
Information
About our method
At Swim in Balance we use the Shaw Method for swimmers (UK). This approach is beneficial for building confidence, effectively learning new swimming strokes, improving your performance, making moving more enjoyable in the water, and if you are suffering from or recovering from neck and back pain.
Alexander technique
The Shaw Method for swimmers is based on the principles of the Alexander Technique. With the Alexander Technique you learn to move in a fluent and efficient way and to use your body without overloading. This technique is known worldwide and is widely used by professional athletes, musicians, dancers and actors.
Front crawl
The front crawl at Swim in Balance is a swimming stroke where you barely use your legs (just for balance) and let 80% of the propulsion come from your arms. If you want to train your arms, this is a suitable stroke. It is a swimming stroke in which you rotate from one side to the other, and so 'screw' through the water. This stroke is particularly suitable if you participate in a triathlon, because this stroke (for everyone) is faster than the other strokes and the least tiring for your legs.
Breast stroke
The breaststroke at Swim in Balance is a swimming stroke in which you always dive under water like a dolphin. This is very good for mobility in the lower back and hips. 80% of the propulsion comes from the legs, so if you want to train these muscles, this is a suitable stroke. You make an undulating movement (a sine wave) that is very similar to the butterfly stroke but is lighter on your arms.
Butterfly
The Butterfly in Swim in Balance is the most balanced of all. 50% of the propulsion comes from the legs and 50% of the propulsion comes from the arms, a kind of '4-wheel drive'. Many people think that this is a heavy blow, but with our technology this is not the case at all. After 6 lessons you are guaranteed to be able to swim the entire stroke and if you automate this nicely you can swim for miles. We've also taught this to people over 75, so don't hesitate to try this beautiful trick, it's a wonderful addition to your repertoire.
Back crawl
VOf all 4 strokes, the back crawl is the most strenuous, so ideal if you want to burn a lot of calories. It is not an easy battle that you do 'just for a while', the coordination is tight. It is easier if you have already done the front crawl course at Swim in Balance. An advantage is that breathing is easy with this stroke: you are always with your mouth above water.
Water Confidence
Did you never learn to swim as a child? Have you suffered a trauma that caused you to develop hydrophobia? Do you want to go swimming with your (grand)children but do you lack self-confidence when you are in the water with them? Then this course is ideal to familiarize yourself in the water, to be able to go under water without any problems, to learn to float, to overcome your fear and to lay a healthy foundation.
Neck, shoulder and back pain
The swimming style you learn at Swim in Balance is specifically beneficial for people with neck, shoulder and back problems. This is because all four swimming strokes have been redesigned from the Alexander Technique, where all movements logically match the structure of your skeleton and the functioning of your muscles. We don't do anything that goes against the structure and natural movement of your body. A lot of attention is paid to the alignment of your body while swimming and we emphasize the moments when you can relax. This ensures that your swimming stroke becomes efficient without taking a lot of effort.
Triathlon
Are you training for a (1/16, 1/8, 1/4) triathlon? What you then need is a front crawl technique in which your legs are hardly loaded or not at all, which does not cost much energy, is easy to maintain and yet goes quickly… in short, exactly the technique that we teach at Swim in Balance.