One glide changed Mandy’s relationship with movement.
A few weeks ago, Martin Underwood, the pain and posture specialist I’m
developing our new programme with, met Mandy during one of my
teacher-training courses.
Mandy and I have known each other for many years. After hearing her
talk about her experience, Martin asked if he could interview her.
Listening to their conversation moved me deeply.
Mandy described arriving for her first lesson with me feeling angry,
tense and distrustful. The building was difficult to access, reaching
the pool was a struggle, and she had experienced years of painful
treatments and people telling her what her body should do.
I remember wanting to give her time. Not to impose another set of
instructions, but to help her discover something different for
herself.
Eventually, we got into the water and explored a simple glide.
“It lengthened me in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. It was effortless.”
One glide.
That was the moment Mandy realised that movement in water could feel
completely different. She described it as liberating.
Over time, Mandy developed a much wider range of movement. Walking in
the water began to influence how she moved on land. Most importantly,
she developed practical ways of working with pain rather than simply
enduring it.
“If I am in pain when I go into the water, the skills of the Shaw
Method mean that I can more or less sort out my own pain in the water.
By the end of the swim, I’m a lot better than when I started, and I’m
in less pain when I come out.”
Mandy is clear that this has not been a miraculous cure. It has taken
time, trust and practice. But it has given her a way to explore her
body, ease pain and discover movements that once seemed unavailable.
As a teacher, you do not always know what another person is
experiencing or what will stay with them. You offer your attention,
share what you have learnt and try to create the conditions in which
something new might become possible.
Then, sometimes years later, someone tells you what a single
experience meant to them.
Those moments are profoundly humbling. They remind me why I want to
make this work available to more people.
Martin and I are bringing together the Shaw Method, Alexander
Technique and contemporary pain science in a new workshop for people
living with persistent back, neck and shoulder pain.
We are not promising a cure or asking people to push through another
demanding exercise programme.
We want to create a supportive place where people can become curious
about their bodies, reduce unnecessary bracing and rediscover greater
confidence and ease, first in warm water and then in everyday life.
Moving Beyond Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain
Tuesday 8 September 2026
6.15pm to 8.15pm
GetSetGo, Golders Green, NW11 8HE
£99
Book here:
https://momence.com/l/mXhQ2yPE
If you cannot make this date, please reply to let us know you are
interested and we will tell you about future workshops.
Warmly,
Steven