reaction","path":"/2023/07/08/drowning-in-the-sea-of-reaction/","title":"Drowning In The Sea of Reaction?","excerpt":"Keep your neck free and enjoy quietness and stillness underwater. Floating without fear is the basis for swimming without stress, for adding more skills that enable you to keep moving forward and get air when you need it, but it\u2019s more than just that.","date":"2023-07-08T20:54:59","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","drowning","fear-of-water","floating","reaction"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20170517_171223-1-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"when-swimming-is-and-isnt-therapy","path":"/2023/05/13/when-swimming-is-and-isnt-therapy/","title":"When swimming is, and isn\u2019t, therapy","excerpt":"More often than not, what people do in the pool, in a quest for fitness, can\u2019t be therapeutic because there\u2019s no freedom in it.","date":"2023-05-13T14:33:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","breathing","fitness-swimming","floating","lane-swimming","swimming-lengths","swimming-therapy"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_20190819_140559.jpg"},{"slug":"a-clear-view","path":"/2023/03/02/a-clear-view/","title":"A Clear View","excerpt":"I love it, when I think about it. But most of the time, I don\u2019t think about it, because I don\u2019t know I\u2019ve got it on.","date":"2023-03-02T17:00:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["japanese-goggles","view-fitness-swipe","view-goggles"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/swipe-am.webp"},{"slug":"the-wonder-of-a-natural-breath","path":"/2023/01/10/the-wonder-of-a-natural-breath/","title":"The Wonder Of A Natural Breath","excerpt":"Just look at this animation for a couple of minutes and see if your breathing changes.","date":"2023-01-10T10:08:35","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","breathing","breathing-physiology","jessica-wolf","oxygen-advantage"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/C0150700-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"heaven-nose","path":"/2022/11/02/heaven-nose/","title":"Heaven Nose","excerpt":"Instead of being too greedy for oxygen we need to allow more carbon dioxide to build up. To practise this, let air come in through the nose slowly and silently, as if you don\u2019t want your nasal hairs to move, so that you\u2019re not getting as much air in as you feel you\u2019d like.","date":"2022-11-02T07:28:50","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke","buteyko-method","nose-breathing","oxygen-advantage","patrick-mckeown"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3452-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"weather-to-wear-a-wetsuit-or-not","path":"/2022/06/29/weather-to-wear-a-wetsuit-or-not/","title":"Weather to Wear a Wetsuit (or Not?)","excerpt":"This unisex Aqua Skin was a game changer. Easy to get on and off, easy to move in and allowing natural buoyancy. When it\u2019s wet the glide neoprene feels exactly like a dolphin\u2019s skin (I imagine!)","date":"2022-06-29T15:07:01","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["aqua-sphere-swim-skin","cold-water-swimming","swimming-wetsuits","wetsuits"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/received_528173599089464-1024x693.jpeg"},{"slug":"my-submission","path":"/2022/05/08/my-submission/","title":"My Submission","excerpt":"With floating as a foundation, movement can be explored. I tend to move very slowly, underwater, coming up for air only when necessary and taking time over this process. I say to myself, \u2018I\u2019m not swimming\u2019, (but continuing to wish to allow things to happen).","date":"2022-05-08T10:33:19","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","buddha-teachings","mike-cross","non-doing","stephen-cooper","witnessing-whats-happening"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20161026_162928_1-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"follow-the-penguin","path":"/2022/02/28/follow-the-penguin/","title":"Follow the Penguin","excerpt":"Swimming underwater, like a penguin, is the way humans move naturally, efficiently and easily, and feel most relaxed. And it often takes just a few lessons to learn how to do it.","date":"2022-02-28T07:18:27","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming"],"tags":["breathing","coming-up-for-air","learn-to-swim","penguins-swimming","the-strokes"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/vsco-marine-life-nature-aquarium-thumbnail.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-teacher-training-a-ripple-effect","path":"/2022/01/25/swimming-teacher-training-a-ripple-effect/","title":"Swimming Teacher Training: A Ripple Effect","excerpt":"Swimming, moving your limbs to propel you forward, is secondary to being happy in water, underwater. You don\u2019t become happier by learning the right moves.","date":"2022-01-25T11:31:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","learn-to-swim","swimming-lessons","swimming-teacher-training"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/swimming_lessons.jpg"},{"slug":"how-slow-can-you-go","path":"/2021/11/02/how-slow-can-you-go/","title":"How Slow Can You Go?","excerpt":"One of the things I intuitively liked about swimming, from a young age, was being slowed down and supported by the water\u2019s resistance. But a mistake I made for many years was to use the clock to measure my improvement.","date":"2021-11-02T11:36:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","balance-in-water","marjory-barlow","slowing-down","swimming-speed","swimming-times"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/20170706_120353-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-for-a-bad-back","path":"/2021/09/27/swimming-for-a-bad-back/","title":"Swimming for a Bad Back?","excerpt":"Swimming can help us find quietness in the head, neck and back and in the nervous system. It\u2019s really important to enjoy this and to prevent disorder and overexcitement.","date":"2021-09-27T09:11:05","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique-in-water","back-problems","exercise-for-back-problems","swimming-for-bad-back"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_20210927_062715-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"haiku-are-in","path":"/2021/07/27/haiku-are-in/","title":"Haiku Are In!","excerpt":"We had a great response to our Haiku competition, inspired by Simon Armitage in his shed with Johnny Marr.","date":"2021-07-27T21:56:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["haiku","simon-armitage","swimming-poetry"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_20210719_1044553.jpg"},{"slug":"confidence-in-a-free-neck","path":"/2021/05/18/confidence-in-a-free-neck/","title":"Confidence In A Free Neck","excerpt":"When learning to put the face in the water and breathe out, the ability not to tighten your neck is the definitive difference between success and failure.","date":"2021-05-18T09:51:50","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/P1140785-1.jpg"},{"slug":"do-you-still-work-with-swimmers","path":"/2021/04/28/do-you-still-work-with-swimmers/","title":"Do you still work with swimmers?","excerpt":"We know just how to help someone who\u2019d like to idle around in the water and get the most out of its support. But we find that most swimmers who want to \u2018improve their strokes\u2019 need similar help.","date":"2021-04-28T10:13:12","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20170930_115917-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"trying-not-to-get-too-excited","path":"/2021/03/11/trying-not-to-get-too-excited/","title":"Trying Not To Get Too Excited","excerpt":"This Alexander Technique in water must be a process which exercises our use of inhibition, distinct from a process which exercises our muscles; a process where our focus is looking after the integrity of head, neck and back","date":"2021-03-11T08:09:06","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique-directions","exercise","fitness","inhibition","non-doing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_000000_000000-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"when-you-cant-swim","path":"/2021/01/30/when-you-cant-swim/","title":"When You Can\u2019t Swim","excerpt":"Another activity I\u2019ve been enjoying during lockdown is Wim Hof breathing. It\u2019s a cardiovascular workout without going anywhere. The feeling of exercised lungs reminds me of swimming training and the breath retention, of being underwater.","date":"2021-01-30T15:22:14","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming"],"tags":["challenge","challenges","depression","floating","meditation","mental-health","mindfulness","vestibular-system","wim-hof-method"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20180701_083343-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"is-swimming-without-stress-still-on-your-list","path":"/2020/11/30/is-swimming-without-stress-still-on-your-list/","title":"Is Swimming Without Stress still on your list?","excerpt":"Don\u2019t worry if you didn\u2019t get started this year \u2013 another year won\u2019t make any difference. There\u2019s no age limit and the great thing is you don\u2019t have to do much in the water for it to do you a lot of good.","date":"2020-11-30T17:45:19","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["never-too-late"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_20201126_162837-1024x575.jpg"},{"slug":"tip-top-tips","path":"/2020/10/24/tip-top-tips/","title":"Top Tips For Dips","excerpt":"Practising these non-doing activities can give you a real connection with the water. It can bring about integrity of head, neck and back and a sense of inner quietness. It can help calm your nervous system and wake up your cardiovascular system without stressing it.","date":"2020-10-24T14:37:10","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","basic-swimming-skills","floating","learn-to-swim","non-doing","non-swimmer","swimming-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_000000_000000-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"swim-your-own-swim","path":"/2020/10/17/swim-your-own-swim/","title":"Swim Your Own Swim","excerpt":"Most people think of swimming as being good for relaxation. But this very much depends on our approach.","date":"2020-10-17T09:02:07","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["douglas-murray-madness-of-crowds","group-think","recreational-swimming","swimming-and-health","swimming-groups"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_20200510_120829-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"when-does-the-without-stress-bit-start","path":"/2020/09/08/when-does-the-without-stress-bit-start/","title":"When does the \u2018Without Stress\u2019 bit start?","excerpt":"Helping people prevent themselves from going badly wrong can be like paddling against the tide, if they\u2019re doing something which is unnatural for them, or which they\u2019re not ready for.","date":"2020-09-08T19:39:18","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","endgaining-versus-means-whereby","enjoying-the-process","neck-tension"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/914c7ccb-5db4-4ffb-9255-d5a79faa0b6a-100-008-004-0396-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"looking-for-a-challenge","path":"/2020/08/25/looking-for-a-challenge/","title":"Looking For A Challenge?","excerpt":"Challenges like triathlons are likely to put us under stress. But the more vigorously we\u2019re doing something, the weaker the will to think, direct, allow, becomes.  When the messages stop getting through we can get into all kinds of trouble.","date":"2020-08-25T07:08:55","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog"],"tags":["alexander-technique","alexander-technique-directions","challenge","leadership","mindfulness","training","triathlon"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_20200821_092820-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"visit-wales-later","path":"/2020/08/02/visit-wales-later/","title":"Visit Wales. Later","excerpt":"If in daily life we generally don\u2019t let things happen, because we\u2019re human, we can decide that in water, where our human thought processes tend to ebb away, we will.","date":"2020-08-02T20:24:10","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["admin","business-and-alexander-technique","finance","floating","letting-it-happen"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IMG_20200108_104458-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"missing-bubbles","path":"/2020/07/23/missing-bubbles/","title":"Missing Bubbles?","excerpt":"We\u2019ve had a few dips in the sea during the last four months without access to the pool. Being in saltwater has many obvious, and celebrated, selling points. But the simplest benefit of swimming, breathing into water, is found most easily in the calm, warm pool, and anyone can enjoy it. Without","date":"2020-07-23T12:45:10","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["blowing-bubbles","fear-of-water","learn-to-swim","swimming-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200723_130259-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"conquer-your-fear-of-water","path":"/2020/07/09/conquer-your-fear-of-water/","title":"Conquer Your Fear of Water","excerpt":"\u2018Conquer your fear of water\u2019 might be a useful marketing slogan but it comes from the same kind of end\n\u2013 gaining thinking as \u2018master your front crawl\u2019.","date":"2020-07-09T17:10:37","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["aquaphobia","conquer-fear-of-water","fear-of-swimming","intensive-swimming-lessons","learn-to-swim","residential-swimming-course","swimming-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_20200709_180711.jpg"},{"slug":"coming-to-quiet","path":"/2020/06/11/coming-to-quiet/","title":"Coming to Quiet","excerpt":"As I glide off down a lane or to a distant buoy, I might have a notion, a feeling swimmers often have, that I\u2019m leaving all my baggage behind. But I\u2019m more likely to be lugging it along with me. There\u2019s too much action for my nervous system not to be excited.","date":"2020-06-11T19:48:11","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","direction","margaret-goldie","non-doing","non-swimming","not-to-do"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20180707_191154-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"roundup","path":"/2020/06/11/roundup/","title":"Roundup","excerpt":"Today we went to Ceibwr Bay The sea was quiet and cold Gordon found a rotting seal He ate a bit and rolled. I hosed him down, he\u2019s patient With things he doesn\u2019t like I got a cider from the fridge And sprayed him with Old Spike. I watched a YouTube video With clarity I [\u2026]","date":"2020-06-11T10:50:26","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["erika-whittaker","roundup","zachbushmd"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190906_171443.jpg"},{"slug":"follow-us-off-instagram","path":"/2020/06/02/follow-us-off-instagram/","title":"Follow Us Off Instagram","excerpt":"Too many moments turned into photo opportunities, too much screen time monitoring \u2018likes\u2019 and scrolling through other people\u2019s pictures.","date":"2020-06-02T15:56:22","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["croft-farm-and-celtic-cottages","instagram","pembrokeshire-coast-path","west-wales"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_000000_000000-1024x576.jpg"},{"slug":"hopefully-i-wont-get-any-better","path":"/2020/05/23/hopefully-i-wont-get-any-better/","title":"\u2018Hopefully I won\u2019t get any better.\u2019","excerpt":"Cheryl and I have been watching Grayson Perry\u2019s Art Club during lockdown. The programme encourages viewers to make art to help us through this period of change and isolation. People send their work in.","date":"2020-05-23T23:22:26","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["art","grayson-perry","lockdown","teaching-children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Screenshot_20200524_000146.jpg"},{"slug":"golden-hour","path":"/2020/05/03/golden-hour/","title":"Golden Hour","excerpt":"In a sense there is nothing to learn, just lots of stuff to let go of, though for many people this is counter-intuitive in water.","date":"2020-05-03T17:16:36","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learn-to-swim","residential-swimming-course","swimming-lessons","swimming-without-stress"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_000000_000000-1-768x1024.jpg"},{"slug":"lets-hang-loose-with-what-weve-got","path":"/2020/03/13/lets-hang-loose-with-what-weve-got/","title":"Let\u2019s Hang Loose With What We\u2019ve Got!","excerpt":"We have to be prepared to work with what we\u2019ve got, so that we don\u2019t lose enjoyment, instead of striving towards some distant goal, like swimming for exercise, which we hope to enjoy in the future.","date":"2020-03-13T18:07:29","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","enjoying-the-process","floating","goals","health-benefits-of-being-in-water","learn-to-swim","striving","therapeutic-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_20200313_170228.jpg"},{"slug":"becoming-a-thing-that-swims","path":"/2020/03/07/becoming-a-thing-that-swims/","title":"Becoming A Thing That Swims","excerpt":"It occurs to me that this \u2018non-swimming\u2019 might be the closest I get to belonging in the water. A bit like a kid going swimming and being allowed to play.","date":"2020-03-07T06:18:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","conventional-swimming","natural-movement","non-doing","striving","swimming-strokes"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_20200307_061555.jpg"},{"slug":"magical-mystery-torso","path":"/2020/02/28/magical-mystery-torso/","title":"Magical Mystery Torso","excerpt":"I\u2019m enjoying watching The Great Pottery Throw Down.\u00a0 In one episode the potters were trying ingenious methods to try to support their two-feet high Greek style statues. The soft clay of the legs was unable to support the weight of the torso. The legs needed to be dried until they became s","date":"2020-02-28T10:05:07","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","buoyancy","elisabeth-walker","great-pottery-showdown","mushroom-float","old-english-backstroke","support-mechanism","the-spine"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_20200228_100358-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"pre-swim-wish-list","path":"/2020/02/19/pre-swim-wish-list/","title":"Pre Swim Wish List","excerpt":"I\u2019m going for a swim in a quiet pool where the water\u2019s a comfortable temperature. What do I want?