Meet the Jewish Horse Whisperer of Swimming

In an age where every stroke is tracked and every lap measured, Steven Shaw is making waves with a radically different approach to swimming. The founder of The Art of Swimming challenges the performance-driven mindset, instead offering a method rooted in mindfulness, body awareness and the Alexander Technique. “Swimming is one of the most mindful things you can do,” Shaw says. “If you’re chasing the clock, it increases stress. My method is about feeling the water—not fighting it.”

From Olympic athletes to nervous adult beginners, Shaw has taught thousands without ever raising his voice or relying on floats and drills. Now, with purpose-built teaching pools in Golders Green and Putney, his calming, holistic method finally has a permanent home. Shaw’s philosophy? Learn to move with ease, not force. “When you get out of the water and you’ve swum the Shaw way, you feel relaxed, open and more posturally aware,” he says.