Steven Shaw – Founder of the Shaw Method
Steven Shaw is the founder of the Shaw Method, a pioneering approach to adult swimming in London and worldwide. His unique teaching blends the Alexander Technique with mindful movement, helping people of all levels discover confidence, ease, and joy in the water.
From Swimmer to Innovator
Steven’s love of water began in childhood, when he joined his local swimming club. By 17, however, years of intense training left him burnt out and suffering from chronic neck and back pain. He left competitive swimming behind and vowed never to return.
At university, Steven discovered the Alexander Technique, which transformed the way he understood movement, posture, and recovery. In 1990, he began a three-year teacher training course in Israel and, during this time, reconnected with the water. By applying Alexander’s principles to swimming, he not only eased his pain but also rediscovered the joy of effortless movement. From this, the Shaw Method was born.
Teaching with Compassion and Expertise
Since then, Steven has helped thousands of people—from those fearful of putting their faces in the water to competitive athletes—find freedom, confidence, and ease in swimming. He works with groups and individuals across the UK and has introduced the Shaw Method internationally, including in Japan and Australia.
Described as the “horse whisperer of swimming,” Steven’s teaching is grounded in patience, compassion, and a belief that swimming should be a partnership with the water, not a struggle against it.
Beyond the Pool
Steven is the Course Director of the Middlesex University–accredited Shaw Method Diploma and has trained more than 100 teachers worldwide. He is also the co-author of Art of Swimming: A New Direction with the Alexander Technique (1997) and the author of Master the Art of Swimming (2006). His work has been further shared through four teaching DVDs.
Through his writing, teaching, and training, Steven continues to develop and spread the Shaw Method, inspiring swimmers everywhere to move with ease, balance, and joy.