\u2026","date":"2020-02-19T17:17:08","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["exercise","health-benefits","mindfulness"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_20200219_171352119-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"all-you-need-is-love","path":"/2020/02/14/all-you-need-is-love/","title":"All You Need Is Love","excerpt":"Putting love of the water into practice\u2026 Swimmers often talk about our love of water. But one way or another we fight the thing we love. If we work\u00a0 at using the energy of love in relationships, we might be less selfish, more tolerant, better listeners.\u00a0\u00a0 I love the water for its consistent su","date":"2020-02-14T03:15:49","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique-directions","dick-walker","love-in-water","love-of-water","richard-walker"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20161212_102021.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-without-strokes","path":"/2020/01/08/swimming-without-strokes/","title":"Swimming Without Strokes","excerpt":"By conditioning and habit, I think of well executed strokes as real swimming, and of messing around underwater with a relaxed neck as not really swimming. I\u2019m starting to think it\u2019s the other way round.","date":"2020-01-08T16:23:12","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim","most-read"],"tags":["learn-not-to-swim","natural-movement","swimming-strokes"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_20200108_151614-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"changing-objective","path":"/2020/01/02/changing-objective/","title":"Changing the Objective?","excerpt":"All swimming teachers are at times blinkered by the idea that a person\u2019s feelings about the water will change when independence is gained. Often they do change, from that moment, but independence can\u2019t be rushed or forced.","date":"2020-01-02T19:09:06","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim","most-read"],"tags":["anxiety","fear-of-water","non-swimmer","teaching-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_20190607_200126.jpg"},{"slug":"how-exactly-does-swimming-help-anxiety","path":"/2020/01/02/how-exactly-does-swimming-help-anxiety/","title":"How exactly does swimming help anxiety?","excerpt":"Try taking a worry underwater with you. It sort of floats alongside you and can\u2019t get in. It\u2019s almost impossible to think intellectually, to ruminate.","date":"2020-01-02T06:33:20","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","most-read"],"tags":["alexander-technique","anxiety","mental-health","mindfulness","psychology"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190906_080223.jpg"},{"slug":"think-or-swim","path":"/2020/01/01/think-or-swim/","title":"Think or Swim?","excerpt":"The novelty of floating face down, weightless and still, never wears off. And maybe it\u2019s enough. Because actual forward movement in the horizontal plane is more problematic for humans than other animals.","date":"2020-01-01T08:47:44","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim","most-read"],"tags":["alexander-technique","alternative-pool-session","floating","health-benefits-of-being-in-water","treading-water","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/23f3dc96-59bc-4c0b-b288-64c9b4c55a4b-100-009-004-0432.jpg"},{"slug":"x-6","path":"/2020/01/01/x-6/","title":"x","excerpt":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","date":"2020-01-01T00:00:00","author":null,"authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["uncategorized"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":null},{"slug":"x-5","path":"/2020/01/01/x-5/","title":"x","excerpt":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","date":"2020-01-01T00:00:00","author":null,"authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["uncategorized"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":null},{"slug":"x-4","path":"/2020/01/01/x-4/","title":"x","excerpt":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","date":"2020-01-01T00:00:00","author":null,"authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["uncategorized"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":null},{"slug":"x-3","path":"/2020/01/01/x-3/","title":"x","excerpt":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","date":"2020-01-01T00:00:00","author":null,"authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["uncategorized"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":null},{"slug":"x-2","path":"/2020/01/01/x-2/","title":"x","excerpt":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","date":"2020-01-01T00:00:00","author":null,"authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["uncategorized"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":null},{"slug":"x","path":"/2020/01/01/x/","title":"x","excerpt":"The Support of the Water and a Helping Hand","date":"2020-01-01T00:00:00","author":null,"authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["uncategorized"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":null},{"slug":"bankers","path":"/2019/12/24/bankers/","title":"Bankers","excerpt":"\u2018Get into your good bodies\u2026go for a swim\u2019, the family therapist advises in \u2018Succession\u2019,  (HBO drama I\u2019m very much enjoying). He then proceeds to dive into the shallow end of the pool and loses half his teeth.","date":"2019-12-24T10:57:41","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique-directions","meditation","non-doing","succession"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG_20190216_114525-2-scaled.jpg"},{"slug":"gradual-progress-to-good-enough","path":"/2019/11/15/gradual-progress-to-good-enough/","title":"Gradual Progression to Good Enough","excerpt":"Somewhere along the line I stopped pushing Robert to try and do anything that wasn\u2019t natural for him.","date":"2019-11-15T07:39:34","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","gradual-process","gradual-progress","learning"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_20191115_072852.jpg"},{"slug":"taking-the-swimming-out-of-swimming","path":"/2019/10/19/taking-the-swimming-out-of-swimming/","title":"Taking the swimming out of swimming","excerpt":"As a learner, you have to get rid of the idea that you have to do anything,to get somewhere. And as a teacher you have to make sure you\u2019re not reinforcing this idea, with or without your hands.","date":"2019-10-19T06:48:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","most-read"],"tags":["floating","non-doing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_000000_000000.jpg"},{"slug":"poet-in-motion","path":"/2019/09/29/poet-in-motion/","title":"Poet in motion","excerpt":"You can be poetic about your experiences, in or out of the water, but when you\u2019re stiffening your neck you can\u2019t be free.","date":"2019-09-29T14:16:30","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breaststroke","freedom","leonard-cohen","meditation","stopping"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190921_152845.jpg"},{"slug":"back-at-home","path":"/2019/09/02/back-at-home/","title":"Back at home","excerpt":"It was such a special experience, even better than anything I could have imagined and I have been enjoying the memories ever since.","date":"2019-09-02T08:40:18","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","memories","practice"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_20190903_080535_178.jpg"},{"slug":"if-i-win-the-lottery","path":"/2019/08/30/if-i-win-the-lottery/","title":"If I win the lottery\u2026","excerpt":"If you\u2019re a non-swimmer, you\u2019re lucky really because your most interesting and rewarding work will be learning to trust the water to support you so you can glide freely, letting air out under the surface, and regain your feet without panicking.","date":"2019-08-30T11:30:45","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","fear-of-water","floating","non-doing","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FB_IMG_1498056010837.jpg"},{"slug":"ameo-powerbreather-unique-twin-tube-fresh-air-training-snorkel-review","path":"/2019/08/07/ameo-powerbreather-unique-twin-tube-fresh-air-training-snorkel-review/","title":"Ameo Powerbreather \u2013 Unique Twin Tube Fresh Air Training Snorkel Review","excerpt":"There\u2019s no gasping and it\u2019s easy to achieve a regular breathing pattern. On getting out I feel I\u2019ve been in another world for half an hour. To remain completely submerged is peaceful and calming.","date":"2019-08-07T13:44:02","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["powerbreather","swimming-snorkel","training-snorkel"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/powerbreather-swimming-pool-cover-e1565185338788.jpg"},{"slug":"fight-or-flight-or-float","path":"/2019/07/24/fight-or-flight-or-float/","title":"Fight or Flight, or Float","excerpt":"The RNLI currently have a campaign, Float to Live, to inform people that floating, not swimming, saves people who find themselves stranded in deep water.","date":"2019-07-24T06:57:52","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim","most-read","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["floattolive","rnli","survival","therapy"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Float-2.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-with-the-alexander-technique-or-the-other-way-round","path":"/2019/07/05/swimming-with-the-alexander-technique-or-the-other-way-round/","title":"Swimming with the Alexander Technique \u2013 or the other way round?","excerpt":"Giving my directions before going into a movement in water changes my experience profoundly, even with activities I could do in my sleep. It\u2019s always worth doing the same old work.","date":"2019-07-05T19:25:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","most-read"],"tags":["alexander-technique","shaw-method"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/received_333935117553170.jpeg"},{"slug":"how-to-swim-head-up-breaststroke","path":"/2019/04/21/how-to-swim-head-up-breaststroke/","title":"How to Swim Head Up Breaststroke","excerpt":"Head up breaststroke is particularly useful for swimming outdoors, for navigation, taking in your surroundings, communicating with other people and avoiding putting your face in cold water.","date":"2019-04-21T19:56:38","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","most-read","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["head-up-breaststroke","swimming-outdoors","wild-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IMG_20190421_202929-1024x808.jpg"},{"slug":"a-natural-breath-what-are-the-chances","path":"/2019/04/10/a-natural-breath-what-are-the-chances/","title":"A Natural Breath \u2013 What are the chances?","excerpt":"It is possible to let air out freely into the water then allow it to come in without tightening the neck and gasping, but it requires a lot of preventive thinking and, if we\u2019re too focused on our goals, our chances are going to be slim.","date":"2019-04-10T07:53:19","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breathing","natural-breathing","swimming-underwater"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IMG_20190406_054410.jpg"},{"slug":"look-at-me","path":"/2019/04/04/look-at-me/","title":"Look At Me","excerpt":"An image of a swimming teacher powering along, slick forearm hanging loosely off nice high elbow, or taking an easy breaststroke breath with bottom lip resting on surface, palms up underwater, kind of suggests, \u2018Look at me. I can teach you to swim like me.\u2019 And this might be misleading.","date":"2019-04-04T07:39:23","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers"],"tags":["learn-to-swim","researching-a-swimming-course","teaching-approaches"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IMG-20181117-WA0005.jpg"},{"slug":"where-did-it-all-go-wrong","path":"/2019/03/12/where-did-it-all-go-wrong/","title":"Where Did It All Go Wrong?","excerpt":"We can\u2019t be free until we stop pulling our head into our body. This means allowing separation of the head from the neck. This is what the Alexander Technique direction \u2018neck free\u2019 is about.","date":"2019-03-12T22:32:38","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique-directions"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_20180910_210138_636.jpg"},{"slug":"welcome-to-the-comfort-zone","path":"/2019/03/05/welcome-to-the-comfort-zone/","title":"Welcome to the Comfort Zone","excerpt":"I often see this kind of motivational writing: You\u2019re fat. Have a good look at yourself and work out how you\u2019re going to run your first 5k. You can\u2019t swim. Start with a length, which feels impossible at first, then work towards 4 lengths without stopping. Before you know it, you ca","date":"2019-03-05T15:44:38","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique","beneficial-effects-of-swimming","exercise","health-and-fitness","motivation"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_20180927_190237_879.jpg"},{"slug":"only-more-freedom","path":"/2019/02/16/only-more-freedom/","title":"Only More Freedom","excerpt":"What does \u2018going swimming\u2019 mean to children when they beg us to take them? Play. Adventure. Fun. Adults are different in water but we can still be creative and explore.","date":"2019-02-16T21:47:26","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["being-creative","children","exploring","freedom-of-movement","play"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/039-2.jpg"},{"slug":"observations-and-experiences-at-the-piscine-molitor","path":"/2019/01/13/observations-and-experiences-at-the-piscine-molitor/","title":"Observations and Experiences at the Piscine Molitor","excerpt":"What a place. Cool but warm water meets crisp winter air. It doesn\u2019t get much better than swimming (but not swimming up and down) in a pool like this.","date":"2019-01-13T18:02:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke","fins","kickboard","lane-swimming","piscine-molitor","training-aids"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_20190108_164850-845x1024.jpg"},{"slug":"new-windows","path":"/2019/01/07/new-windows/","title":"New Windows","excerpt":"The people most capable of getting something really beneficial from being in water are the least likely to do it.","date":"2019-01-07T14:41:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","health-benefits-of-being-in-water","hotel-molitor","movement","piscine-molitor","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bassin__t_.1400757442.jpg"},{"slug":"learning-to-swim-like-a-robot","path":"/2018/12/29/learning-to-swim-like-a-robot/","title":"Learning to Swim Like a Robot","excerpt":"What I\u2019m doing isn\u2019t helping me rest, breathe or move. I\u2019m hindered by the starched, heavy cloak of trying, doing it \u2018right\u2019, and there\u2019s nothing worse!","date":"2018-12-29T16:36:10","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["flow-versus-mechanical","thinking","trying"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/RobotSwimming.png"},{"slug":"want-to-swim-like-shinji","path":"/2018/11/11/want-to-swim-like-shinji/","title":"Want to Swim Like Shinji?","excerpt":"Don\u2019t associate Alexander Technique in water with the perfect stroke, if there\u2019s any such thing, because it can be so much more basic, and available to everyone, than that.","date":"2018-11-11T10:33:07","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["ambition","being-realistic","front-crawl","keeping-it-simple","shinji-takeuchi"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180928_225730.jpg"},{"slug":"flip-side-of-front-crawl-for-fitness","path":"/2018/07/20/flip-side-of-front-crawl-for-fitness/","title":"Flip Side of Front Crawl for Fitness","excerpt":"\u201cI need front crawl for aerobic fitness,\u201d said Joe today. He doesn\u2019t believe his beautifully coordinated breaststroke gives him enough of a workout, but a physical disability prevents him from lifting and fully extending one of his arms. Partly because of this, his front crawl is a rushed, gaspy aff","date":"2018-07-20T19:31:08","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["exercise","fitness","front-crawl","lane-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/C0281513.jpg"},{"slug":"quality-time","path":"/2018/06/17/quality-time/","title":"Quality Time","excerpt":"Are you a recreational swimmer who needs to be more relaxed?.. \u201c Spending more time underwater, then more time getting air in, is easier than centering swimming around quick, frequent inhalations.\u201d Two things that put people wrong in water are the quest for the mastery of the strokes and the e","date":"2018-06-17T19:16:06","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breaststroke","breathing","front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/20180128_071652.jpg"},{"slug":"non-swimmers-know-your-needs","path":"/2018/04/12/non-swimmers-know-your-needs/","title":"Non-swimmers: Know Your Needs","excerpt":"Advice for anyone not enjoying the water\u2026 \u201cCan we have another go at this breaststroke breathing?\u2019 asked David, red faced and out of puff, desperate to learn, prepared to suffer in his efforts but no more likely for that to succeed. I had to say no.