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lesson testimonials" Just a quick mail to say thanks again for the support and guidance you gave me last week. I've tried so many times to learn to swim and it has generally ended in frustration and disappointment. This time I actually for the 1st time had the confidence and trust to allow my face to be fully immersed in water and that is thanks to both of you and your approach. I only wish I had discovered you 10 years ago. " Gerry, Rugby " Thank you for the excellent week of lessons. I promise to enjoy the practice and one day breaststroke will seem effortless! Thanks again." Su, Bath " Thank you so much for a wonderful few days. Instructive and Inspiring! I can't wait for the Open Air Lido in Cheltenham to open next month. Many thanks." Robin, Cheltenham " We all just wanted to thank you both for the great lessons. We have all made excellent progress. Megan has been complimented on how relaxed and natural she seems in water. Hannah is very mobile and comfortable in the water. Graham is now swimming lengths of breast stroke and looks very much at home in the water. I am very grateful to have been able to learn front crawl and now feel like a proper swimmer... We are all just so pleased with how the block of lessons worked for the whole family and would certainly recommend it to others." Edwards family, Falkirk " John and I wanted to thank you both for introducing us to your most unusual and impressive approach to the whole business of swimming. We both greatly appreciated how generous you were with giving us so much of your time. We now look forward to putting your principles into practice within the pools in the bath Spa. Our renewed thanks for your advice and patience." John and Rosalie, Bath " I would like to thank you for the wonderful session in the Croft pool yesterday. Both Shirley and myself thoroughly enjoyed the instruction and guidance. My wife has benefited immensely from your considerate and patient approach. My crawl has also been transformed, as if by magic. Our usual Saturday morning swim was a whole new experience today. We cant thank you enough. " Martin and Shirley, Fishguard " Thank you both again for a wonderful life-changing course. We will both continue to 'swim without stress' we promise! We will also spread the word and encourage others to enjoy this experience. Warm regards" Annwen and John, London " We are both very pleased with our progress. Things feel a lot more "natural", and the feeling of front crawl that's actually quite relaxing was new to both of us. " Ana and Johannes, Edinburgh " Hi Cheryl and Ian,thanks again for a great and inspirational swimming holiday. We're off to our local pool again tomorrow to practice our lovely new strokes...Bethan was so enthusiastic at her work that her colleague may come on a course! He's already read Stephen Shaw's book so is very enthusiastic. Thank you for another transformatory week." Bethan and Martin, S London " Many thanks (again) for the inspiring week - I am looking forward to my first visit to the pool at the health club, to do a few somersaults and generally scare the rest of the swimmers!" Phyllis, Bath " Thanks again for what we considered to be a very fruitful couple of lessons for Anna and Eli. We really do feel they both benefited hugely and we were particularly impressed with your approach. The girls clearly greatly enjoyed themselves and were quick to tell their grandparents about their newly acquired skills." Re Anna and Ellie (aged 6) " Just thought I'd tell you. I went for my first swim at the gyms swimming pool over the holiday season.Everything went well and even managed to stop myself sniffing up half the water supply!! Thanks for everything during the lessons. The book has helped and will continue to help so thanks very much and have a great year! I'll let you know when i go for my first lake swim in NZ." Steve, NZ " I think the variety of your teaching, a bit on front and back and Cheryl getting me to dive down to pick things up etc, really kept me interested. I felt I achieved a lot in a short space of time so I didn’t get bored or frustrated with it. I would say for us blokes that you need to feel a sense of progression or we just get fed up" Chris, Manchester " Dear Ian and Cheryl. Just a quick message to say many thanks for the skill and patience you both shared with me this week. I achieved so much more than I had dared hoped for. Not only am I a woman who'll now put her face in the water, I'm also a woman who understands about new techniques to achieve different strokes and most importantly, I know how to have fun in the water. My children are looking forward to seeing the dvd to prove I've progressed. I'll be recommending you to anyone and everyone who says they can't swim/ are frightened of the water/want to improve their swimming ability." Chris, Bristol " Just a short note to let you know about your former pupils! Since our lessons we have