Testimonials

My swimming lessons with Sophie have transformed my relationship with the water. I used to swim breaststroke like a duck, head firmly out of the water and struggling against it as if it were my enemy. Now as soon as I get into the water and glide down the pool I feel calm and at ease and the world disappears. I understand that being in the water doesn't mean thrashing up and down, doing as many lengths as possible and competing against other people and the water. It's about being part of the water and learning how that feels. Sophie is without a doubt one of the best teachers of any subject I have ever known. Having her in the water alongside me gave me great confidence and she explained in detail how my body worked and how tiny changes of movement affected the way I travelled through the water. She never made me feel threatened, as so many swimming teachers do: she celebrated every small triumph and laughed with me when things went awry. Learning how to be comfortable in the water is the best thing I have done for myself over the past two years.

Sheila Browne, Management Training Consultant

For many years I had a fear of swimming pools. My dislike of the smell and my anxiety about falling in was deeply embedded. It was a phobia. However, after having lessons with Sophie I have not only overcome my fear but now regularly pop down to my local health club to enjoy time floating on my back. My relationship with the water now is something I could only dream of before. My worst enemy has become my best friend. Sophie's knowledge and understanding of the body and water is outstanding. I would certainly recommend taking the plunge!

Tony Smith, NGRC Registrar

Like many people, I have a week of hassles. A week of bad posture. A week of PC bashing. But for 45 minutes of my week, Sophie Lewis uses her unique mix of visualisation, psychology, anatomy and quiet encouragement to help me find another place: a place in the water where my body can extend and my world can slow. The water is Sophie’s world. Sophie will teach you to swim or to improve your technique, but also offers you something more: the idea that the water, and the place you find in it, might become a place you go to play, to explore and, most importantly, a place you go to be free.

Laurence Blume, Copywriter

One of the first things I learned when I started lessons with Sophie was to laugh underwater. As I had previously hated having my face even splashed let alone immersed, this was some achievement. Sophie is an inspired teacher as well as being a good role model – her elegance in the water encourages me to aim higher, and not just to reach for technical excellence but something more intangible. Through my sessions with her, including swimming lessons, Ai Chi, Watsu and general Waterbody sessions, my understanding of and feeling for the water has developed greatly. It reached the point about 18 months ago that I decided to train as a teacher of Shaw Method and I am now a registered teacher. Sessions with Sophie continue to be invaluable as she is constantly exploring and developing both her own relationship with the water and also her teaching methods.

Barbara Thomason, Shaw Method teacher

I joined Water body to learn to swim as I was suffering from prolapsed disc and swimming was recommended by my therapist. I had never before been in water and it was a totally new experience. Just learning to glide was a great fun. It took my mind off the pain. Sophie taught me to connect with water. She observes every movement and makes a lot of suggestions how to improve it and use the power of water. It is something like yoga. You just enter water and there is an absolute sense of peace. Swimming is no more just doing the lengths. It is more exploring, meditating...in simple words being out of the normal life! I learnt to trust water and in fact I can now float. To me that is really something. Only water eases my pain. I am much better now. Thanks to water, thanks to Sophie!

Saranya Ramasubrahmaniyan, QA Engineer