\u201d People who can\u2019t swim oft","date":"2018-04-12T14:23:36","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20180914_230404-1.jpg"},{"slug":"a-good-start","path":"/2018/03/24/a-good-start/","title":"A Good Start","excerpt":"If you\u2019re bracing for take-off, here\u2019s what to take on board\u2026 In water, as on land, in order to feel comfortable, be able to relax and breathe, you need to feel balanced. As humans, unable to fly, we need support either from the floor or the water. When nervous swimmers set off to ","date":"2018-03-24T14:17:27","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["swimming-technique"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/20160205_163539.jpg"},{"slug":"authentic-movement-in-water","path":"/2018/02/24/authentic-movement-in-water/","title":"Authentic Movement In Water","excerpt":"Getting into water and exploring movement, without knowing what you\u2019re going to do next\u2026 \u201c Authentic Movement is a simple form of self-directed movement, usually done with eyes closed and attention directed inward, in the presence of at least one witness. Movers explore spontaneous gestu","date":"2018-02-24T19:23:49","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["authentic-movement","play"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0512488.jpg"},{"slug":"can-you-have-your-cake-and-eat-it","path":"/2018/02/06/can-you-have-your-cake-and-eat-it/","title":"Can You Have Your Cake and Eat It?","excerpt":"\u2018Let go and float like an embryo/ learn to move forwards with some kind of flow\u2019. I came up with that line whilst in the woods with the dogs after a trip to the craniosacral therapist. As I lay on his table we had a discussion about not getting anywhere, just being, and in this [\u2026","date":"2018-02-06T14:15:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["swimming-for-fitness"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/20180617_163931.jpg"},{"slug":"diary-of-a-man-learning-to-swim","path":"/2018/01/16/diary-of-a-man-learning-to-swim/","title":"Diary of a Man Learning to Swim","excerpt":"Michael from Gloucestershire came for our residential course as a non-swimmer with fear of water. After each of his 8 x 45 minute lessons with Cheryl and Ian, Michael took notes to help him process his new experiences\u2026","date":"2018-01-16T22:00:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","learning-to-swim","most-read"],"tags":["non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20160109_095248.jpg"},{"slug":"want-to-relax-what-swimming-on-your-back-lacks","path":"/2017/12/17/want-to-relax-what-swimming-on-your-back-lacks/","title":"Want to Relax? What Swimming on Your Back Lacks","excerpt":"Why you can\u2019t free your neck on your back like you can face down, and how to deal with it\u2026 Picture a person lying back in sparkling water, smiling up at the cloudless sky. It\u2019s a classic image of liberation and escape, frequently used on holiday adverts. But look closely at anyone floati","date":"2017-12-17T19:14:33","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["floating","floating-on-back","head-neck-back-relationship-in-water","swimming-on-back"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20170706_120351.jpg"},{"slug":"getting-a-view-on-front-crawl-sighting","path":"/2017/12/14/getting-a-view-on-front-crawl-sighting/","title":"Getting a View on Front Crawl Sighting","excerpt":"I saw a video on Instagram of someone swimming in the most exquisite of locations, the canyons of the American wild west. With his bright swimming cap and tinted Aqua Sphere Kayenne goggles, he had the right gear and looked assured in his technique. This included \u2018sighting\u2019, lifting his ","date":"2017-12-14T19:03:30","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["front-crawl","open-water","sighting"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/getting-view-on-sighting-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"searching-for-still-water","path":"/2017/11/15/searching-for-still-water/","title":"Searching for Still Water","excerpt":"Does too much head movement negate the benefits of swimming for people with sensitive vestibular systems? I was disturbed recently to come across a video of young adults with autism/ learning difficulties swimming front crawl, flat out, badly. They were putting their bodies under terrible strain, un","date":"2017-11-15T18:59:57","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["autism","balance","chris-packham","learning-difficulties","middle-ear","special-olympics","vestibular-system"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20180224_090128-1.jpg"},{"slug":"mindfulness-word-of-the-moment","path":"/2017/10/31/mindfulness-word-of-the-moment/","title":"Mindfulness: Word of the Moment?","excerpt":"\u201c Aerobic exercise releases endorphins, which makes you feel happy, and gets you out and about talking to other people. These things are probably useful for mental health. But what about mindfulness? What do people mean when they keep talking about it? How likely is it to happen when swimming?\u201d","date":"2017-10-31T18:54:17","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["mindfulness"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20161120_151834.jpg"},{"slug":"a-sea-swimmer-in-june","path":"/2017/10/18/a-sea-swimmer-in-june/","title":"A Sea Swimmer in June","excerpt":"Lessons with Ian and Cheryl at Croft Farm changed how I feel about floating, getting a breath, allowed me to experience that sensation which now feels like flying!","date":"2017-10-18T21:59:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["front-crawl","outdoor-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/junewong.jpg"},{"slug":"surface-tension","path":"/2017/10/11/surface-tension/","title":"Surface Tension?","excerpt":"Learning to get your face out to breathe. A competent swimmer makes a smooth transition between water and air. It\u2019s the most challenging part of learning to swim. Being underwater is the place to be, to relax and develop feel for water. This is why people love snorkeling. It gives access to another ","date":"2017-10-11T18:46:37","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breathing","getting-head-out"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170929_164132-3.jpg"},{"slug":"just-what-the-doctor-ordered","path":"/2017/09/27/just-what-the-doctor-ordered/","title":"Just What the Doctor Ordered","excerpt":"The creative benefits of a dip outdoors People who recommend swimming for exercise benefits are often unaware of the strain it can cause. Few swimmers are free from the tendency to fix joints, compress the spine and overdo the breathing. It\u2019s easy to see that swimming lengths with the face out of th","date":"2017-09-27T18:40:59","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["health-benefits","swimming-outdoors","wild-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/received_198329064442119.jpeg"},{"slug":"following-the-flow","path":"/2017/09/24/following-the-flow/","title":"Following the Flow","excerpt":"When leading is misleading\u2026 \u201c Anticipation of the next movement and a preconception of what it should look and feel like makes you rush ahead. Ahead of the rhythm of the stroke and the help of the water.\u201d When I\u2019m teaching swimming I often hear myself saying \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s about letting&nbs","date":"2017-09-24T18:37:50","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["flow-in-water","salsa-dancing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/following-the-flow-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"freedom-from-form","path":"/2017/09/06/freedom-from-form/","title":"Freedom from Form","excerpt":"Available to Everybody We haven\u2019t evolved to swim distances.\u00a0 The four competitive strokes are by their nature restricting. They are products of learnt patterns of movement designed to get us through the water as fast and efficiently as possible. Repeated use over time is likely to cause us so","date":"2017-09-06T09:38:03","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","front-crawl","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["getting-it-right","natural-movement","swimming-strokes","trying"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180326_1154411.jpg"},{"slug":"not-so-slow-sophie","path":"/2017/08/17/not-so-slow-sophie/","title":"Not So Slow Sophie","excerpt":"Cheryl makes friends with a head-up breaststroker on holiday and shares her top tips\u2026 \u201c Despite her lovely stroke and confidence, keeping her head above the water simply made her stroke less efficient than everyone else\u2019s. \u201c","date":"2017-08-17T21:56:52","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["breaststroke","case-studies","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["breaststroke","head-up-breaststroke","outdoor-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/not-so-slow-sophie.jpg"},{"slug":"view-pirana-goggles-review","path":"/2017/08/03/view-pirana-goggles-review/","title":"View Pirana Goggles Review","excerpt":"The mirrored version has been Ian\u2019s choice over the summer\u2026 \u201c They weigh almost nothing, and I don\u2019t feel them on my face. They don\u2019t give the sensation of tunnel vision that other small goggles do. The straps are hypoallergenic, soft and easy to adjust. They haven\u2019t leaked for me at all and t","date":"2017-08-03T18:14:00","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["view-pirana-goggles"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170705_155156.jpg"},{"slug":"whats-welsh-for-puddle","path":"/2017/07/24/whats-welsh-for-puddle/","title":"What\u2019s Welsh for Puddle?","excerpt":"Learning to let learning happen\u2026 I\u2019ve lived in Wales for 18 years, my dad\u2019s Welsh and a friend recommended I put myself in the position of learner starting from scratch, like a lot of our pupils. So I\u2019ve started learning Welsh. The internet course I\u2019m doing, \u00a0Say Something in Welsh, involves c","date":"2017-07-24T18:09:06","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learning","welsh"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170721_191742.jpg"},{"slug":"just-floating-an-idea","path":"/2017/07/08/just-floating-an-idea/","title":"Just Floating An Idea","excerpt":"\u201c The healing properties of salt water have been acknowledged for centuries. But if there\u2019s going to be healing, in or out of the water, the less we \u2018do\u2019, the better. And I think that might be the reality which is clouded by the idea of swimming.\u201d If I teach people they can float, the [&","date":"2017-07-08T17:45:41","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["floating","healing-properties-of-water"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3168-2.jpg"},{"slug":"going-away-and-getting-somewhere","path":"/2017/07/04/going-away-and-getting-somewhere/","title":"Going Away and Getting Somewhere","excerpt":"Cheryl\u2019s home from her Strel Swimming Adventure in Montenegro\u2026 Thank you Strel Swimming Adventures for the lovely trip in Montenegro last week. This was the prize I won in the raffle at the 2017\u00a0Cold Water Swimming Championships. On Monday, before breakfast, we had our first swim fr","date":"2017-07-04T17:31:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["strel-swimming-holidays","swimming-outdoors"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20170930_115825.jpg"},{"slug":"i-am-not-a-swimming-instructor","path":"/2017/07/03/i-am-not-a-swimming-instructor/","title":"I Am Not A Swimming Instructor","excerpt":"Freedom from the shackles of a job title\u2026 \u201c Facebook requires you to say what your business page is about. Feasible categories include Swimming Instructor, Health and Wellness Website, Teacher/ Tutor and Swimwear Store. Alexander Technique isn\u2019t on the list. I went for Tutor/ Teacher. \u201c ","date":"2017-07-03T18:19:35","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["fear-of-water","swimming-teacher"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_5857-e1539195975899.jpg"},{"slug":"old-man-river","path":"/2017/06/17/old-man-river/","title":"Old Man River","excerpt":"Reflections on Swimming with the Alexander Technique\u2026 \u201c It\u2019s as if the river doesn\u2019t mind one solitary human quietly joining it. With a group, it quickly becomes a human environment \u2013 we take over, make a noise, change things.\u201d I went for a swim in my favourite stretch of the River","date":"2017-06-17T17:24:56","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["breaststroke","outdoor-swimming","river-teifi","wild-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170712_182336.jpg"},{"slug":"zen-and-now","path":"/2017/06/16/zen-and-now/","title":"Zen and Now","excerpt":"Clinical hypnotherapist Lesley from Sussex changes her mind in water. I thought I knew what to expect when I embarked on my 8 lessons of \u2018Swimming Without Stress\u2019. I was wrong. It\u2019s almost the exact opposite of the normal experience of learning to swim. \u00a0For me, this had entailed a few l","date":"2017-06-16T21:52:34","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["swimming-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/lesley-swsblog-main.jpg"},{"slug":"which-end-of-the-pool-were-you-in-at-school","path":"/2017/05/20/which-end-of-the-pool-were-you-in-at-school/","title":"Which End of the Pool Were You in at School?","excerpt":"\u201c The lack of a meaningful plan which caused suffering for the nervous kids was liable to be a problem for the swimmers too. Some of those envied deep-enders, including the more confident, sporty ones, were just swimming on instinct.\u201d In the school swimming lessons people tell us about there w","date":"2017-05-20T17:05:03","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["authoritarian-swimming-lessons","old-fashioned-swimming-lessons","school-swimming-lessons","teaching-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1970-swimming-lessons-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"meet-me-at-the-symmetry-gates","path":"/2017/03/27/meet-me-at-the-symmetry-gates/","title":"Meet Me at the Symmetry Gates","excerpt":"Aiming for balance in the water\u2026 \u201c Breaststroke and butterfly are symmetrical. The two sides of our body do the same thing at the same time. Front crawl and backstroke are asymmetrical. Like when we walk, our left and right sides balance each other through opposition.\u201d The thing I want m","date":"2017-03-27T16:59:52","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke","symmetry"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20150728_091712.jpg"},{"slug":"taking-a-break","path":"/2017/02/23/taking-a-break/","title":"Taking A Break!","excerpt":"Ian\u2019s Intervals help Cheryl\u2019s countdown to open water adventure\u2026 \u201c The Strel website suggests you should be able to swim about 2.2 km per hour (the course being a couple of swims a day of around this distance). And there\u2019s my first obstacle \u2013 how do I know how fast I swim? I\u2019m goin","date":"2017-02-23T16:07:40","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/XMNTH3KzOe8HoeXEeJhlKmT5bMcURdQsLhUAeyCO-1.jpeg"},{"slug":"enjoying-the-journey-with-breaststroke-and-butterfly","path":"/2017/02/15/enjoying-the-journey-with-breaststroke-and-butterfly/","title":"Enjoying the Journey with Breaststroke and Butterfly","excerpt":"Looking ahead with no left and right turns\u2026 \u201c Rhythmically, meditatively, without stress, without worries, I alternated lengths of breaststroke with butterfly, looking where I was going, enjoying the view, easily coordinating top and bottom halves of the body. Diving, gliding, breathing, flowi","date":"2017-02-15T15:58:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke","butterfly"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170209_061456.jpg"},{"slug":"why-dont-i-just-stick-my-neck-out","path":"/2016/11/24/why-dont-i-just-stick-my-neck-out/","title":"Why Don\u2019t I Just Stick My Neck Out?","excerpt":"Can finding a balanced front crawl breathing position be more than just a drill? \u201c Kicking on the side with the face out of the water was originally devised as a drill, to give the experience of a balanced, unhurried way of coming out to breathe. It\u2019s a dynamic resting position, where the body","date":"2016-11-24T19:19:13","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["front-crawl-breathing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20160205_093640.jpg"},{"slug":"stopping-the-fight-for-survival","path":"/2016/11/02/stopping-the-fight-for-survival/","title":"Stopping the Fight for Survival","excerpt":"What stops people experiencing the support of the water,  aka floating,  is \u2018doing\u2019. And what causes the idea that we have to do something is fear.","date":"2016-11-02T19:15:44","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["floating","learn-to-swim","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0150702.jpg"},{"slug":"helping-hands-2","path":"/2016/10/02/helping-hands-2/","title":"Helping Hands","excerpt":"The importance of hands on guidance in teaching people to swim\u2026 Touch reaches parts of the brain that words and images can\u2019t. \u00a0Hands-on guidance may be as important for improvers as it is for non swimmers, who can\u2019t do without it. Learners of strokes don\u2019t always want too muc","date":"2016-10-02T15:38:52","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["hands-on-guidance","learn-to-swim","swimming-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/P1140708.jpg"},{"slug":"diving-into-breaststroke","path":"/2016/09/26/diving-into-breaststroke/","title":"Diving Into Breaststroke","excerpt":"Thinking of dolphins and Adam Peaty\u2026 If you\u2019d like to improve your breaststroke, \u00a0it may help to think of it as a series of glides or, if you\u2019re feeling more dynamic, a series of dives.Olympic swimmers like Adam Peaty come up a long way out of the water and dive into each stro","date":"2016-09-26T15:31:28","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","going-swimming"],"tags":["adam-peaty","breaststroke"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20160925_154656_016-1.jpg"},{"slug":"landing-before-standing","path":"/2016/08/08/landing-before-standing/","title":"Landing Before Standing","excerpt":"Getting your feet back on the ground\u2026 \u201c Without confidence in the skill of regaining the feet, adult learners need to get to a wall or a person, a point of safety. If they don\u2019t manage this, it can get messy, if not dangerous. \u201c If you know how to regain your feet properly in [&hel","date":"2016-08-08T18:52:44","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim","most-read"],"tags":["balance","non-swimmer","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20150728_091033.jpg"},{"slug":"dive-in-a-holiday-to-turn-your-child-into-a-water-baby-hattie-garlick-travel-writer-daily-telegraph-july-16th-2016","path":"/2016/07/18/dive-in-a-holiday-to-turn-your-child-into-a-water-baby-hattie-garlick-travel-writer-daily-telegraph-july-16th-2016/","title":"Dive In! A holiday to turn your child into a water baby, Hattie Garlick, Travel Writer, Daily Telegraph, July 16th, 2016","excerpt":"\u201c By the end of the first session, Johnny trusted Ian so completely that he was floating on his back, his body completely relaxed.\u201d As a critic, it\u2019s useful to travel with a companion who knows his own mind. This time, however, I\u00a0had a feeling my son\u2019s attitude could prove an obstacle: \u201cI don\u2019","date":"2016-07-18T16:35:49","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["daily-telegraph","press","teaching-children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dive-in-daily-telegraph-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"stroke-rehabilitation-what-the-physio-doesnt-tell-you","path":"/2016/06/22/stroke-rehabilitation-what-the-physio-doesnt-tell-you/","title":"Stroke Rehabilitation: What The Physio Doesn\u2019t Tell You","excerpt":"\u201c It doesn\u2019t make sense to advise anybody to do anything in water, without knowing what that person\u2019s relationship with the water is like, and how that person swims.\u201d Swimming is frequently recommended by physiotherapists to people with any kind of injury.\u00a0 Particular strokes are en","date":"2016-06-22T18:46:13","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["medical-advice","physiotherapy","rehabilitation","swimming-advice"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/P1130924.jpg"},{"slug":"attention-please-one-to-one-works","path":"/2016/06/11/attention-please-one-to-one-works/","title":"Attention, Please!  One to One Works","excerpt":"\u201c The process of learning to swim properly requires brain work and redirection of energy, from both teacher and pupil. As a teacher, you can only do so much of it and as a pupil, you need the right setting.