not been able to find any suitable pools to carry on your good work, so 2 weeks ago when we found ourselves on our usual Greek beach,we strapped on the goggles and tried to remember all you taught us. And yes, it all came back. Personally it was so exciting to dive under the sea and look at the many kinds of beautiful fish for once. We had a much better time than ever before, and many thanks for that." Paul and Viv, Leics " (After her lesson) I don't want it to end." Amber, Cardigan (aged 10) " Just a note to say thanks again for the great tuition my two children received from you both during our stay at Brongwyn. Joanna's swimming is vastly improved and Eoin is at last confident and, most importantly, enjoying himself, in the water. I am both amazed and delighted by the huge progress both children achieved in eight lessons. I would not have believed that Eoin could transform from shivering and terrified to smiling and relaxed in so short a time. I think the combination of the lovely unthreatening pool and your teaching is obviously very effective. It certainly worked in our case and I'd recommend it to anyone! Both children have been swimming at least twice a week since in our local public pool. Eoin was wary at first as it is so much bigger, but was relaxed and practicing all he'd learnt from you within a very short time. I wish you continued success - hopefully we'll come back again in a couple of years for some more expert tuition." Michelle, Tipperary " Thank you for a fantastic week of swimming. We both got so much from the course. My new aim in life is to keep my head and neck free!.. Thank you both for being wonderful teachers." Smeera and Tom, London " I wanted to let you know I really enjoyed the time and lessons with you both last week. It's really transformed my relationship with water. I've been to the pool four times since I came back ... and every time it just keeps getting better and better. I didn't imagine swimming could be so much fun. I'm looking forward to coming back to spend some more time with you one of these days. I must say you guys are very gifted and inspirational in the way you work. Please keep it up." James, Amsterdam " Ian and Cheryl (swish!) Thought I'd drop you some feedback while it is still fresh in my mind, although you both reinforced your teaching so well I doubt if I will ever forget "The technique. You will be pleased to hear that I really nailed the crawl on Friday, I managed to finally let the legs go and my timing and power in the glide just fell in to place, with my head really leading, the forward movement was quite amazing............ All down to you guys, I can't thank you enough for your patience and expertise. After so many years spent working in water, I thought I was at home there, but you guys have taught me how to really chill.... Thank you. Tuition apart it was also a pleasure to meet you both." Ian, Cirencester " I wanted to thank you both for showing me how, at last, to feel at ease and safe in the water. I ended the week on a high and for the first time, believing that I could in fact swim. Quite an achievement for someone who had been dubbed a phobic by another swimming instructor. I'm now looking forward to practising my new-found skills and just being able to enjoy. I feel that your calmness, patience and belief in your teaching method was what ultimately made the difference. It was well worth the journey from London!" Michelle, Middlesex " We wanted to say a big thanks to both of you for the training this week, we compliment you on your professionalism and coordination between each other. The two of you work well as a team and take time to talk to each other about the previous lesson in order to maintain continuity between the sessions. Although we were all there with a purpose, you to teach and us to learn, there were elements of fun, and sometimes when something did not go quite right we could have a laugh and reflect on it afterwards. We have both learnt a great deal and it will probably be a few weeks before it all sinks in and we get coordinated with all the strokes, breathing and kicks. We both feel a lot better about our abilities in water and this afternoon we ventured to our local swimming pool and had an hour there, which is a first for us. We would highly recommend you and your course to anyone seeking help with their swimming." Eric and Ann, Herts " Just a quick note to say thanks for the lessons last week. Viv and I learnt such a lot in a short space of time, and it was nice to learn from genuine people who enjoyed what they were doing." Paul and Viv, Leics " Just a quick note to thank you very much for the course this week. I went from trepidation to really having fun in the water in just eight lessons - thanks very much. I can't wait to check out my local pools and continue taking lessons and having fun!" Trevor, Dublin " I felt compelled to write to you after my time at the pool this morning. I have been struggling