Intuitive swimming: the power of the present

Have you trained for hours without seeing results? Brian Holliday wants you to move with the water rather than fight it, here he explains why you should consider intuitive swimming.

They say there’s a moment between stimulus and response, a fleeting instant known as the present moment. The present moment is always here, always available to us. Even if we happen to miss one moment, the next is already here.

Why does the present moment matter? Because it is within the present moment that change becomes possible, and we come to understand that change, in fact, is always within reach.

So how does this relate to swimming?

To delve deeper into our swimming experience and uncover underlying issues in the way we swim, we must immerse ourselves in the present moment.

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Traditional problem-solving approaches and conventional swimming coaching rely on trying harder, concentrating, and focusing. Our relentless pursuit of perfect technique, faster speed and greater distance leads us to strain, pushing ourselves through pain.

The more effort we exert, the more we find ourselves mired in feelings of confusion, frustration and anxiety, as we strive to find that correct shape, position or movement in the water.

Yet if our minds are preoccupied with instructions, rules, advice, targets, or the pursuit of swimming perfection, there is no time or space for change.

The time change is easiest is in the present moment. When you’re not thinking about expectation of future swims or regrets about past ones. That’s what Intuitive Swimming is all about.

My journey in intuitive swimming

Before I developed Intuitive Swimming, I consistently struggled with sinking, gasping and flailing in the water. Despite years of effort, during which I tried group lessons, one-on-one instruction, and every technique under the sun (and YouTube), it was the same story, every swim. I followed all the instructions, mimicked all the movements, “tried to perfect my technique” but the elusive feeling of ease and grace in the water always eluded me.

I couldn’t seem to find what was missing from my swimming.

Then, drawing on the principles of the Alexander Technique to bring about that awareness of the present moment, I began to approach swimming from aradically different direction. It opened the door to a more profound kind of change.

So what is intuitive swimming?

My coaching is designed to help swimmers develop a deeper connection to the water. Instead of fighting the water, Intuitive Swimmers use it for support and feel at ease in the water and find swimming much easier and more enjoyable.

Intuitive Swimmers gain a greater understanding of their movement and swim as a wholly-integrated self – from fingertips to toes – to slice through the water.

Intuitive Swimmers are actually more aware of the world around them as they swim and, counterintuitively, this is more powerful way of learning as they swim. It doesn’t involve focusing, concentration or trying hard.

To get a first taste of Intuitive Swimming, when you next venture into the water, I encourage you to shift your focus from trying to fix specific aspects of your technique to simply noticing the tactile feedback from the water. Take in the sights and sounds around you. Feel the enjoyment of your body’s movement through the water – your momentum, power and glide.

Add a pause between your strokes. You’ll automatically become more conscious of the present moment, and your present experience. Be fully present as you choose the moment to begin your next stroke. You’re turning off your swimming auto-pilot, and unlocking the essence of swimming intuitively.

Who is the course for, and what’s involved?

Intuitive Swimming is aimed at people who have tried to improve or perfect their swimming without the results they want. It’s for those who feel fear while swimming, who find themselves battling against the water with each stroke, who are perplexed by their slowness in the water despite being fitter and stronger overall. It is ideal for those who never developed an affinity with the water from an early age.

Intuitive Swimming coaching sessions take place over Zoom. Through listening to swimmers’ stories, experiences and emotions, we both gain insight into their swimming approach. This newfound awareness represents the first step toward transformative change. Together, we create new and empowering beliefs and habits, and overcome swimming obstacles. Over time, the swimmers I coach develop a sense of pride in their personal swimming style and a love of swimming they never thought possible.

Find out more about intuitive swimming

Visit IntuitiveSwimming.com to purchase the stand-alone online course or book a 1:1 Swimming Style Health Check to find out if you’re a good fit for the coaching programme.

What you get with the programme

To complement the coaching, an in-depth online course is available. With over 150 articles, videos, and audio recordings, the course enables swimmers to work at their own pace, engaging in experiments both in and out of the water. The course is continuously evolving as I add bespoke content for new clients and further develop my own approach.

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