\u201d Learning to swim is all about trust. \u00a0You\u2019ve got to trust the water to supp","date":"2016-06-11T18:38:31","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learn-to-swim","private-lessons"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20180914_230404.jpg"},{"slug":"a-timeless-swim","path":"/2016/05/29/a-timeless-swim/","title":"A Timeless Swim","excerpt":"You can\u2019t beat the sea\u2026 \u201c The water wasn\u2019t any less cold a century ago when people skinny dipped without thinking twice. And this spot has been the same for thousands of years. \u201c Yesterday. It was a beautiful late May afternoon. After some weeding in the garden, my legs were stingi","date":"2016-05-29T18:15:56","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["coldwater-swimming","outdoor-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180708_203753.jpg"},{"slug":"what-are-you-training-for","path":"/2016/05/25/what-are-you-training-for/","title":"What Are You Training For?","excerpt":"For me, quality time in the water is a pleasure like nothing else. I don\u2019t get it down the local pool on a Friday night, unless I\u2019m the only one in there and even then, there\u2019s too much chlorine. Last night I\u2019d have preferred to have gone for a kebab.","date":"2016-05-25T11:51:13","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["fitness-training","quality-time-in-water","training"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20180325_193211.jpg"},{"slug":"easy-adaptation","path":"/2016/05/20/easy-adaptation/","title":"Easy Adaptation","excerpt":"A Happy Sea Swimmer Improves Her Strokes\u2026 \u201c People who are happy in water, who have a feel for water, find it much easier to learn new movement patterns than nervous swimmers, though it can still be mentally challenging.\u201d I swam before I could walk\u2019, \u00a0Rowena told me before her first","date":"2016-05-20T16:26:34","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["breaststroke","front-crawl","sea-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/easy-adaptation-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"watching-where-youre-going-with-your-crawl","path":"/2016/04/23/watching-where-youre-going-with-your-crawl/","title":"Watching Where You\u2019re Going With Your Crawl?","excerpt":"Thoughts on Front Crawl Head Position \u201c When you look forward in crawl, your neck shortens and your head goes back. So it seems impossible to swim with a free neck if constantly looking forward.\u201d There\u2019s something to be said for looking forward in front crawl.\u00a0 You can see where you","date":"2016-04-23T16:40:08","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["front-crawl","head-position"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/P7050036.jpg"},{"slug":"positions-and-decisions","path":"/2016/04/15/positions-and-decisions/","title":"Positions and Decisions","excerpt":"A person\u2019s head can\u2019t just be taken and put into the right position, because changes have to come from their own brain. The teacher has to coax the pupil into a decision to give their head to the water.","date":"2016-04-15T10:34:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["brain-work","head-position","learning-to-swim"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/P1130919.jpg"},{"slug":"waste-of-space","path":"/2016/03/24/waste-of-space/","title":"Waste of Space?","excerpt":"Allowing Time To Grow\u2026 Have you ever been called \u2018a waste of space,\u2019 by someone trying to get you to work harder, act faster, get off your backside? \u00a0A bit like \u2018sink or swim,\u2019 it\u2019s a phrase which might betray a fault in the thinking of the person using it. From an Alexander Technique point [&","date":"2016-03-24T18:11:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["development","growth","prevention","young-people"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170312_150127.jpg"},{"slug":"swim-bike-walk-exercising-caution","path":"/2016/03/18/swim-bike-walk-exercising-caution/","title":"Swim, Bike, Walk \u2013  Exercising Caution","excerpt":"\u201c Too many people throw themselves into triathlon training without the first idea of what they\u2019re doing to their general coordination in the process.\u201d \u2018He looks like he\u2019s still on his bike,\u2019 said Cheryl about a fit looking, 30-something Spanish guy at our hotel in Lanzarote.\u00a0","date":"2016-03-18T17:49:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["exercise","fitness"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0063.jpg"},{"slug":"letting-go-of-sinky-legs","path":"/2016/03/04/letting-go-of-sinky-legs/","title":"Letting Go Of \u2018Sinky Legs\u2019","excerpt":"Sinking Legs Aren\u2019t A Problem, Holding On To Them Is. Everybody likes to float.\u00a0 Some people,\u00a0 elderly ladies for example, float perfectly horizontally when letting the water take the weight of their head, looking down at the floor or up to the ceiling. But in a swimming pool, if you lie in the wate","date":"2016-03-04T17:48:40","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["sinky-legs","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/unnamed.jpg"},{"slug":"its-all-right-once-youre-in-five-minutes-in-the-frigidarium","path":"/2016/02/16/its-all-right-once-youre-in-five-minutes-in-the-frigidarium/","title":"It\u2019s All Right Once You\u2019re In \u2013 Five Minutes In The Frigidarium","excerpt":"A room for cold water immersion was the least popular place at the\u00a0Costa Calero Thalasso and Spa\u00a0I visited twice last week. Numbers were good for the sauna and steam room. And plenty of people were enjoying floating around in warm saltwater, in the open air. I\u2019m never quite sure what","date":"2016-02-16T17:41:04","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["cold-water-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/20171104_115940_093_01.jpg"},{"slug":"dont-pass-it-up-pass-it-on","path":"/2016/01/11/dont-pass-it-up-pass-it-on/","title":"Don\u2019t Pass It Up, Pass It On!","excerpt":"Before anything else, children need to feel safe and comfortable in the water. So long as parents feel safe and comfortable in water, who better to convey that sense to a child?","date":"2016-01-11T22:07:16","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["teach-your-kids-to-swim","teaching-children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/teaching-infants-c-Carl-Stringer.png"},{"slug":"changing-lanes","path":"/2015/12/29/changing-lanes/","title":"Changing Lanes","excerpt":"If you\u2019re struggling in the slow lane, can you help make it a better place? \u201cFeeling not fighting the water, being aware of your neck and your breathing, containing the impulses that spoil your integrity\u2026.all this takes time!\u201d Fast, Medium or Slow? Most pools have 3 lanes wit","date":"2015-12-29T16:10:19","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["self-awareness","swimming-slowly"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_1847.jpg"},{"slug":"floating-foundations","path":"/2015/12/10/floating-foundations/","title":"Floating Foundations","excerpt":"Learning to swim is all in the basics. The less you do in water, the easier it is to change your reaction to it, especially at the learning stage. As teachers we have to be careful about rushing learners into swimming the strokes. Lucy came to Wales this week with what she believed to be [\u2026]","date":"2015-12-10T15:57:41","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learning-to-swim","non-swimmer","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20150728_090957_007.jpg"},{"slug":"he-aint-heavy","path":"/2015/12/09/he-aint-heavy/","title":"He Ain\u2019t Heavy","excerpt":"How to make a sinker lighter\u2026 \u201cDon\u2019t relax on me,\u201d\u00a0a senior Alexander Technique teacher used to tell me. My idea of relaxing made me stiff and heavy and this isn\u2019t what he wanted. He was encouraging me to be light, expansive, to go up against gravity and take the work ou","date":"2015-12-09T16:01:49","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["alexander-technique-directions","sinker"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Zen-in-the-water.jpg"},{"slug":"tips-on-choosing-swimming-goggles","path":"/2015/11/03/tips-on-choosing-swimming-goggles/","title":"Tips On Choosing Swimming Goggles","excerpt":"If any of the questions below apply to you, check out our recommendations\u2026 We teach swimming every day and help a lot of people to choose the right pair of goggles.\u00a0 We have yet to find a pair of goggles that fits everyone or a face that fits any goggle, but if any of the [\u2026]","date":"2015-11-03T10:18:58","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["choosing-goggles","goggles-advice","swimming-goggles"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/P7050032-2.jpg"},{"slug":"clock-sucker","path":"/2015/11/01/clock-sucker/","title":"Clock Sucker!","excerpt":"Calling time on chasing the red needle\u2026 Last Saturday I had a terrible swim.\u00a0I hadn\u2019t tested myself against the clock for a while. \u2018Shall we do some interval training?\u2019 I suggested to my well balanced friend. \u2018Let\u2019s not use the clock,\u2019 he responded wisely. B","date":"2015-11-01T15:51:56","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["interval-training","swimming-times"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/images.jpeg"},{"slug":"three-strokes-and-youre-out","path":"/2015/10/22/three-strokes-and-youre-out/","title":"Three Strokes and You\u2019re Out","excerpt":"Enjoying small achievements and an afternoon nap\u2026 When we get a new skill for the first time, we may be greedy to repeat the experience. Because we\u2019ve managed it once, we expect to be able to \u2018just do it,\u2019 again, right away. But we tend to forget what we said to ourselves to ","date":"2015-10-22T15:39:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["processing-new-skills"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20150728_091712.jpg"},{"slug":"knowing-your-st-or-knowing-youre-st","path":"/2015/09/30/knowing-your-st-or-knowing-youre-st/","title":"Knowing Your S**t Or Knowing You\u2019re S**t","excerpt":"How Self Aware Are You? For my birthday today, I got a mug with this on: GRAMMAR: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING YOUR SHIT AND KNOWING YOU\u2019RE SHIT. Perhaps you can\u2019t have one without a bit of the other. When I started having Alexander Technique lessons 20 years ago, I was pleased to have","date":"2015-09-30T15:33:59","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["self-awareness"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/knowing-shit-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"two-weeks-to-thailand","path":"/2015/09/15/two-weeks-to-thailand/","title":"Two Weeks To Thailand","excerpt":"John Learns To Swim Just In Time\u2026 26 year old civil servant John badly wanted to swim before a big holiday to Thailand. Here\u2019s his account of the process of learning.\u00a0 When I told people I couldn\u2019t swim they\u2019d say they didn\u2019t believe me. Of course I could, I just needed to get in the [&h","date":"2015-09-15T15:29:08","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learning-to-swim","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_4756.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-with-swans-open-water-7-review","path":"/2015/08/11/swimming-with-swans-open-water-7-review/","title":"Swimming with Swans \u2013 Open Water 7 review","excerpt":"Swans UK asked us to try the latest edition to their range, the\u00a0Open Water Seven\u00a0and we received it just in time for our holiday to Rhodes. I find it a very well designed and manufactured, comfortable goggle, easy to adjust and non-leaking. I\u2019ve been using the mirrored lens, perfect ","date":"2015-08-11T15:15:53","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["japanese-goggles","product-review","swans-open-water-7"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20150810_185059.jpg"},{"slug":"being-vertical-for-a-change","path":"/2015/08/08/being-vertical-for-a-change/","title":"Being vertical, for a change","excerpt":"If we\u2019re not too busy getting from one end of the pool to the other, it\u2019s good to practise staying vertical and in the same place.\u00a0 Since we live most of our life trying, sometimes struggling, to stay upright, it\u2019s nice to get in water and explore movement in the horizontal pl","date":"2015-08-08T15:09:50","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["treading-water","vertical-floating"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20150728_090940.jpg"},{"slug":"play-comes-first-but-what-next","path":"/2015/07/18/play-comes-first-but-what-next/","title":"Play Comes First, But What Next?","excerpt":"On Teaching Children\u2026 I don\u2019t work with many children these days. But it\u2019s good to keep your hand in. This week I gave five short lessons to Ollie, aged 7, a great little pupil. He already loved the water so my job was easy. But watching what he was doing when he arrived on Monday ","date":"2015-07-18T11:32:17","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learning-through-play","teaching-children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CHILDL2.jpg"},{"slug":"posture-and-alignment-or-awareness-and-prevention","path":"/2015/07/10/posture-and-alignment-or-awareness-and-prevention/","title":"Posture And Alignment Or Awareness And Prevention?","excerpt":"Ian isn\u2019t interested in \u2018strengthening the core\u2019. People who don\u2019t know very much about the Alexander Technique tend to think it\u2019s all about posture and alignment, holding yourself better. It\u2019s easy to see that swimming with the Alexander Technique improves alignm","date":"2015-07-10T11:27:00","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique","pilates","posture","the-core"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/P1140785.jpg"},{"slug":"when-movements-muddy-the-water-and-gliding-makes-it-clear","path":"/2015/07/04/when-movements-muddy-the-water-and-gliding-makes-it-clear/","title":"When Movements Muddy The Water \u2013 And Gliding Makes It Clear","excerpt":"Some people are too hungry to improve their strokes so they can swim lengths for fitness, or do a triathlon. Not Mary and Brendan, who came from Ireland this week in search of a different way of being in the water. They\u2019re less bothered about swimming than finding out how water can make them c","date":"2015-07-04T11:20:03","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["gliding","learn-not-to-swim"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20180914_084002-1.jpg"},{"slug":"does-the-subject-of-black-people-learning-to-swim-need-to-be-discussed","path":"/2015/06/22/does-the-subject-of-black-people-learning-to-swim-need-to-be-discussed/","title":"About black people learning to swim","excerpt":"Over 50 percent of the top search phrases for our website, every week, are about black people swimming","date":"2015-06-22T15:56:10","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["black-people-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/EC0927-001.jpg"},{"slug":"keeping-your-head-above-water","path":"/2015/06/20/keeping-your-head-above-water/","title":"Keeping Your Head Above Water","excerpt":"Swimming with your face out is not much use if it\u2019s the only thing you can do. But you need to be able to do it! Gill\u2019s been learning to swim for a long time. More than anything she\u2019d like just to be able to get into any pool and do a few easy lengths. [\u2026]","date":"2015-06-20T11:01:15","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","case-studies","learning-to-swim","most-read","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["learning-to-swim","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/P7100263-2.jpg"},{"slug":"fish-fingers-get-your-hands-on-a-dog-and-improve-your-stroke","path":"/2015/06/08/fish-fingers-get-your-hands-on-a-dog-and-improve-your-stroke/","title":"Fish Fingers? Get Your Hands On A Dog And Improve Your Stroke","excerpt":"F.M. Alexander said that if we chase tension round the body, it ends up in our hands and wrists. This is true in swimming. In the Alexander Technique we practise letting our heads go up out of our backs, so that our backs expand, our limbs can flow and our feet can be springy on [\u2026]","date":"2015-06-08T10:33:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["alexander-technique-directions","dogs","elisabeth-walker"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC00925.jpg"},{"slug":"to-the-wall-whats-your-approach","path":"/2015/05/31/to-the-wall-whats-your-approach/","title":"To the Wall \u2013 What\u2019s Your Approach?","excerpt":"Because the wall in a swimming pool becomes a destination, it\u2019s symbolic for people learning to swim. How we approach the wall says a lot about our attitude to swimming generally. When I started teaching swimming to children in 1995, I was given an eager group of early learners, all clinging t","date":"2015-05-31T10:26:10","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["learn-to-swim","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/breaststroke.jpg"},{"slug":"sing-when-youre-winning-and-always-in-the-first-lesson","path":"/2015/05/21/sing-when-youre-winning-and-always-in-the-first-lesson/","title":"Sing When You\u2019re Winning \u2013 and always in the first lesson","excerpt":"When learners first attempt to breathe out into water, nervous tension gets in the way. But relaxation and enjoyment are more easily experienced than they expect. And a surprisingly helpful resource can be a pupil\u2019s own voice. Where to start? Breathing out, face underwater, is the first skill ","date":"2015-05-21T10:16:51","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breathing","learning-to-put-face-in-water","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180914_091934.jpg"},{"slug":"a-man-made-pools-what-you-make-it-its-up-and-down-to-you","path":"/2015/05/11/a-man-made-pools-what-you-make-it-its-up-and-down-to-you/","title":"A Man Made Pool\u2019s What You Make It, It\u2019s Up (And Down) To You","excerpt":"\u201cThe pool became an aquatic yoga or dance studio instead of a sports hall, gym or treadmill\u2026I left the leisure centre feeling free and remained so for at least five minutes!\u2026.