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When Summer Freaks You Out - Bella Magazine, July 2007

Splashing through crystal clear water on a tropical beach is many people's idea of heaven. But not for aquaphobes like Carmen Electra. The Baywatch babe starred as a lifeguard during the long-running TV show, but it's a job she could never do in real life. 'I get scared around water and have a panic attack,' says the non-swimmer.

Millions will know how she feels. Some aquaphobes refuse to go to a beach - which could ruin a holiday in the sun.

Those who are afraid of water usually find it impossible to conquer their terror without help. "If you do not address your fear, you risk doing yourself some harm," says Ian Cross of Swimming Without Stress, which runs residential courses in Wales using the Shaw Method.

"People who are nervous of water tense their necks and displace their heads in a startled response, often holding their breath, narrowing their shoulders and trying to keep as much of themselves above the water as they can.

"With this stance, any movement of the water wobbles them, making them more afraid. They need to become aware of what they are doing with their body and the negative effect it is having."

Three times a week I plough up and down a west London pool for 35 minutes at a time. It is my regular exercise, I'm pleased with my progress from being the one most likely to drown to confident crawler. There are a couple of things that bug me, though. One, my shoulders and neck sometimes ache after swimming which is odd given that I've always assumed it was the perfect, impact-free exercise. Two, why is it the men and women who regularly overtake me in the pool appear to be moving so effortlessly? Almost the first thing Ian Cross, the founder of Swimming without Stress, did was film me with his video camera. When he played it back, he said, "Listen." All I could hear was the methodical slap, slap, slap of my hands as they hit the water. I was impressed. To my mind, noisy swimmer equalled powerful swimmer. Ian gently pointed out that I was wasting energy and that it would be far better to let my hand enter the water at a graceful angle with little or no splash. Despite being a man with a powerful attachment to splashing, a few practice lengths later I could see the sense of what he was saying. read more...

Swimming Reviews: Making The Newspapers

When Summer Freaks You Out - Bella Magazine, July 2007

Relax – Then Take The Plunge- Daily Telegraph, July 2004

Thrash a Sloppy Splasher Into Shape - The Independent, July 2003