with extending my time swimming without resting, and have been getting more and more tired, frustrated and despondent about swimming, along with seeing my hopes of participating in triathlons disappearing without a trace. However, this morning I remembered something that Chie told me in one of our last lessons. To experiment with the height of my lead hand in the water. All of a sudden it just clicked. I was no longer gasping for air, fighting for breath and feeling tired after only a couple of hundred meters. (I was amazed that such a seemingly small adjustment could make so much difference, but looking back, it was obvious I was causing a lot of tension by having my lead hand so high in the water.) I swam for half an hour without stopping, and the only reason I stopped was because I needed to get to work. It’s difficult to get into words what it actually means to me to be able to swim, but suffice to say at one point I was literally crying into my goggles. I was so happy, the frustration disappeared and all of a sudden I was swimming. I never imagined I could swim with so much relaxation and grace. I owe nearly all of this to Chie, and wondered if you could pass along to her my thanks and appreciation for her knowledge and endless patience with me." Joe, Bucks " The course was excellent and I got a lot out of it. You have a great teaching style and made what could be complex clear and workable....Will concentrate on letting my head go." Mike, Manchester " Once again I would like to thank you both for an amazing experience!! I can't believe I can actually do a bit of swimming underwater!! It all came together in the end and I feel I have finally let go." Alex, Ammanford " The swimming course was fantastic and I can't believe how much George and I learnt in only four days. My breast stroke is going pretty well and George looks so relaxed in the water, gliding along as if there is no effort at all. Just wanted to let you know how much of an impact this has had and to thank you both for such an enjoyable swimming course." Catherine and George, Surrey " Thanks so much for your time and dedication on my swimming instruction. I did a brief time trial and my speed has definitely increased - I'm now able to keep pace with some of the other regulars in the pool! I'm also feeling more confident about my swimming abilities overall and I will definitely be recommending your course to others." Dermot, Luxembourg " Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us. It has indeed enriched our journey of life. For Moira, you have removed a fear which has been with me since childhood." Moira and Robert, Yorkshire " Just a few words in an attempt to thank you for all your help and kindness during the past months, enabling me to achieve the enjoyment of swimming - accomplished by teaching me the Alexander technique, firstly on land; and the by putting it into practice in the water. It seems hard to remember now that I couldn't sit for even short periods without worrying whether I would be in pain with my back when I stood up. In short, thank you for giving me my LIFE back!" Eileen, Thame " One of the best things I've ever done!" Rob, Aylesbury " Ian, Thanks to yourself and Cheryl for your encouragement and patience over the weekend. We both really enjoyed our weekend and feel we have come a long way since stepping nervously into the pool on Friday morning. Our confidence has grown immensely over the weekend and our independence in the water this morning has left us both on such a high. It really is a wonderful feeling to finally let go, and although we have only just begun to explore our adventures in water, your technique and guidance has laid a solid foundation for us to move forward. We cannot thank you both enough." Brian and Alan, Twickenham " ...this morning, one of the gym's personal trainers was teaching a lady to swim front crawl and was shouting, literally shouting, 1 2 3, 1 2 3 from the side lines as this poor lady struggled along with lots of splash and not much forward movement. I couldn't help comparing to the hands on, relaxing, helpful (!) way that you teach, and actually felt quite sorry for this lady that she was getting this aggression (!) instead.." Julia, Ealing " Just taking a bit of time out from work to say a huge thankyou for all your help and coaching last week. We had a wonderful week. I have been practising each morning and I think Im improving steadily. I don’t suffer any back or neck problems as I did before and although at times I'm sure I slip back into my old habits its certainly much better than it used to be." Sylvia, Nottingham " I thoroughly enjoyed my “Swimming without stress” course at Brongwyn last week, and could not have wished for two more patient, charming and skillful teachers. The one-to-one format was just what I needed to get started, and I hope I will be able to make further progress in practicing what you taught me. Thanks also for the very useful notes." Roger, Herts " I just want to thank you for the lessons and everything you have done for me. Just being able to enjoy gliding to those steps and breathing out into the water is a massive step towards me being able to swim. I really did not know what to expect before coming but it has been a pleasure doing these lessons with you. The technique you teach is just amazing. Hopefully I will be coming to you when I am a competent swimmer as well as I find what you are doing fantastic." Alex, Ammanford " Just 10 lessons ago I was a 35 year old aquaphobe. Never having been able to swim I found myself suddenly out of my depth in the Philippines 11 years previously. I went under the water 3 times and had given up trying to save myself when I was rescued by a friend and a Filipino fisherman! I never recovered from the shock and hated being in the water. Having children inspired me to want to overcome my fear and learn to swim. An unsuccessful attempt at group lessons left me flat and demotivated. I could not have done it without Chie, Ian and Cheryl. Their patience, belief and encouragement has given me the wonderful gift of confidence in the water, under the water and coaching my own children to make friends with the water too. Richard, Oxon" Richard, Oxon " Ian, Cheryl and Chie, Your fantastic teaching style, relaxed attitude and tremendous encouragement has made my progress possible and I'm extremely grateful. Richard" Richard, Oxon " Ian suggested I try a length each of my old all-action style and my newly acquired glide. The times turned out to be almost identical, but it only took me half as many strokes when gliding. Ian was not attempting to make me go faster - he was trying to make me swim more efficiently. However, I could see this soon might amount to pretty much the same thing. In just about an hour, he had completed re-styled my swimming action." Pete Chapman, The Independent " Thanks for a great swimming weekend. I feel a lot more confidence and enjoyment in the water now thanks to your help" Billy, Cardiff " We just had to write to say thank you for giving us both such a wonderful swimming experience. Your encouragement and expertise enabled both John and I to gain new skills and confidence in the water, doing, in my case things I never thought possible in just 4 days. A real life-changer for me for all of the right reasons. We both enjoyed being ‘learners’ and have gained insight into personalised learning – a real passion of mine! Also to experience such quality team-teaching was a privilege… We both promise to keep ‘relaxed in water’ from now on." Annwen and John, London " It was such a good experience…Chie showed me just a few strokes of her actually swimming and I have never seen swimming look as lovely and effortless!" Julie, Berkshire " Thank you for running these lessons – Seth is over the moon with how much he learned in just one half-hour lesson – he really liked Chie – said she was brilliant!" Jackie, Oxon " I have only just now had the opportunity to write and thank you for the truly inspiring lessons you gave me recently. I arrived in Cardigan hoping that I would make some improvement, but a little sceptical that much could be achieved in four days. But the result seems little short of magical. I have moved from thrashing about anxiously, to a calm, slow movement - I even go willingly into the deep end, which I would not do before. Thank you again for enabling me to achieve a real change in my relationship with the water." Pam, Hertfordshire " Thank you for a great 3 days- I went swimming today and have found a great pool to get lots of floating around done! I found your approach and gentle teaching style perfect for me and I am so pleased with the progress you helped me achieve. Thanks again" Julie, Northampton " Just to say thank you for all your help when I came over to Cardigan recently. Subsequently I went on to Ragdale Health Spa where they have a fantastic pool, which was quiet and very warm. I practised rolling up to breathe breathing out through my nose and I had a real eureka moment as I found that I could do it and all the things that you both told me suddenly made sense. I did some short lengths of approx 12 metres breathing every fourth stroke and was amazed at how it all seemed to work, I do have enough puff after all! The best thing is that now I feel more relaxed about the breathing everything else seems to be relaxing as well and I'm really enjoying the stroke. I thought I needed to share the good news with you. It's really changed how I feel about the stroke." Kay, Hertfordshire " Something of a low-key evangelist, Ian is dedicated to introducing the masses to the pleasures of recreational swimming. Using touchstones gleaned from his experience of teaching the Alexander Technique, he coaxes and gently encourages, helping the non-swimmer and swimmer to feel more at home in the water." Pete Chapman, The Independent |
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