Product Description

Swimming without Stress: Lessons for Land Lovers
The essential guide for novice swimmers, improvers and aspiring triathletes.

Swimming without Stress: Lessons for Land Lovers is swimming teacher Ian Cross's essential guide for novice swimmers, improvers and aspiring triathletes.

Part One: Swimming Fundamentals for Land Lovers shows you how to make friends with the water and move easily on your front and back. The three main strokes, front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke, are demystified.

Part Two: Train without Strain inspires confidence, motivates and prepares you for swimming and triathlon training.

This series of thirteen articles, first published in British Runner magazine, is fully illustrated with colour photographs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71840 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 68 pages

From the Inside Flap
"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." Peter Chapman, The Independent

About the Author
Ian Cross founded Swimming without Stress in 1996. He teaches individuals to swim or improve technique by becoming more at home in the water, using the Alexander Technique. He was trained by Steven Shaw in 1997. Ian runs swimming holidays with his wife Cheryl in Cardigan Bay, West Wales, where they live with their four children. Ian is a graduate of The University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. Chie Cross, Ian's sister-in-law, teaches Swimming without Stress to individuals in Oxfordshire.

For more information, see swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk or telephone 01239 613789.

Customer Reviews

Breathing Demystified!!
I've had an unxplained lifelong fear of water, but have recently learnt how to swim. I've been looking for a book that might help me improve my technique for some time without success, and came across this by chance.

Although I could swim I lacked confidence, and was having trouble getting my face in the water. The author's approach to teaching swimming is developing your relationship with water and allowing yourself to trust that the water will support you. This is something that I found really difficult, but I followed the instructions in the first couple of chapters, and slowly but surely they worked.

The advice about breathing is particularly useful. It has completely demystified this for me - it's so simple now - and after just a few weeks I am swimming calmly, and confidently, with my face in the water.

Swimming Without Stress is a wonderful book and I would recommend it to any budding swimmer who wants to improve their confidence and technique.

8/10 for value and performance 220 Triathlon Magazine
220 Triathlon magazine review, August 2005

"Ian Cross sets out to help you improve your swimming by offering a different view of how to approach your aquatic exploits with this book. Cross is a qualified swim teacher and triathlete, so has the experience and qualifications to know exactly what he's talking about.

His book uses the Alexander Technique and looks at how your thinking affects how you function mentally and physically. Parts of the book seem basic for experienced triathlon swimmers, but there's still plenty in it that'll be of interest to even the most seasoned veteran.

Cross looks at all aspects of swimming including technique, breathing, injury prevention, stretching, kit and even offers training schedules. There's a tri-specific chapter that covers training generally and offers tips for anyone training in all three disciplines. It's short and easy to read without any unnecessary fluff, and great for building your confidence and feeling comfortable in the water."

Performance 8
Value 8
Verdict Useful reading for improving swimmers

customer feedback on progress after reading book
(After first session in the pool after reading the book)

I followed the instructions on breathing with your face in the water and this was very successful as I managed to swim in the middle of 1.2m pool doing this, and also in the slow lane in the 2m pool. The goggles are excellent so far, and I felt very calm.

(One week later ....)
I now understand what you mean about 'making friends with the water'. Never thought this would happen, but it does eventually come. In the past week I have realised that the water will support me and am able to trust it. Your comments in the book about floating are very good and it's helped a lot knowing that I don't need to worry about star floats.

I'm enjoying the book. I think, for me anyway, it's best to use it in stages, and dip in when I need to - then it all starts to become clearer.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards

Carole