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lesson testimonials" I actually joined Bannantynes this Friday, which has a really good 20 metre pool. Spent nearly 3 hours there yesterday with my eldest daughter who'd come up for a visit from London and she was amazed at my progress. I could certainly tell that I had better technique than quite a few of the others in the pool, I can actually see them underwater now you've got me wearing goggles. Still concentrating on keeping my neck free, stretching out and gliding. I will get there, I've no doubts now in my abilities to succeed in this area. Thanks again for everything. You're both excellent instructors and I've already recommended you to several people and will continue to do so. " Lynette, Birmingham, March 10 " As you know yesterday's session with Chie was the last one in a long series which has been of enormous value to me. I really don't know how I am going to manage without her! But as I am moving house next week the regular sessions are no longer possible. Chie has been wonderful. She is so patient and encouraging, and I quickly came to trust her completely. She has taught me to have a totally new attitude to being in the water, which I now love, as well as to swim with comfort and pleasure rather than the struggle it was when I started.So - very many thanks to you and to Chie." Viv, Oxford, November 2009 " Thank you both so much for the last few days. Your teaching methods are brilliant. You make such a great team! You have found a way to build my confidence and belief in my ability beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you for showing me a new found joy of being in the water and for teaching me how to find my feet! See you next year." Gill, St Helens, November 2009 " I just wanted to let you both know how much I enjoyed my introduction to real swimming. Until I found out about your course I'd pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'd never be comfortable in the water without a snorkel, mask and fins. On the rare occasions I ventured into a swimming pool I'd pull every muscle and sinew to get from one end to the other, fighting for air all the way. I now know that I wasn't so much swimming as trying not to sink. During the course some things came to me more quickly than others, but whenever I hit a sticky spot your expertise and patience moved me on, and I now feel fully confident that I can actually swim and relax at the same time. I've just joined the local leisure centre with my wife and we're both looking forward to improving our technique further while enjoying the experience of relaxed swimming to the full. It was a genuine pleasure to meet you both and who knows, if things progress as we hope, we may see you again next year for some more advanced lessons. We happened to be in the Lake District last month during the Great North Swim and we're now teasing ourselves with the possibility that we could actually take part in 2010!" Graham, Liverpool, October 2009 " I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the swimming lessons with Ian and Cheryl. I didn't realise I could achieve so much in such a short time. It is all due to your expert teaching and patience. This is such a brilliant technique for swimming, really relaxing and beneficial both mentally and physically. Anyone thinking about learning to swim properly should pick up the phone and arrange to do this now. I wish I had done it years ago. Thank you once again." Val, Bridgend, October 2009 " I wanted to write and thank you and your team for all your help and support over the last year. Could you please pass on my thanks to Chie? As you may recall I had completed in a number of triathlons prior to my lessons but was struggling with the swim sections. Chie's teaching helped me to relax and to exit the water in a much more positive frame of mind. I have just completed IMUK and finished the 2.4 mile swim feeling ready to tackle the 112 mile bike leg. Without Chie's help I'm not sure I would have even made the start line let alone finish the swim (and the race!)" Simon, Oxford, August 2009 " I enjoyed the course very much you both have the patience of saints.Thank you for your kindness and humour. At the local pool I've been thinking about what you said about 'not doing' the things that I didn't need to be doing. I can now move up and down the pool with relative ease. I try to keep your message about gliding in my mind and it works. I'm more relaxed in the water and can be more conscious of my errors and make the necessary adjustments. You have given me the tools to continue to improve..." Colin, Newcastle, June 2009 " I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the lovely swimming lessons last week. I wouldn’t have believed I could enjoy being in the water so much. It really was a complete revelation to someone who had never voluntarily even put a face in water before!... I can now get happily half way along our local pool without feeling out of control. My boys were absolutely thrilled yesterday as, for the first time ever, I accompanied the rest of the family for their usual Sunday swim. And I was pretty thrilled too, as I actually enjoyed myself! Lots of swimming on my back, lots of gliding, and lots of letting my head drop and feeling, quite genuinely, relaxed." Sue, Chesham, June 2009 " Thank you so much for such a brilliant week of swimming. Me swimming? And enjoying it? You're both such calm and encouraging teachers and I've learnt more than I ever thought I could in such a short length of time. " Becky, London, March 2009 " I just wanted to say thank you for making this week so enjoyable. I've learnt a lot and I'm looking forward to swimming without any neck pain from now on! I think you're both excellent teachers and I'm so pleased to have discovered 'swimming without stress' by chance just a few weeks ago. " Michelle, Luton, April 2009 " Hello Julie, Thank you for the CD which arrived safely today. It's very easy to see what we are doing (right and wrong) looking at the pictures. Please could you pass on our many, many thanks to Cheryl and Ian for a fantastic introduction to "proper" swimming! We both very much enjoyed the lessons and have been trying to maintain our skills in the local swimming pool since coming home. And thank