\u201d In man made swimming pools we swim up and down like floating sheep, perhaps trying to follow some a","date":"2015-05-11T10:11:48","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["swimming-pools"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0432107.jpg"},{"slug":"control-freak-cant-swim","path":"/2015/05/07/control-freak-cant-swim/","title":"Control Freak? Cant Swim?","excerpt":"\u00a0 Are you a non-swimming adult who describes yourself as a control freak? Successful at what you do, you\u2019re usually able to achieve your goals by taking the bull by the horns \u2013 going for it. But swimming\u2019s the one thing that\u2019s eluded you. Why do you think this is? Fear often d","date":"2015-05-07T20:54:15","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["control-freak","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0512488.jpg"},{"slug":"floating-is-a-feeling-when-you-think-about-it","path":"/2015/04/28/floating-is-a-feeling-when-you-think-about-it/","title":"Floating Is A Feeling \u2013 When You Think About Its","excerpt":"About 15 years ago I was giving lessons to Christopher, aged ten. Ten\u2019s a bit late for a child to learn to swim and it took him a while. For several lessons, he would glide with his face in the water but I had to hold his hands. He wasn\u2019t quite letting the water support [\u2026]","date":"2015-04-28T09:50:55","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["floating","learn-to-swim","non-swimmer","water-confidence"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/floating-is-a-feeling-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"holiday-breaststroke-getting-away-from-getting-it-right","path":"/2015/04/18/holiday-breaststroke-getting-away-from-getting-it-right/","title":"Holiday Breaststroke \u2013 Getting away from getting it right","excerpt":"This week I\u2019ve been working with Kerry and Roger. They hope to enjoy swimming breaststroke in long, deep pools on holiday in Cyprus next month. They\u2019d like to swim without anxiety or strain and to be able to keep going.\u00a0\u00a0There\u2019s an optimum way of swimming breaststroke, ce","date":"2015-04-18T09:19:37","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","case-studies","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/P7100257-3.jpg"},{"slug":"mediocrity-and-excellence-_-two-paths-one-direction-and-your-choice","path":"/2015/03/22/mediocrity-and-excellence-_-two-paths-one-direction-and-your-choice/","title":"Mediocrity and Excellence \u2013 Two Paths, One Direction And Your Choice","excerpt":"\u201cThink of life having two paths: one leading to mediocrity, the other to excellence. What do we know about the path to mediocrity? Well, we know it is flat and straight. We know that it is possible to cruise along on autopilot with a nice, smooth, steady, almost effortless progression. We know","date":"2015-03-22T09:05:20","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["ambition","motivation","practice","talent"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Pembrokeshire-20140418-00014.jpg"},{"slug":"view-review-ian-rates-japanese-goggles","path":"/2015/03/16/view-review-ian-rates-japanese-goggles/","title":"View Review \u2013 Ian rates Japanese goggles","excerpt":"We\u2019ve introduced to our range of goggles two great models from View, made in Japan. One of them is available with an extensive choice of prescription lenses. When we lived in Tokyo In 1991 we loved swimming at the Sendagaya Olympic stadium. \u00a0On our wedding day, we swam, stretched and rest","date":"2015-03-16T21:14:37","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["japanese-goggles","product-review","view-platina","view-selene"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/20180625_100740-e1538947507268.jpg"},{"slug":"front-crawls-simple-so-whats-the-catch","path":"/2015/02/25/front-crawls-simple-so-whats-the-catch/","title":"Front Crawl\u2019s Simple. So What\u2019s The Catch?","excerpt":"For most front crawl improvers, it\u2019s difficult to understand exactly what the hand and arm should be doing under water. It\u2019s even more difficult to know what\u2019s actually happening with our own hand as it passes through the water, from out in front of the head to the leg. \u00a0And t","date":"2015-02-25T20:40:09","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["front-crawl","the-catch"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0281514.jpg"},{"slug":"knowing-your-a-side-and-b-side-is-bilateral-breathing-best-for-balance","path":"/2015/01/27/knowing-your-a-side-and-b-side-is-bilateral-breathing-best-for-balance/","title":"Knowing Your A-Side and B-Side \u2013 Is bilateral breathing best for balance?","excerpt":"It\u2019s a popular assumption that bilateral breathing in front crawl is a good thing, for \u2018a balanced stroke\u2019. \u00a0If we were all capable of perfect balance and symmetry, this would be true. But determination to breathe on both sides may cause unnecessary stress. It isn\u2019t alwa","date":"2015-01-27T19:55:07","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["balance","breathing","front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/back-to-basics-cornflakes.jpg"},{"slug":"rescued-learner-lost-with-woggle-at-leisure-centre","path":"/2015/01/18/rescued-learner-lost-with-woggle-at-leisure-centre/","title":"Rescued: Learner Lost With Woggle At Leisure Centre","excerpt":"\u00a0 Adults Need More Than A Polystyrene Float! \u00a0 This week I\u2019ve been working with Paul whose wife bought him a few lessons for Christmas. He\u2019d tried to learn to swim before, in an adult group at a leisure centre. He said he wasn\u2019t really taught anything, it was more like a ","date":"2015-01-18T19:31:15","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["aquaphobic","learn-to-swim"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Pool.jpg"},{"slug":"transform-your-day-in-10-seconds","path":"/2015/01/05/transform-your-day-in-10-seconds/","title":"Transform your day in 10 seconds","excerpt":"Ian Fends off New Year Sluggishness\u2026 \u2018The first sixty years are the worst,\u2019 Patrick MacDonald used to say about learning the Alexander Technique. \u00a0A change of your inner direction as a constant in life is a long and difficult process. \u2018Don\u2019t hold your breath\u2019, my ","date":"2015-01-05T19:20:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["cold-water-swimming","energy"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20171104_120443_005.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-with-a-hangover","path":"/2014/12/21/swimming-with-a-hangover/","title":"Swimming with a Hangover","excerpt":"Drunken dreams of swimming and the water as a cure\u2026 \u2018Beer-drinking\u2019s not to be underestimated\u2019, an old friend of mine said. And sometimes a hangover, because it\u2019s a process of accelerated recuperation, can feel quite good. Healing energy takes over. You\u2019re going t","date":"2014-12-21T19:08:04","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","most-read"],"tags":["alcohol","hangover"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/hangover-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"360-front-crawl","path":"/2014/12/14/360-front-crawl/","title":"360 Front Crawl","excerpt":"Benefits of Breathing on Your Back Before children learn front crawl breathing, it\u2019s a good idea to get them rolling all the way on to the back. It\u2019s even more important for adult learners to do this. Front crawl breathing is all about rotation, as is the front crawl stroke, with every s","date":"2014-12-14T18:50:32","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breathing","front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_1430.jpg"},{"slug":"try-nose-breathing-a-way-to-slow-down-and-stop-gasping","path":"/2014/12/10/try-nose-breathing-a-way-to-slow-down-and-stop-gasping/","title":"Try Nose Breathing \u2013 to slow down and stop gasping","excerpt":"Conventional swimming instruction will always advise you to inhale through your mouth. I went on holiday with my brother about 15 years ago and he asked why this was. \u2018You can get more air in through your mouth and it accommodates both water and air,\u2019 I told him. Ignoring this, he procee","date":"2014-12-10T17:55:09","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["breathing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/animal-beach-bird-66258.jpg"},{"slug":"camp-training","path":"/2014/12/05/camp-training/","title":"Camp Training","excerpt":"Ian reports from Lanzarote\u2026 I\u2019ve just got back from another trip to the\u00a0Hotel Costa Calero in Lanzarote. It\u2019s good to get away. I go there to work on my own swimming, to reflect, to work things out. There are 4 lovely pools there and most of the time, they\u2019re empty. A few mil","date":"2014-12-05T17:40:19","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_1896.jpg"},{"slug":"feet-notes","path":"/2014/11/19/feet-notes/","title":"Feet Notes","excerpt":"\u00a0 10 Tips for Front Crawl Kick\u2026 In Eleanor Simmonds\u2019 400 metre gold medal freestyle race in 2012, the US silver medallist had a lovely long, rangy stroke. But the taller swimmer wasn\u2019t able to kick her legs like Ellie. \u00a0While elite swimmers sometimes seem not to be doing much ","date":"2014-11-19T14:53:27","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["front-crawl","kicking"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0281516.jpg"},{"slug":"can-you-guarantee-ill-swim","path":"/2014/10/31/can-you-guarantee-ill-swim/","title":"\u2018Can You Guarantee I\u2019ll Swim?\u2019and Daft Questions about Deep Water","excerpt":"We often get asked about guarantees. Earlier this year someone emailed to say he would be coming from the Middle East, could afford only three days of his time but would be very highly motivated. Success would be important to him after a lifetime with fear of water. \u00a0Accustomed to huge success in li","date":"2014-10-31T14:29:30","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["residential-swimming-course"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/3790127691_8cb86cd932_b.jpg"},{"slug":"sink-or-swim","path":"/2014/10/24/sink-or-swim/","title":"Sink or Swim?\u2026Try letting yourself sink!","excerpt":"We had three ladies on our residential course this week. All of them were capable of letting go, enjoying the support of the water, finding balance and being calm (in that order). But they needed a lot of work on this at the start of each lesson. And if they didn\u2019t do enough of it, [\u2026]","date":"2014-10-24T14:24:18","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["buoyancy","sinker","sinking"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C0150786-2.jpg"},{"slug":"fish-out-of-water","path":"/2014/10/20/fish-out-of-water/","title":"Fish Out of Water","excerpt":"Give yourself a break and have a breather\u2026 I always fancied a single speed bike. The simplicity of no gears appeals. The trouble with a single speed where we live is the hills. Our house in west Wales is surrounded by some monstrous ones. On flat stretches the light, quiet machine flies along.","date":"2014-10-20T11:06:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["front-crawl","front-crawl-breathing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/fish-out-out-of-water-blog.jpg"},{"slug":"dont-just-do-it","path":"/2014/10/08/dont-just-do-it/","title":"Don\u2019t Just Do It!","excerpt":"Avoid the swimming by numbers trap In Total Swimming Harvey Wiener writes about visualising a big number on the bottom of the pool corresponding to the lap number he\u2019s on. Sometimes fitness swimming seems to be all about the numbers. 200 metres is 8 lengths\u2026. I\u2019ll do 5 x 200 and th","date":"2014-10-08T10:30:33","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","case-studies","going-swimming"],"tags":["front-crawl","lane-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/download.jpg"},{"slug":"coming-up-for-air","path":"/2014/10/07/coming-up-for-air/","title":"Coming up for air","excerpt":"\u00a0 Jacquie had been meaning to learn to swim properly for years but her work hadn\u2019t allowed her the time. Learning to breathe was a revelation for her and she goes from strength to strength. The video clip shows how Ian and Cheryl helped her develop her swimming technique over her course o","date":"2014-10-07T10:58:14","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breaststroke"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/jacquie-blog-bio.jpeg"},{"slug":"oops-i-did-it-again","path":"/2014/09/14/oops-i-did-it-again/","title":"Oops!..I Did it Again","excerpt":"Wouldn\u2019t it be nice never to have a bad swim? Swimming with the Alexander Technique is more about an approach to being in water, an attitude to swimming, than stroke mechanics, posture and alignment. It matters that you try to keep your neck free and enjoy the support of the water but if you&#","date":"2014-09-14T21:29:59","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["lane-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0958.jpg"},{"slug":"tame-swimming-on-an-august-afternoon","path":"/2014/08/07/tame-swimming-on-an-august-afternoon/","title":"Tame Swimming \u2013 on an August afternoon","excerpt":"I tend to avoid the term \u2018wild swimming\u2019 which we hear and read about so much these days. I don\u2019t want to get in touch with my wild side when I slip into the silky river water on an August afternoon. I want to relax, to enjoy the cool water caressing my back after a [\u2026]","date":"2014-08-07T20:03:30","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming","swimming-outdoors"],"tags":["swimming-outdoors"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180714_091830.jpg"},{"slug":"kick-kick-kick","path":"/2014/07/07/kick-kick-kick/","title":"\u201cKick! Kick! Kick!\u201d","excerpt":"Parents: \u00a0Stop Using the K- Word\u2026 We have the pool to ourselves for our residential swimming courses and we don\u2019t teach during school holidays any more. But, when we were teaching at busier times, there may have been a family coming in for a swim after our lessons had ended. \u00a0 I\u2019d be in ","date":"2014-07-07T19:40:09","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["teaching-children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/evie-and-em-lime-gogs-and-seal-kids.jpg"},{"slug":"keeping-it-simple-a-different-approach-to-changing-strokes","path":"/2014/05/22/keeping-it-simple-a-different-approach-to-changing-strokes/","title":"Keeping It Simple: A Different Approach To Changing Strokes","excerpt":"If you want to improve your stroke, there\u2019s so much information out there on technique, where do you start? As a teacher, there are lots of things you can look at when someone doesn\u2019t seem to be swimming as easily as they could. What to do first? From an Alexander Technique viewpoint, it","date":"2014-05-22T19:29:35","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","breaststroke","case-studies","front-crawl","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke","front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20171104_120443_005.jpg"},{"slug":"black-men-cant-swim","path":"/2014/05/16/black-men-cant-swim/","title":"Black Men Can\u2019t Swim?","excerpt":"Why can so few black people swim compared to the UK population as a whole? In this programme on BBC Radio 4, October 2nd 2009, Matt Blaize explores the commonly held belief in UK that black people can\u2019t swim. Ian made these notes whilst listening. All sports come easily to Matt except swimming","date":"2014-05-16T18:56:54","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["black-people-swimming"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/good-move-shoulder-black-man-swimming.jpg"},{"slug":"look-on-the-bright-side","path":"/2014/05/10/look-on-the-bright-side/","title":"Look On The Bright Side!","excerpt":"Front Crawl Breathing Doesn\u2019t Have To Be A Struggle If front crawl breathing\u2019s a bit of a struggle, go back to basics and work on the key elements of the stroke, rotation and balance. If it helps, don\u2019t even think about what you\u2019re practising as \u2018front crawl\u2019. Wor","date":"2014-05-10T19:17:54","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["front-crawl","front-crawl-breathing"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20160205_083018-e1538859256303.jpg"},{"slug":"open-to-change","path":"/2014/04/02/open-to-change/","title":"Open To Change","excerpt":"Ellie Enjoys Encountering Her Unconscious Habits I\u2019ve been swimming off and on for years, having spent long summers as a child in Ireland dipping in the north Atlantic. Never having had any formal training, I was confident in the water but my technique left a lot to be desired and I always had","date":"2014-04-02T19:09:39","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","case-studies"],"tags":["front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Elllie.