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 beyond our control, but it’s been a valuable learning experience. Without a doubt, there have been many wins, and one of them has been the opportunity to share with you the people who truly inspire me.

Previously, you would have had to travel overseas or interstate to learn from the most incredible innovators in aqua, but now, with live streaming via Zoom, distance and money are no longer a barrier, not to mention the ability to keep these presentations in your library so that you can watch them repeatedly.

Planning the final Aqua workshop for 2021

In April 2021, I started planning a new first for the final aqua workshop 2021. It began with a conversation with Christine, my long-time friend and assistant, about the focus of this event. I decided to go toward more in-depth learning about the body and physiology. This was a risk, as I appreciate that most instructors want new choreography and ideas for moves in the water, but I wanted this event to be different. Never one to ‘stay in my box’, I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and encourage others to join me because that’s where exciting lessons can be learnt.

Dr Len Kravitz and Mark Davis

Christine inspired me to ask the first presenter, the amazing Dr Len Kravitz, to be part of the program. I remember her asking me, ‘What about the presenter you always go to whenever he’s presenting at an event?’. ‘Oh my God, Len Kravitz’, I replied, in disbelief at her suggestion because I was in awe of the man. ‘Do you think he would say yes?’. Well, there was only one way to find out: to ask. Len, who lives in the US, responded to my email with lightning speed, happy to present and even sending me his proposed session description about fat loss. You would have laughed at my ridiculous happy dance when I received his response. YES! A great reminder that ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’!

I was on my way. Who to ask next? Well, that was an easy decision. Mr Mark Davis. Mark, or Davo as he’s often known, is someone I genuinely respect. That I have learnt a few things from him would be an understatement. Mark is an incredible presenter with a fantastic way of teaching that keeps you engaged from the second he starts talking. Knowledgeable and entertaining, he has a way of knowing what instructors are most interested in learning before they even know it themselves. His session about our language with our clients and participants will be eye-opening, confronting, and transformational. I cannot wait to watch, listen and be motivated by his infectious energy!

Lynda Keane and Mushi Harush 

The following two presenters I asked were women I truly feel an affinity with. Lynda Keane and Mushi Harush are my kindred spirits. I love their passion, their sincerity, and their honesty. Fabulous teachers and academics who want to share everything they know without holding back: what they deliver in their sessions will be gold. Lynda is someone whose research I have often quoted in my workshops since I first met her over a decade ago. She is the ultimate expert in fascia science in the water, so if you want to understand how to apply this knowledge in the pool, you will not want to miss this session.

Mushi, Mushi, Mushi. What more can I say about a woman whose energy will reach through your screen and put the biggest smile on your face? Mushi is just an incredible woman, and I have been blessed to have the opportunity to teach with her. Man, that was one of the highlights of my career. Funny, engaging, and so creative! I had been devotedly following her at conferences in the US until, one year, we connected, and the rest, as they say, is history. Mushi’s remarkable research into the difference that water exercise can make for people with osteoarthritis will change how you teach aqua – it certainly did for me.

H2O CONFERENCE 2021 – what a fantastic event!

Are you ready to take your fitness education to the next level?

The H2O CONFERENCE 2021 is now available as an online course, so you can still experience all the benefits of attending the conference in person. By purchasing this course, you won’t miss any presentations from these four outstanding presenters. What’s more, if you hold any of my memberships, you’ll receive a 20% discount and lifetime access to the video recordings, enabling you to revisit these valuable sessions whenever you desire.

With everything at your fingertips, there’s no reason not to check it out!

Purchase the full recording of the conference here.