you too for a very stress-free booking experience! " Heather and Wal, Cardiff, March 2009 " Just wanted to say a huge 'Thank you' for your patience and skilful teaching. I thought the day would never come when I could swim. It is fantastic! There is still a fair way to go for me but Des and I have enrolled in swimming lessons and practise a couple of times a week. It is only a matter of time before I finally get to the deep end and hopefully learn to scuba dive. You really have opened up a whole new world for me and I shall be eternally grateful. " Jagdeep and Des, London " I just wanted to say thanks again to you both for what you taught me in the lessons I had with you, and let you know that it's had a profound and positive effect on both my swimming and life in general. " Peter, Chester, January 2009 " I feel that I have gained much from the lessons with you, they were very enjoyable. I was really 'stuck' before, and can now continue. The Shaw Method is very exciting, and I would not consider taking conventional swimming instruction. I'm also interested in taking further Alexander Technique tuition. " Karl, Plymouth, January 2009 " I would just like to thank you for your help and encouragement over the weekend. For the first time I feel as if swimming will happen for me, the groundwork has been done and you have given me a sound basis on which to build and I am determined to keep it going. " Chris, Worcester, December 2008 " Swimming lessons with Chie has revitalised my swimming. I never thought I'd be able to get the hang of it - but she's made it really easy. I think she's brilliant. " Pippa, Oxford, November 2008 " Julian and I had a great time at the weekend learning to improve our swimming. Julian is able to swim every day at the moment so is making full use of the lessons and practising hard. I managed to practise on monday and amazingly found it very relaxing after a horrible day at work and a hard run. I was even looking at the other swimmers 'clashing and bashing' around as they swam and felt very sanctimonious!! The best thing is that I got out the pool feeling calm! I am eager to swim tonight and looking forward to more practising and am sure that it will continue to help me relax! I have to say its the first time I have looked forward to swimming! " Sara, Leicester, October 2008 " A very big thank you for all you did for me. I am sure you realised that I arrived in some trepidation!! I have been trying to swim for what seems like years, but my fears have always got the better of me - I can go through the motions but only if 'attached' to some other mortal but your calm and friendly manner began, right from the start, to calm my 'collywobbles'. My final efforts of floating face down and unattached, even close to land, gave me the first experience I have ever had of how pleasurable swimming could be, and I am even prepared to accept that I can stand up again;- I now feel I want to persevere with it. " Roger, Bucks, September 2008 " Just a quick note to thank you so much for helping me to achieve a boyhood ambition. Since I was very young I have always wanted to swim the length of Lake Windermere. I had never had any formal coaching and at the age of 44, this was my ' Mount Everest'. I knew I needed some help to get my technique right. A big thank you for all your help - during the 2 days of instruction along with my family you really helped me understand the importance of relaxing the neck and shoulders, getting the swish and glide , rolling the body and not rushing the breathing.All your instruction was invaluabe as I ploughed on for 7.5 hous in freezing cold fresh water... I DID IT and a massive thanks to you both. " Richard, Cumbria, September 2008 " Many thanks for your patience in teaching a non swimmer like me to be comfortable in the water, I thoroughly enjoyed your lessons and can't wait to continue in London from where we left off. " Juhi, London, September 2008 " Many thanks to both of you. We really enjoyed our week at Brongwyn and miss it. My swimming course and Alexander technique lesson are an experience I will never forget. By the end of the week I felt more relaxed and supported by the water than I have ever felt and I loved it - I hope I can keep that feeling in the water. I have been left with a lot to think about and work on myself. Thank you " Judith, Oxford, September 2008 " Just a short note to thank you both for everything you both taught me and for completely changing my relationship with water. As you know, I was terrified of water and would never have put my face in the water. As a result of your course, I now can honestly say I love the water. Since returning, I have joined a Fitness club ( Only to use their pool!) and have been swimming every day. I have finally mastered the breathing and can happily do length after length, without feeling at all stressed. I have also discovered that I can completely float on my back- my knees are bent with my legs apart and not using my arms. I am soo chuffed and cant thank you both enough. " Tricia, Belfast, July 2008 " 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, May 2008 " 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, April 2008 " 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, March 2008 " 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, January 2008 " 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, June 2007 " 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, May 2007 " 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, May 2007 " 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, June 2007 " 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, January 2007 " 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, (ironman) Luxembourg, January 2007 " 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, June 2007 " ...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, October 2006 " Ian, Cheryl and Chie, Your fantastic teaching style, relaxed attitude and tremendous encouragement has made my progress possible and I'm extremely grateful. " Richard, Oxon, July 2007 " 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 " 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 " 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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