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-gala-stress","path":"/2014/03/25/swimming-gala-stress/","title":"Swimming Gala Stress","excerpt":"A Need For Speed And A Need For Balance\u2026 I must be getting old, because time seems to be different now \u2013 it goes faster! I don\u2019t think I\u2019m alone \u2013 everyone seems to be rushing, everything, all the time. I used to look forward to the clocks going forward. This year I\u2019m thinking \u201cNo! [\u2026]","date":"2014-03-25T18:50:02","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/P1020612.jpg"},{"slug":"sento-a-trip-to-the-bath-house","path":"/2014/03/09/sento-a-trip-to-the-bath-house/","title":"Sento \u2013 a trip to the bath house","excerpt":"I\u2019m sweaty and my fingernails are dirty, I need a shave and my hair is greasy. A mess. When I\u2019m finished I\u2019ll feel like a king","date":"2014-03-09T10:54:51","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["japan","sento"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/20180925_110815.jpg"},{"slug":"mark-discovers-an-affinity-with-water-after-cracking-the-breathing","path":"/2014/01/03/mark-discovers-an-affinity-with-water-after-cracking-the-breathing/","title":"Mark Discovers An Affinity With Water \u2013 After Cracking The Breathing","excerpt":"Mark came to Croft Farm for the 8-lesson Swimming Without Stress Residential Course. He was a non-swimmer facing a particular difficulty learning to breathe out into the water. After 2 lessons cracking the breathing, his confidence grew rapidly as he learned key swimming skills, shown here in the vi","date":"2014-01-03T18:24:13","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies"],"tags":["breathing","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/mark-sws-casestudy-blog.jpeg"},{"slug":"cross-pattern-crawl","path":"/2013/12/03/cross-pattern-crawl/","title":"Cross Pattern Crawl","excerpt":"Kicking our opposite hand forwards is a pattern that\u2019s already there, waiting to be discovered! A lot of Alexander Technique teachers encourage pupils to crawl. \u00a0This is a good idea because crawling, as babies know, is fundamental to human coordination. A favourite activity of mine is wal","date":"2013-12-03T18:13:47","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","front-crawl","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_1875.jpg"},{"slug":"your-stay","path":"/2013/11/21/your-stay/","title":"Your stay","excerpt":"We have exclusive use of the pool at Croft Farm for your lessons, which makes a big difference to your learning experience \u2013 privacy, peace and quiet","date":"2013-11-21T20:21:50","author":"john.lomax","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["where-we-teach","your-stay"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GGVbNoLcC0GtP6k70jG00wg7oU1Hi81sUEwvNghr.jpeg"},{"slug":"where-we-teach","path":"/2013/11/21/where-we-teach/","title":"Where we teach","excerpt":"You\u2019re a long way from the usual distractions, with time and space for new experiences.","date":"2013-11-21T20:20:05","author":"john.lomax","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["where-we-teach"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/XMNTH3KzOe8HoeXEeJhlKmT5bMcURdQsLhUAeyCO.jpeg"},{"slug":"between-lessons","path":"/2013/11/21/between-lessons/","title":"Between Lessons","excerpt":"There\u2019s nothing to do. That\u2019s the beauty of leaving the stimuli of home life behind. A quiet head and relaxed atmosphere make for a perfect learning environment\u2026","date":"2013-11-21T20:09:51","author":"john.lomax","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["between-lessons","where-we-teach"],"tags":[],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Zdf49zMkFmGL4f3RWHytNabwTDsq0ZEUsI3oa8mN.jpeg"},{"slug":"drift-and-swish","path":"/2013/10/27/drift-and-swish/","title":"Drift And Swish\u2026","excerpt":"Non- Doing On Your Back Helps Your Other Strokes\u2026 If you want to improve any stroke, try practising this one. We call it the \u2018Old English\u2019. It\u2019s an easy, efficient stroke where you can learn everything you need to know to improve your other strokes. Learn to identify the 3 elements of a stroke","date":"2013-10-27T18:01:05","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["swimming-on-back"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/P7090188.jpg"},{"slug":"on-your-back-for-basic-coordination-patterns","path":"/2013/09/22/on-your-back-for-basic-coordination-patterns/","title":"On Your Back! For Basic Coordination Patterns","excerpt":"The importance of learning to swim on the back is often overlooked. Being supine with the support of water is a great way to release and expand. You can breathe freely, without needing to turn or lift your head. And there are two kinds of basic movement pattern which help develop fundamental body co","date":"2013-09-22T20:55:41","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["swimming-on-back"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20160205_084714.jpg"},{"slug":"rotation-rotation-rotation-2","path":"/2013/09/14/rotation-rotation-rotation-2/","title":"Rotation Rotation Rotation","excerpt":"Four simple rotations are the foundations for all swimming movement and essential for water confidence. They are: rolling from back to front and front to back, in both planes.  If you can do them, you can do anything in the water.","date":"2013-09-14T18:21:29","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","non-swimmers","front-crawl","learning-to-swim","most-read"],"tags":["learning-through-play","learning-to-swim","rotation","teaching-children"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_1430.jpg"},{"slug":"swimming-up-not-up-and-down","path":"/2013/07/26/swimming-up-not-up-and-down/","title":"Swimming \u2018Up\u2019 (Not Up And Down)","excerpt":"On Holiday Swim Slow and Find Your Flow! We\u2019ve just returned from a trip to Gibraltar. It\u2019s difficult to find beaches as nice as the ones on our doorstep in Pembrokeshire but holidays are a great opportunity to sort your head out in the water. The Rock Hotel has an excellent saltwater po","date":"2013-07-26T20:28:13","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","blog","going-swimming"],"tags":["breaststroke"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/P1020873.jpg"},{"slug":"in-at-the-deep-end-sink-or-swim","path":"/2013/07/15/in-at-the-deep-end-sink-or-swim/","title":"In At The Deep End, Sink Or Swim","excerpt":"How not to learn deep water confidence\u2026 \u201cIn those days, deep ends were deep. We were going all the way, just the two of us, to the other side of the foot bath. It was cold up there, and I could smell the toilets.\u201d I learned to swim aged 5, through the Birmingham Evening Mail [&hell","date":"2013-07-15T20:16:18","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["deep-water"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/in-at-the-deep-end-sws-blog.jpg"},{"slug":"from-nervous-non-swimmer-to-bloke-on-holiday-in-8-lessons","path":"/2013/07/12/from-nervous-non-swimmer-to-bloke-on-holiday-in-8-lessons/","title":"From Nervous Non Swimmer to Bloke on Holiday in 8 Lessons","excerpt":"Ewan Gives Any Water Obsessed 10 Year Old A Run For Their Money\u2026 \u00a0 Some forty years ago, I went through all of the classic small boy \u2018swimming as the opposite of drowning\u2019 teaching experiences: body tensed, kicking with flotation devices, neck strained backwards and gasping for bre","date":"2013-07-12T20:10:21","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","non-swimmers","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breaststroke","fear-of-water"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ewan-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"richard-reorganises-his-front-crawl","path":"/2013/06/13/richard-reorganises-his-front-crawl/","title":"Richard Reorganises His Front Crawl","excerpt":"Richard\u2019s self-taught front crawl didn\u2019t feel good. He wanted to know what he should be thinking. \u201c Ian\u2019s method is to involve you in the whole process of swimming. It\u2019s as though you are both discovering the possibilities of what you can do, together.\u201d I have been swim","date":"2013-06-13T20:01:42","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","front-crawl"],"tags":["front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/richard-swimmer-experiences-small.jpg"},{"slug":"rosie-finding-her-flow","path":"/2013/06/12/rosie-finding-her-flow/","title":"Rosie, Finding Her Flow","excerpt":"\u201c I can hardly believe how you\u2019ve managed to transform my stroke and whole approach in just seven lessons.\u201d I\u2019m writing to say thank you again for the fantastic tuition that you gave me last week. I thoroughly enjoyed the lessons and found you to be very encouraging which really mo","date":"2013-06-12T17:36:37","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies"],"tags":["front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/P1130919.jpg"},{"slug":"a-monumental-life-changing-experience","path":"/2013/04/09/a-monumental-life-changing-experience/","title":"A Monumental, Life-changing Experience","excerpt":"Tina, Brecon, came for a weekend to overcome her fear. \u201c Ian, I wanted to thank you once again for my swimming tuition. As you know I found it very challenging, but immensely rewarding, and now have a deep desire to learn more! I am also now interested to learn a bit more about the [\u2026]","date":"2013-04-09T17:28:54","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["fear-of-water","non-swimmer"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/tina-blog.jpg"},{"slug":"bringing-yoga-serenity-into-her-swimming","path":"/2013/04/05/bringing-yoga-serenity-into-her-swimming/","title":"Bringing Yoga Serenity Into Her Swimming","excerpt":"Hilary, a keen Yoga practitioner, learnt how to chill out in water. As a regular yoga practitioner, I have always found it frustrating not to be able to transfer my yoga breathing and body balance to the water. I love swimming, but easily felt fatigued and suffered with annoying neck and back pain a","date":"2013-04-05T16:52:04","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["yoga"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/received_243733616338993.jpeg"},{"slug":"re-thinking-her-swimming","path":"/2013/04/03/re-thinking-her-swimming/","title":"Re-thinking Her Swimming","excerpt":"Amanda, London, came for stroke evaluation and to improve technique. \u201c The lessons have transformed my swimming style and my attitude to swimming.\u201d I am now back to swimming three times a week and have had no neck or back pain since working with Ian. The lessons have transformed my swimming st","date":"2013-04-03T16:44:46","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["blog","breaststroke","case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["breaststroke"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20160205_163539.jpg"},{"slug":"self-discovery-in-the-water","path":"/2013/04/02/self-discovery-in-the-water/","title":"Self Discovery In The Water","excerpt":"Ann, from North Wales, came to overcome her fear of water and subsequently to work on technique. Swimming has become part of my life in a way that I never imagined; a real pleasure. I really look forward to getting to the pool \u2013 a complete conversion. Many, many thanks. Round about the age of ","date":"2013-04-02T16:24:43","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["case-studies","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["front-crawl"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1009_annbridges2.jpg"},{"slug":"are-you-a-head-up-breaststroker","path":"/2012/12/22/are-you-a-head-up-breaststroker/","title":"Are You a Head Up Breaststroker?","excerpt":"6 reasons to get your hair wet\u2026 According to a survey into the nation\u2019s exercise habits (for the National Lottery Good Causes) 10% of women swim regularly compared to 7% of men.\u201d Women are more likely than men to go swimming for regular exercise. According to a survey into the nati","date":"2012-12-22T15:10:47","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","breaststroke","going-swimming","most-read"],"tags":["breaststroke"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/head-up-breaststroker-swsblog.jpg"},{"slug":"thrash-a-sloppy-splasher-into-shape-pete-chapman-the-independent-july-2003","path":"/2003/07/19/thrash-a-sloppy-splasher-into-shape-pete-chapman-the-independent-july-2003/","title":"Thrash a sloppy splasher into shape \u2013 Pete Chapman, The Independent, July 2003","excerpt":"Think you can swim? Pete Chapman did too. Then he had his crawl remodelled by a lesson based on the Alexander Technique. If memory serves, I was something of an aquatic hotshot in the womb-medley marathons, tumble turns the odd dolphin pirouette -but somehow, by the time it came to lessons in the sc","date":"2003-07-19T16:17:11","author":"ian-cross","authorName":"Swimming Without Stress","categories":["alexander-technique","case-studies","front-crawl","learning-to-swim"],"tags":["front-crawl","press","the-independent"],"featuredImage":"/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-18-at-17.11.10.jpg"}],"categories":[{"slug":"alexander-technique","path":"/category/blog/alexander-technique/","name":"Alexander Technique","description":"","count":125,"parent":18,"id":19,"seo":{"title":"Swimming and the Alexander Technique support each other.","description":"The Alexander Technique, the cornerstone of which is non-doing, lends itself to swimming and the water is a great place to explore the principles of the AT.","canonical":"/category/blog/alexander-technique/","ogTitle":"Swimming and the Alexander Technique support each other.","ogDescription":"The Alexander Technique, the cornerstone of which is non-doing, lends itself to swimming and the water is a great place to explore the principles of the AT.","ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"alexander-technique-our-lessons","path":"/category/lessons/our-lessons/alexander-technique-our-lessons/","name":"Alexander Technique","description":"","count":0,"parent":26,"id":28,"seo":{"title":"Alexander Technique Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/our-lessons/alexander-technique-our-lessons/","ogTitle":"Alexander Technique Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"between-lessons","path":"/category/lessons/where-we-teach/between-lessons/","name":"Between lessons","description":"","count":1,"parent":29,"id":31,"seo":{"title":"Between lessons Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/where-we-teach/between-lessons/","ogTitle":"Between lessons Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"biographies","path":"/category/biographies/","name":"Biographies","description":"","count":0,"parent":0,"id":79,"seo":{"title":"Biographies Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/biographies/","ogTitle":"Biographies Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"blog","path":"/category/blog/","name":"Blog","description":"","count":176,"parent":0,"id":18,"seo":{"title":"Blog Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/blog/","ogTitle":"Blog Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"breaststroke","path":"/category/blog/breaststroke/","name":"Breaststroke","description":"","count":32,"parent":18,"id":845,"seo":{"title":"Breaststroke Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/blog/breaststroke/","ogTitle":"Breaststroke Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"case-studies","path":"/category/blog/case-studies/","name":"Case Studies","description":"","count":35,"parent":18,"id":24,"seo":{"title":"Case Studies, experiences of people who have enjoyed our course.","description":"Case studies, about the journeys of people who have enjoyed our course, both non-swimmers and improvers, often in their own words.","canonical":"/category/blog/case-studies/","ogTitle":"Case Studies, experiences of people who have enjoyed our course.","ogDescription":"Case studies, about the journeys of people who have enjoyed our course, both non-swimmers and improvers, often in their own words.","ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"feedback","path":"/category/feedback/","name":"Feedback","description":"","count":0,"parent":0,"id":66,"seo":{"title":"Feedback Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/feedback/","ogTitle":"Feedback Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"non-swimmers","path":"/category/blog/non-swimmers/","name":"For Non-Swimmers","description":"","count":51,"parent":18,"id":827,"seo":{"title":"For Non-Swimmers Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/blog/non-swimmers/","ogTitle":"For Non-Swimmers Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"front-crawl","path":"/category/blog/front-crawl/","name":"Front Crawl","description":"","count":32,"parent":18,"id":846,"seo":{"title":"Front Crawl Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/blog/front-crawl/","ogTitle":"Front Crawl Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"going-swimming","path":"/category/blog/going-swimming/","name":"Going Swimming","description":"","count":117,"parent":18,"id":21,"seo":{"title":"Going swimming, in the pool and outdoors, advice on enjoying the process..","description":"Going swimming, indoors or outdoors, at the leisure centre or on holiday, using the strokes or floating about. How to make swimming beneficial for our mental and physical health.","canonical":"/category/blog/going-swimming/","ogTitle":"Going swimming, in the pool and outdoors, advice on enjoying the process..","ogDescription":"Going swimming, indoors or outdoors, at the leisure centre or on holiday, using the strokes or floating about. How to make swimming beneficial for our mental and physical health.","ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"learning-to-swim","path":"/category/blog/learning-to-swim/","name":"Learning to Swim","description":"","count":98,"parent":18,"id":20,"seo":{"title":"Learning to swim blog posts","description":"Posts about the learning to swim and teaching swimming, overcoming fear of water, preventing tension, learning to trust the support of water, learning through play, teaching children...","canonical":"/category/blog/learning-to-swim/","ogTitle":"Learning to swim blog posts","ogDescription":"Posts about the learning to swim and teaching swimming, overcoming fear of water, preventing tension, learning to trust the support of water, learning through play, teaching children...","ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"lessons","path":"/category/lessons/","name":"Lessons","description":"","count":0,"parent":0,"id":25,"seo":{"title":"Lessons Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/","ogTitle":"Lessons Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"members","path":"/category/members/","name":"members","description":"","count":0,"parent":0,"id":35,"seo":{"title":"members Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/members/","ogTitle":"members Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"most-read","path":"/category/blog/most-read/","name":"Most Read","description":"","count":14,"parent":18,"id":961,"seo":{"title":"Most Read Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/blog/most-read/","ogTitle":"Most Read Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"our-approach","path":"/category/lessons/our-lessons/our-approach/","name":"Our Approach","description":"","count":0,"parent":26,"id":27,"seo":{"title":"Our Approach Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/our-lessons/our-approach/","ogTitle":"Our Approach Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"our-lessons","path":"/category/lessons/our-lessons/","name":"Our lessons","description":"","count":0,"parent":25,"id":26,"seo":{"title":"Our lessons Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/our-lessons/","ogTitle":"Our lessons Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"swimming-outdoors","path":"/category/blog/swimming-outdoors/","name":"Swimming Outdoors","description":"","count":23,"parent":18,"id":854,"seo":{"title":"Swimming Outdoors Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/blog/swimming-outdoors/","ogTitle":"Swimming Outdoors Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"uncategorized","path":"/category/uncategorized/","name":"Uncategorized","description":"","count":7,"parent":0,"id":1,"seo":{"title":"Uncategorized Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/uncategorized/","ogTitle":"Uncategorized Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"where-we-teach","path":"/category/lessons/where-we-teach/","name":"Where we teach","description":"","count":3,"parent":25,"id":29,"seo":{"title":"Where we teach Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/where-we-teach/","ogTitle":"Where we teach Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}},{"slug":"your-stay","path":"/category/lessons/where-we-teach/your-stay/","name":"Your stay","description":"","count":1,"parent":29,"id":30,"seo":{"title":"Your stay Archives - Swimming Without Stress","description":null,"canonical":"/category/lessons/where-we-teach/your-stay/","ogTitle":"Your stay Archives - Swimming Without Stress","ogDescription":null,"ogType":"article","ogImage":null,"robots":"index","publishedTime":null,"modifiedTime":null}}],"tags":[{"slug":"a","path":"/tag/a/","name":"a","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"adam-peaty","path":"/tag/adam-peaty/","name":"adam