The last 18 months have been a series of firsts, from teaching virtually and getting a handle on the technology to editing videos, creating accessible education platforms and building new websites. The impetus to do all these new things may have been due to reasons...
Marietta Mehanni
Aqua Articles
It’s time to speak up about aqua!
Hallelujah! Aqua Instructors have found their voice. If you are not on social media or have been busy enjoying your summer holidays, you may not be aware of a series of viral posts that have captured the interest of aqua instructors over the past few weeks. It started...
How to please group fitness participants
Can you make everyone happy? Recently I received an email from an aqua instructor asking ‘Are you able to share ideas with me on how I can keep everyone happy in a class? The participants are of different ages, have different abilities and fitness levels and injuries...
Back to basics-Water quality and skin irritation by J. Kevin Tucker
Recently, I spoke with a commercial pool owner. He told me that he had a purple color on the walls of his pool. With just a couple of questions, I could determine the problem. I also suggested a simple way to remove the color from the pool. However, the basis for the...
Splash Dance
Do you like to dance? Dance is the movement interpretation of music. Most instructors would say 'Yes' because we often use exercise as a movement interpretation of music, and perhaps that is why we like this form of exercise. Do you find yourself dancing, or bopping...
Hydro Worx
Pursuing the next great aqua move Aqua Fitness has taken the world by storm, captivating enthusiasts with its invigorating and effective workouts. Aqua instructors constantly pursue groundbreaking techniques and cutting-edge moves to stay ahead in this rapidly...
Wet Force
How can dumbbells and noodles be used for deep water exercise? Dumbbells and noodles are popular aquatic tools, predominately in shallow water, for resistance, turbulence and buoyancy-type exercises. But can they be used effectively for a deep water class? These two...
Hydrofabulous
What are the ingredients of a fabulous aqua session? Class Plan Music Teaching Skills X factor One of the most important aspects of a fabulous class is the plan. Even with all other factors being present, without a plan, your sessions will be a “hit or miss”. It will...
Deep And Meaningful
Co written with Clare Patmore Our mission was to look at conventional deep water sessions and explore the movement possibilities for a range of reasons. Originally we had tried deep water running classes. Our cliental didn't really enjoy the drills, sprints and...
Liquid Rhythms
Consider this… Participants coming to YOUR class because of the MUSIC you play! This has certainly been an important aspect in land based classes for as long as group fitness has existed. Admittedly, this is sometimes missing in aqua classes and music is merely a...
Frothy Foam Ideas
What class would be complete without some exercises devoted to using the humble dumbbell? From the original milk containers that were one of the earliest floatation aids used in aqua classes, the dumbbell has many uses, including: Suspended exercises in shallow and...
Floating Feet
Hooray, a new aquatic tool to add variety to our aqua classes. As an aqua instructor, I have pushed, pulled, held and let go of the dumbbell in so many ways that I don't know if I can do anything new with it. The same applies to the noodle. They are both fantastic...
Creating Aqua Magic
Aqua instructors are continually challenged to create new and interesting formats for their classes. Hence, the development of different forms of equipment such as dumbbells, woggles, aqua belts, etc. Unfortunately, not all facilities are equipped with these great...
Aqua Instructors
Celebrating the Unsung Heroes - Aqua Instructors Today I shine a spotlight on a remarkable group of individuals who truly deserve our appreciation: aqua instructors. These dedicated individuals often find themselves teaching in less-than-ideal environments—hot, humid,...