Why I Love the Art of Swimming
A Pilates and Yoga Teacher’s Perspective
By Sonia Forde
Introduction
I didn’t learn to swim as a child.
Growing up as a young Black girl in inner London, a combination of fear of water, early experiences, and concerns about my hair meant swimming simply never became part of my life. It wasn’t until adulthood that I found my way into the water — not through competition or pressure, but through curiosity and a desire to move with greater ease and awareness.
That journey eventually led me to the Art of Swimming Academy, and it has changed not only how I swim, but how I understand movement itself.
My Journey into Swimming as an Adult
Around 20 years ago, while training as a Pilates mat and reformer teacher, I was introduced to Steven and the team at the Art of Swimming Academy. From the very beginning, the experience felt different.
They made me feel safe and secure in the water — something I had never felt before.
I began by learning breaststroke, then progressed to front crawl, and even explored the beginnings of butterfly. Today, I swim regularly once a week, something I never imagined would become part of my life.
“They made me feel safe and secure in the water.”
My Journey into Swimming as an Adult
Learning to swim as a child never worked for me. I still recoil at the memory of being shouted at by a teacher on the side of the pool — an approach that didn’t help me then, and which I don’t believe works for many novice swimmers now.
The Shaw Method immediately made sense to me.
As a Pilates and yoga teacher, I understand the importance of:
- clear demonstration of good alignment
- hands-on guidance
- a teacher who observes closely and responds precisely
At the Art of Swimming Academy, teachers are in the water with you — watching, assisting, and offering thoughtful, specific feedback. Strokes are broken down into manageable elements, and land-based exercises are used to help build understanding and repetition in the body.
By the time you return to the water, the rhythm of the stroke feels more natural and accessible.
A Lasting Impact
Learning to swim through the Art of Swimming Academy has been deeply empowering. It has given me freedom, confidence, and joy in the water — and a renewed appreciation for how mindful, supportive teaching can transform movement.
I’m grateful for the care, expertise, and humanity of the teachers, and I wholeheartedly recommend the Shaw Method to anyone seeking a kinder, more sustainable relationship with swimming.
Sonia Forde
Pilates Matwork, Reformer & Apparatus, and Yoga Teacher
🌐 www.bodypotential.co.uk