peaty","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"admin","path":"/tag/admin/","name":"Admin","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"adult-swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/adult-swimming-lessons/","name":"adult swimming lessons","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"alcohol","path":"/tag/alcohol/","name":"alcohol","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"alexander-technique","path":"/tag/alexander-technique/","name":"alexander technique","description":"","count":35},{"slug":"alexander-technique-directions","path":"/tag/alexander-technique-directions/","name":"alexander technique directions","description":"","count":8},{"slug":"alexander-technique-in-water","path":"/tag/alexander-technique-in-water/","name":"Alexander Technique in water","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"alternative-pool-session","path":"/tag/alternative-pool-session/","name":"Alternative pool session","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"ambition","path":"/tag/ambition/","name":"ambition","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"anxiety","path":"/tag/anxiety/","name":"anxiety","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"aqua-sphere-swim-skin","path":"/tag/aqua-sphere-swim-skin/","name":"aqua sphere swim skin","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"aquaphobia","path":"/tag/aquaphobia/","name":"aquaphobia","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"aquaphobic","path":"/tag/aquaphobic/","name":"aquaphobic","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"art","path":"/tag/art/","name":"Art","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"asymmetrical-tonic-neck-reflex","path":"/tag/asymmetrical-tonic-neck-reflex/","name":"asymmetrical tonic neck reflex","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"authentic-movement","path":"/tag/authentic-movement/","name":"authentic movement","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"authoritarian-swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/authoritarian-swimming-lessons/","name":"authoritarian swimming lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"autism","path":"/tag/autism/","name":"Autism","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"back-problems","path":"/tag/back-problems/","name":"Back problems","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"balance","path":"/tag/balance/","name":"balance","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"balance-in-water","path":"/tag/balance-in-water/","name":"balance in water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"basic-swimming-skills","path":"/tag/basic-swimming-skills/","name":"basic swimming skills","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"being-creative","path":"/tag/being-creative/","name":"being creative","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"being-realistic","path":"/tag/being-realistic/","name":"being realistic","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"beneficial-effects-of-swimming","path":"/tag/beneficial-effects-of-swimming/","name":"beneficial effects of swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"black-people-swimming","path":"/tag/black-people-swimming/","name":"black people swimming","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"blowing-bubbles","path":"/tag/blowing-bubbles/","name":"blowing bubbles","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"blowingbubbles","path":"/tag/blowingbubbles/","name":"blowingbubbles","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"body-awareness-swimming-for-health","path":"/tag/body-awareness-swimming-for-health/","name":"body awareness swimming for health","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"booking-and-prices","path":"/tag/booking-and-prices/","name":"booking and prices","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"brain-work","path":"/tag/brain-work/","name":"brain work","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"breaststroke","path":"/tag/breaststroke/","name":"breaststroke","description":"","count":19},{"slug":"breathing","path":"/tag/breathing/","name":"breathing","description":"","count":13},{"slug":"breathing-physiology","path":"/tag/breathing-physiology/","name":"Breathing Physiology","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"buddha-teachings","path":"/tag/buddha-teachings/","name":"Buddha teachings","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"buoyancy","path":"/tag/buoyancy/","name":"buoyancy","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"business-and-alexander-technique","path":"/tag/business-and-alexander-technique/","name":"Business and Alexander Technique","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"buteyko-breathing","path":"/tag/buteyko-breathing/","name":"Buteyko breathing","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"buteyko-method","path":"/tag/buteyko-method/","name":"Buteyko Method","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"butterfly","path":"/tag/butterfly/","name":"butterfly","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"case-studies","path":"/tag/case-studies/","name":"Case studies","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"challenge","path":"/tag/challenge/","name":"Challenge","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"challenges","path":"/tag/challenges/","name":"challenges","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"children","path":"/tag/children/","name":"children","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"childrens-swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/childrens-swimming-lessons/","name":"children's swimming lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"choosing-goggles","path":"/tag/choosing-goggles/","name":"choosing goggles","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"chris-packham","path":"/tag/chris-packham/","name":"Chris Packham","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"cold-water-swimming","path":"/tag/cold-water-swimming/","name":"cold water swimming","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"coldwater-swimming","path":"/tag/coldwater-swimming/","name":"coldwater swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"coming-up-for-air","path":"/tag/coming-up-for-air/","name":"Coming up for air","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"conquer-fear-of-water","path":"/tag/conquer-fear-of-water/","name":"conquer fear of water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"control-freak","path":"/tag/control-freak/","name":"control freak","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"conventional-swimming","path":"/tag/conventional-swimming/","name":"Conventional swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"course-structure","path":"/tag/course-structure/","name":"course structure","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"croft-farm-and-celtic-cottages","path":"/tag/croft-farm-and-celtic-cottages/","name":"Croft farm and Celtic cottages","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"daily-telegraph","path":"/tag/daily-telegraph/","name":"daily telegraph","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"david-hockney-swimmer","path":"/tag/david-hockney-swimmer/","name":"David Hockney swimmer","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"deep-water","path":"/tag/deep-water/","name":"deep water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"depression","path":"/tag/depression/","name":"depression","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"development","path":"/tag/development/","name":"development","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"dick-walker","path":"/tag/dick-walker/","name":"dick walker","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"direction","path":"/tag/direction/","name":"Direction","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"dogs","path":"/tag/dogs/","name":"dogs","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"douglas-murray-madness-of-crowds","path":"/tag/douglas-murray-madness-of-crowds/","name":"Douglas Murray madness of crowds","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"drowning","path":"/tag/drowning/","name":"Drowning","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"elisabeth-walker","path":"/tag/elisabeth-walker/","name":"elisabeth walker","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"endgaining-versus-means-whereby","path":"/tag/endgaining-versus-means-whereby/","name":"Endgaining versus means whereby","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"energy","path":"/tag/energy/","name":"energy","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"enjoying-the-process","path":"/tag/enjoying-the-process/","name":"enjoying the process","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"erika-whittaker","path":"/tag/erika-whittaker/","name":"erika whittaker","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"exercise","path":"/tag/exercise/","name":"exercise","description":"","count":5},{"slug":"exercise-for-back-problems","path":"/tag/exercise-for-back-problems/","name":"Exercise for back problems","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"expectations","path":"/tag/expectations/","name":"expectations","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"exploring","path":"/tag/exploring/","name":"exploring","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"fear-of-swimming","path":"/tag/fear-of-swimming/","name":"fear of swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"fear-of-water","path":"/tag/fear-of-water/","name":"fear of water","description":"","count":8},{"slug":"finance","path":"/tag/finance/","name":"Finance","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"fins","path":"/tag/fins/","name":"fins","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"first-triathlon","path":"/tag/first-triathlon/","name":"first triathlon","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"fitness","path":"/tag/fitness/","name":"fitness","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"fitness-swimming","path":"/tag/fitness-swimming/","name":"Fitness swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"fitness-training","path":"/tag/fitness-training/","name":"fitness training","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"float-without-fear","path":"/tag/float-without-fear/","name":"float without fear","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"floating","path":"/tag/floating/","name":"floating","description":"","count":14},{"slug":"floating-about","path":"/tag/floating-about/","name":"Floating about","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"floating-on-back","path":"/tag/floating-on-back/","name":"floating on back","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"floattolive","path":"/tag/floattolive/","name":"Floattolive","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"flow-in-water","path":"/tag/flow-in-water/","name":"flow in water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"flow-versus-mechanical","path":"/tag/flow-versus-mechanical/","name":"flow versus mechanical","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"freedom","path":"/tag/freedom/","name":"Freedom","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"freedom-of-movement","path":"/tag/freedom-of-movement/","name":"freedom of movement","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"fron-crawl","path":"/tag/fron-crawl/","name":"fron crawl","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"front-crawl","path":"/tag/front-crawl/","name":"front crawl","description":"","count":23},{"slug":"front-crawl-breathing","path":"/tag/front-crawl-breathing/","name":"front crawl breathing","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"front-crawl-in-80s","path":"/tag/front-crawl-in-80s/","name":"front crawl in 80s","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"getting-head-out","path":"/tag/getting-head-out/","name":"getting head out","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"getting-it-right","path":"/tag/getting-it-right/","name":"getting it right","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"gliding","path":"/tag/gliding/","name":"gliding","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"goals","path":"/tag/goals/","name":"goals","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"goggles-advice","path":"/tag/goggles-advice/","name":"goggles advice","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"gradual-process","path":"/tag/gradual-process/","name":"gradual process","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"gradual-progress","path":"/tag/gradual-progress/","name":"gradual progress","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"grayson-perry","path":"/tag/grayson-perry/","name":"Grayson Perry","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"great-pottery-showdown","path":"/tag/great-pottery-showdown/","name":"great pottery showdown","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"group-think","path":"/tag/group-think/","name":"Group think","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"growth","path":"/tag/growth/","name":"growth","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"haiku","path":"/tag/haiku/","name":"haiku","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"hand-on-guidance","path":"/tag/hand-on-guidance/","name":"hand on guidance","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"hands-on-guidance","path":"/tag/hands-on-guidance/","name":"hands on guidance","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"hangover","path":"/tag/hangover/","name":"hangover","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"happy-underwater","path":"/tag/happy-underwater/","name":"Happy underwater","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"head-position","path":"/tag/head-position/","name":"head position","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"head-up-breaststroke","path":"/tag/head-up-breaststroke/","name":"head up breaststroke","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"head-neck-back-relationship-in-water","path":"/tag/head-neck-back-relationship-in-water/","name":"head/neck/back relationship in water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"healing-properties-of-water","path":"/tag/healing-properties-of-water/","name":"healing properties of water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"health-and-fitness","path":"/tag/health-and-fitness/","name":"health and fitness","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"health-benefits","path":"/tag/health-benefits/","name":"health benefits","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"health-benefits-of-being-in-water","path":"/tag/health-benefits-of-being-in-water/","name":"Health benefits of being in water","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"hotel-costa-calero","path":"/tag/hotel-costa-calero/","name":"hotel Costa Calero","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"hotel-molitor","path":"/tag/hotel-molitor/","name":"Hotel molitor","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"inhibition","path":"/tag/inhibition/","name":"Inhibition","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"instagram","path":"/tag/instagram/","name":"Instagram","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"intensive-swimming-course","path":"/tag/intensive-swimming-course/","name":"Intensive swimming course","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"intensive-swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/intensive-swimming-lessons/","name":"intensive swimming lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"interval-training","path":"/tag/interval-training/","name":"interval training","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"japan","path":"/tag/japan/","name":"Japan","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"japanese-goggles","path":"/tag/japanese-goggles/","name":"japanese goggles","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"jessica-wolf","path":"/tag/jessica-wolf/","name":"Jessica Wolf","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"keeping-it-simple","path":"/tag/keeping-it-simple/","name":"keeping it simple","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"kickboard","path":"/tag/kickboard/","name":"kickboard","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"kicking","path":"/tag/kicking/","name":"kicking","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"lane-swimming","path":"/tag/lane-swimming/","name":"lane swimming","description":"","count":6},{"slug":"leadership","path":"/tag/leadership/","name":"Leadership","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"learn-front-crawl","path":"/tag/learn-front-crawl/","name":"learn front crawl","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"learn-not-to-swim","path":"/tag/learn-not-to-swim/","name":"learn not to swim","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"learn-to-swim","path":"/tag/learn-to-swim/","name":"learn to swim","description":"","count":20},{"slug":"learning","path":"/tag/learning/","name":"learning","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"learning-difficulties","path":"/tag/learning-difficulties/","name":"Learning difficulties","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"learning-through-play","path":"/tag/learning-through-play/","name":"learning through play","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"learning-to-put-face-in-water","path":"/tag/learning-to-put-face-in-water/","name":"learning to put face in water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"learning-to-swim","path":"/tag/learning-to-swim/","name":"learning to swim","description":"","count":6},{"slug":"learning-to-swim-properly","path":"/tag/learning-to-swim-properly/","name":"Learning to swim properly","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"leonard-cohen","path":"/tag/leonard-cohen/","name":"Leonard Cohen","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"lessons-in-penzance","path":"/tag/lessons-in-penzance/","name":"lessons in Penzance","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"letting-it-happen","path":"/tag/letting-it-happen/","name":"Letting it happen","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"lockdown","path":"/tag/lockdown/","name":"Lockdown","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"love-in-water","path":"/tag/love-in-water/","name":"love in water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"love-of-water","path":"/tag/love-of-water/","name":"love of water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"margaret-goldie","path":"/tag/margaret-goldie/","name":"Margaret Goldie","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"marjory-barlow","path":"/tag/marjory-barlow/","name":"Marjory Barlow","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"mediation","path":"/tag/mediation/","name":"mediation","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"medical-advice","path":"/tag/medical-advice/","name":"medical