If you’re an aqua instructor, you’ve probably felt it — that moment where you’re rushing into the pool area, scanning your laminated notes (or worse, your memory), trying to pull together a class that works for a group you can’t predict.

Sometimes it’s a full lane, sometimes it’s half the pool. Sometimes it’s a regular crew, and other times it’s a wave of unfamiliar faces. You want your classes to be clear, safe, and enjoyable — but planning often feels like an uphill battle. You’re not training athletes working toward a shared goal over six weeks. You’re teaching a mixed bag of people who show up when they can.

And yet… You still want to feel organised. You want to feel confident walking into any pool space, with a class plan that’s not just a recycled version of last week, but something fresh or, at the very least, functional.

That’s exactly what we covered in a recent mentoring session:
Mastering Your Aqua Class Planning System – Week 1: Organising, Planning, and Structuring Your Classes

Sign up for 30 days FREE here and watch the replay

What This Planning Session Was Really About

This session wasn’t about creating the “perfect” lesson plan or designing the ultimate progression model (because let’s face it — most of us don’t have that luxury). Instead, it focused on something more practical:

• Creating systems to reduce planning stress
• Learning how to prepare for change, not avoid it
• Finding ways to reuse, adapt, and adjust without constantly reinventing the wheel

The goal? To make class planning easier, quicker, and more sustainable — especially for instructors juggling multiple venues, different formats (deep, shallow, combo), and changing participant groups.

Key Topics We Explored

Why Being Organised Actually Matters
It’s not about being neat or having perfect folders. It’s about saving time.
When your plans are easy to access, update, and deliver, you’re more likely to walk into class with clarity and confidence. We explored how organisation helps with:

• Reducing repetition and burnout
• Making it easier to mix formats and intensity levels
• Spotting gaps or overuse in your planning
• Being prepared even when things change last minute

Digital and Physical Systems (Choose What Works for You)
Whether you’re a Google Drive fan or prefer laminated plans in a clipboard, we looked at different ways instructors are storing and structuring their content. From binders and plastic pockets to spreadsheet trackers and tag-based file naming, this section gave practical setup examples you can replicate in your own style.

How to Plan Weekly When You Teach at Different Pools
We acknowledged the real-life challenges:

• One pool gives you the full area, another puts you in a lane.
• One group has high energy, the next is post-rehab.
• Some classes are advertised as high intensity; others are low impact.

This session gave strategies for planning flexibly, using modular segments that can be swapped based on the group, space, and equipment available. We also discussed how to log these details in a way that’s quick and repeatable, so future planning gets faster.

Monthly, Quarterly, and 6-Month Planning (Without Progressions)
Unlike gym-based programming, group aqua fitness often has a changing population. That’s why we focused on themed delivery rather than goal-based progression.
We explored:

• How to rotate focus areas (e.g., cardio, strength, mobility)
• Building standalone classes that still feel fresh and intentional
• Designing seasonal themes that don’t rely on participants attending every week
• Repackaging existing content to avoid overplanning

Tools and Templates to Save Time
We finished with a run-through of useful tools — everything from whiteboards and sticky notes to cloud-based templates and playlists that drive flow. Plus, we looked at how to batch plan, time-limit your planning sessions, and build a small but mighty “exercise bank” you can draw from each week.

This Session Is for You If…

• Have you ever found yourself repeating the same warm-up three weeks in a row?
• You teach in different locations with different setups
• You want to feel more prepared without adding hours to your admin
• You’d like ideas for staying fresh even when participants are inconsistent
• You’re open to finding your own version of “organised” — not a perfect system, just one that works for you

Want More Support Like This?

This video is just one of the many resources inside the Aqua Mentoring Membership, a supportive space created for instructors who want to grow, stay current, and feel more confident without burning out.

When you join, you get:

• Monthly mentoring sessions
• A full library of recorded workshops and planning tools
• Practical content tailored to aqua instructors
• Support from a community of experienced peers
• Ongoing encouragement and direction to help you enjoy teaching again

Ready to Make Class Planning Easier?

If you watched the video and thought, “This is exactly what I needed,” then the Aqua Mentoring Membership is for you.

Click here to join the Aqua Mentoring Membership 30 Days FREE

Let’s make your planning lighter, your delivery smoother, and your teaching more sustainable