advice","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"medical-advice-on-swimming","path":"/tag/medical-advice-on-swimming/","name":"medical advice on swimming","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"meditation","path":"/tag/meditation/","name":"Meditation","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"memories","path":"/tag/memories/","name":"Memories","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"mental-health","path":"/tag/mental-health/","name":"Mental health","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"middle-ear","path":"/tag/middle-ear/","name":"middle ear","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"mike-cross","path":"/tag/mike-cross/","name":"Mike Cross","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"mindfulness","path":"/tag/mindfulness/","name":"mindfulness","description":"","count":7},{"slug":"motivation","path":"/tag/motivation/","name":"motivation","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"movement","path":"/tag/movement/","name":"Movement","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"mushroom-float","path":"/tag/mushroom-float/","name":"Mushroom float","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"natural-breathing","path":"/tag/natural-breathing/","name":"natural breathing","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"natural-movement","path":"/tag/natural-movement/","name":"natural movement","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"neck-free","path":"/tag/neck-free/","name":"neck free","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"neck-tension","path":"/tag/neck-tension/","name":"Neck tension","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"never-too-late","path":"/tag/never-too-late/","name":"never too late","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"non-doing","path":"/tag/non-doing/","name":"Non-doing","description":"","count":8},{"slug":"non-swimmer","path":"/tag/non-swimmer/","name":"non-swimmer","description":"","count":14},{"slug":"non-swimming","path":"/tag/non-swimming/","name":"Non-swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"non-swo","path":"/tag/non-swo/","name":"non-swo","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"nose-breathing","path":"/tag/nose-breathing/","name":"Nose breathing","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"not-to-do","path":"/tag/not-to-do/","name":"Not to do","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"old-english-backstroke","path":"/tag/old-english-backstroke/","name":"Old English backstroke","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"old-fashioned-swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/old-fashioned-swimming-lessons/","name":"old-fashioned swimming lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"one-to-one-lessons","path":"/tag/one-to-one-lessons/","name":"one to one lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"open-water","path":"/tag/open-water/","name":"open water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"outdoor-swimming","path":"/tag/outdoor-swimming/","name":"outdoor swimming","description":"","count":4},{"slug":"overcome-fear-of-water","path":"/tag/overcome-fear-of-water/","name":"overcome fear of water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"oxygen-advantage","path":"/tag/oxygen-advantage/","name":"Oxygen Advantage","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"parasympathetic-nervous-system","path":"/tag/parasympathetic-nervous-system/","name":"parasympathetic nervous system","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"patrick-mckeown","path":"/tag/patrick-mckeown/","name":"Patrick McKeown","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"pembrokeshire-coast-path","path":"/tag/pembrokeshire-coast-path/","name":"Pembrokeshire coast path","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"penguins-swimming","path":"/tag/penguins-swimming/","name":"Penguins swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"physiotherapy","path":"/tag/physiotherapy/","name":"physiotherapy","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"pilates","path":"/tag/pilates/","name":"pilates","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"piscine-molitor","path":"/tag/piscine-molitor/","name":"Piscine molitor","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"play","path":"/tag/play/","name":"play","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"posture","path":"/tag/posture/","name":"posture","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"powerbreather","path":"/tag/powerbreather/","name":"powerbreather","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"practice","path":"/tag/practice/","name":"practice","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"press","path":"/tag/press/","name":"press","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"prevention","path":"/tag/prevention/","name":"prevention","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"private-lessons","path":"/tag/private-lessons/","name":"private lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"processing-new-skills","path":"/tag/processing-new-skills/","name":"processing new skills","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"product-review","path":"/tag/product-review/","name":"product review","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"psychology","path":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"quality-time-in-water","path":"/tag/quality-time-in-water/","name":"quality time in water","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"reaction","path":"/tag/reaction/","name":"Reaction","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"recreational-swimming","path":"/tag/recreational-swimming/","name":"Recreational Swimming","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"rehabilitation","path":"/tag/rehabilitation/","name":"rehabilitation","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"relaxed-swimming","path":"/tag/relaxed-swimming/","name":"relaxed swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"researching-a-swimming-course","path":"/tag/researching-a-swimming-course/","name":"researching a swimming course","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"residential-course","path":"/tag/residential-course/","name":"residential course","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"residential-swimming-course","path":"/tag/residential-swimming-course/","name":"residential swimming course","description":"","count":5},{"slug":"richard-walker","path":"/tag/richard-walker/","name":"richard walker","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"river-teifi","path":"/tag/river-teifi/","name":"river teifi","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"rnli","path":"/tag/rnli/","name":"RNLI","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"rotation","path":"/tag/rotation/","name":"rotation","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"roundup","path":"/tag/roundup/","name":"roundup","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"salsa-dancing","path":"/tag/salsa-dancing/","name":"salsa dancing","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"school-swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/school-swimming-lessons/","name":"school swimming lessons","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"sea-swimming","path":"/tag/sea-swimming/","name":"sea swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"self-awareness","path":"/tag/self-awareness/","name":"self awareness","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"sento","path":"/tag/sento/","name":"Sento","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"shaw-method","path":"/tag/shaw-method/","name":"shaw method","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"shinji-takeuchi","path":"/tag/shinji-takeuchi/","name":"shinji takeuchi","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"sighting","path":"/tag/sighting/","name":"sighting","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"simon-armitage","path":"/tag/simon-armitage/","name":"simon armitage","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"sinker","path":"/tag/sinker/","name":"sinker","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"sinking","path":"/tag/sinking/","name":"sinking","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"sinky-legs","path":"/tag/sinky-legs/","name":"sinky legs","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"slowing-down","path":"/tag/slowing-down/","name":"slowing down","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"special-olympics","path":"/tag/special-olympics/","name":"Special Olympics","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"stephen-cooper","path":"/tag/stephen-cooper/","name":"Stephen Cooper","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"stopping","path":"/tag/stopping/","name":"Stopping","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"streamlining","path":"/tag/streamlining/","name":"streamlining","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"strel-swimming-holidays","path":"/tag/strel-swimming-holidays/","name":"strel swimming holidays","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"striving","path":"/tag/striving/","name":"Striving","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"succession","path":"/tag/succession/","name":"succession","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"support-mechanism","path":"/tag/support-mechanism/","name":"Support mechanism","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"survival","path":"/tag/survival/","name":"Survival","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swans-open-water-7","path":"/tag/swans-open-water-7/","name":"swans open water 7","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swim-training","path":"/tag/swim-training/","name":"Swim training","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swim-with-stress","path":"/tag/swim-with-stress/","name":"swim with stress","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming","path":"/tag/swimming/","name":"Swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-advice","path":"/tag/swimming-advice/","name":"swimming advice","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-and-health","path":"/tag/swimming-and-health/","name":"Swimming and health","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-for-bad-back","path":"/tag/swimming-for-bad-back/","name":"Swimming for bad back","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-for-exercise","path":"/tag/swimming-for-exercise/","name":"swimming for exercise","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-for-fitness","path":"/tag/swimming-for-fitness/","name":"swimming for fitness","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"swimming-for-health","path":"/tag/swimming-for-health/","name":"swimming for health","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"swimming-goggles","path":"/tag/swimming-goggles/","name":"swimming goggles","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-groups","path":"/tag/swimming-groups/","name":"Swimming groups","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-lengths","path":"/tag/swimming-lengths/","name":"Swimming lengths","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-lessons","path":"/tag/swimming-lessons/","name":"swimming lessons","description":"","count":9},{"slug":"swimming-nude","path":"/tag/swimming-nude/","name":"Swimming nude","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"swimming-on-back","path":"/tag/swimming-on-back/","name":"swimming on back","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"swimming-outdoors","path":"/tag/swimming-outdoors/","name":"swimming outdoors","description":"","count":4},{"slug":"swimming-poetry","path":"/tag/swimming-poetry/","name":"swimming poetry","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-pools","path":"/tag/swimming-pools/","name":"swimming pools","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-slowly","path":"/tag/swimming-slowly/","name":"swimming slowly","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-snorkel","path":"/tag/swimming-snorkel/","name":"swimming snorkel","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-speed","path":"/tag/swimming-speed/","name":"swimming speed","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-strokes","path":"/tag/swimming-strokes/","name":"swimming strokes","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"swimming-teacher","path":"/tag/swimming-teacher/","name":"swimming teacher","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-teacher-training","path":"/tag/swimming-teacher-training/","name":"Swimming teacher training","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-technique","path":"/tag/swimming-technique/","name":"swimming technique","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"swimming-therapy","path":"/tag/swimming-therapy/","name":"Swimming therapy","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"swimming-times","path":"/tag/swimming-times/","name":"swimming times","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"swimming-to-relax","path":"/tag/swimming-to-relax/","name":"swimming to relax","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-underwater","path":"/tag/swimming-underwater/","name":"swimming underwater","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"swimming-wetsuits","path":"/tag/swimming-wetsuits/","name":"swimming wetsuits","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-with-stan","path":"/tag/swimming-with-stan/","name":"swimming with Stan","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"swimming-without-stress","path":"/tag/swimming-without-stress/","name":"swimming without stress","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"swimming-without-unnecessary-tension","path":"/tag/swimming-without-unnecessary-tension/","name":"swimming without unnecessary tension","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"symmetry","path":"/tag/symmetry/","name":"symmetry","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"talent","path":"/tag/talent/","name":"talent","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"teach-your-kids-to-swim","path":"/tag/teach-your-kids-to-swim/","name":"teach your kids to swim","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"teaching-approaches","path":"/tag/teaching-approaches/","name":"teaching approaches","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"teaching-children","path":"/tag/teaching-children/","name":"teaching children","description":"","count":6},{"slug":"teaching-swimming","path":"/tag/teaching-swimming/","name":"teaching swimming","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"the-catch","path":"/tag/the-catch/","name":"the catch","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"the-core","path":"/tag/the-core/","name":"the core","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"the-independent","path":"/tag/the-independent/","name":"the independent","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"the-spine","path":"/tag/the-spine/","name":"The spine","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"the-strokes","path":"/tag/the-strokes/","name":"The strokes","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"therapeutic-swimming","path":"/tag/therapeutic-swimming/","name":"therapeutic swimming","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"therapy","path":"/tag/therapy/","name":"Therapy","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"thinking","path":"/tag/thinking/","name":"thinking","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"thinking-in-activity","path":"/tag/thinking-in-activity/","name":"thinking in activity","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"training","path":"/tag/training/","name":"training","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"training-aids","path":"/tag/training-aids/","name":"training aids","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"training-snorkel","path":"/tag/training-snorkel/","name":"training snorkel","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"treading-water","path":"/tag/treading-water/","name":"treading water","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"triathlon","path":"/tag/triathlon/","name":"Triathlon","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"trying","path":"/tag/trying/","name":"trying","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"vertical-floating","path":"/tag/vertical-floating/","name":"vertical floating","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"vestibular-system","path":"/tag/vestibular-system/","name":"vestibular system","description":"","count":2},{"slug":"view-fitness-swipe","path":"/tag/view-fitness-swipe/","name":"view fitness swipe","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"view-goggles","path":"/tag/view-goggles/","name":"view goggles","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"view-pirana-goggles","path":"/tag/view-pirana-goggles/","name":"view pirana goggles","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"view-platina","path":"/tag/view-platina/","name":"view platina","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"view-selene","path":"/tag/view-selene/","name":"view selene","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"water-confidence","path":"/tag/water-confidence/","name":"water confidence","description":"","count":7},{"slug":"welsh","path":"/tag/welsh/","name":"welsh","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"west-wales","path":"/tag/west-wales/","name":"West Wales","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"wetsuits","path":"/tag/wetsuits/","name":"wetsuits","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"wild-swimming","path":"/tag/wild-swimming/","name":"wild swimming","description":"","count":4},{"slug":"wim-hof","path":"/tag/wim-hof/","name":"wim hof","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"wim-hof-method","path":"/tag/wim-hof-method/","name":"wim hof method","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"windows","path":"/tag/windows/","name":"Windows","description":"","count":0},{"slug":"witnessing-whats-happening","path":"/tag/witnessing-whats-happening/","name":"Witnessing what's happening","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"yoga","path":"/tag/yoga/","name":"yoga","description":"","count":3},{"slug":"young-people","path":"/tag/young-people/","name":"young people","description":"","count":1},{"slug":"zachbushmd","path":"/tag/zachbushmd/","name":"zachbushMD","description":"","count":1}],"authors":[{"slug":"ian-cross","path":"/author/ian-cross/","name":"Swimming Without Stress","description":"Ian is an Alexander Technique teacher in Cardigan. He teaches people to swim, with Cheryl Cross, through Swimming Without Stress 1:1 residential courses.","avatar":null},{"slug":"john.lomax","path":"/author/john.lomax/","name":"Swimming Without Stress","description":"","avatar":null}]}