Episode 9: Sharlie Peterson Sharlie Peterson is the creator of Shockwave Aqua Fitness in Topeka, Kansas. She has been an aquatic fitness instructor since 2017 and is currently teaching at Shawnee County Parks & Rec and GreatLIFE Fitness Facilities, where she also serves as the Group Fitness Coordinator. After being diagnosed with a rare stomach disease, Sharlie turned to aqua fitness and lost tremendous weight, but also gained incredible clarity to battle issues with self-esteem and depression. As you'll hear in the below episode, Sharlie found hope and inspiration in her own journey with aquatic fitness. Full Episode Transcript: Jenni Lynn: Joining us today is Sharlie Peterson. She is the creator and master trainer of Shockwave Aqua Fitness in Topeka, Kansas. Sharlie has been an aquatic fitness instructor since 2017, and is currently teaching and training at Shawnee County Parks and Rec and Great Life Fitness facilities, where she is also serving as the group fitness coordinator. I'm really looking forward to this interview because Sharlie and I share the same passion and mission for the aqua fitness industry - to build an army of wave warriors working to change the perception of what water fitness can do for us all. Just one class at a time. Sharlie, welcome to the program. Sharlie: Thank you. I'm so excited to finally be talking to you. Jenni Lynn: It's happening, we made it happen! AJ: Hi, Sharlie! Jenni Lynn: I've been looking forward to this because we follow you on social media and everything you post is always so engaging. So I'm looking forward to our conversation today. Sharlie: Me too. I can't wait. AJ: So why don't we start with where you are? Where are you actually calling from? And how are things going with the current pandemic that we're all up against? Sharlie: So I am in Topeka, Kansas. I moved here from Wichita, Kansas, about a year and a half ago. Now we have actually been fortunate with the summer classes during the pandemic, to be able to have them at a regular capacity because the outdoor pool is huge. And you can spread out. It can fit about 80 people comfortably for a class while still maintaining social distance. So I've been one of the few unfortunate instructors that have still been able to teach. And the way that the outdoor pools are run right now with COVID is that you can have 50% building capacity, which for our north pool, which is where I mainly taught at, that's over 1000 people still. So yeah, and now I'm transitioning into the indoor pools where it's a little bit more intimate, which is a little bit more of a challenge, because it's a smaller pool. But I've just started telling everyone like if you do not feel comfortable being more confined and next to people, I completely get it. But I give them a deep water option too, because the indoor pools have a deep end. And so now a lot of my people are discovering that you can get a deep water workout and still get an incredible workout, which is awesome. Jenni Lynn: Yeah you can, with belt on. And you have 360 degrees of resistance. Oh, boy. Sharlie: Yeah. Oh, I know. And a few of them are even actually doing it completely suspended without the belts. And I'm like, dude, more power to you. That is awesome. Jenni Lynn: Sounds dangerous. Hopefully their form is somewhat on! Sharlie: That's what I'm working on. I'm working on it. Yeah, that's difficult. Jenni Lynn: I know. I completely understand. All of us have experienced the ones that are like, it's harder without the belt. And I'm just like, BooBoo, it just doesn't look right. But you can struggle...you can just keep struggling because at least you're working. Sharlie: Right. And my favorite is when they don't have the belt and then we do a move with our arms are somewhat out of the water and I just watch them sink. Like come back up. Come on. Jenni Lynn: Guilty pleasure of a water instructor. You're like, how long can they go down for? Before I have to say something? Sharlie: Exactly. That's happening. Jenni Lynn: But it sounds like I mean, what's really cool about this is that you're actually exposing people you know. I'm trying to take a positive spin on the pandemic here, but you're you're almost forced to expose people to something that they haven't tried before. Using the deep end and spacing, you know, spacing out for social distancing. You're getting to educate people about more things aquatic. Sharlie: Yes, and you know, not only the deep end as well but we will keep a few lap lanes in. And for the people that are really uncomfortable right now, because you do have those, and it's perfectly fine, I get it. But I will tell a lot of the people that are really unsure about being that confined, if you want to go on the other side of one of the lap lanes, that's perfectly fine as well. And that kind of eases them right away, knowing that they kind of have their own little space back there, and they're still able to work out. Yeah. So it's been kind of a challenge, but also really rewarding on finding new ways that people can work out in the water. Because, you know, like a lot of the land classes here right now, they're just not thriving, unfortunately. So I'm very glad that, you know, thinking of new ways that we can spread people out in the water and still have the fun and effective class time, which is great. Jenni Lynn: That is really cool. You said it well, you are part of the fortunate few that get to do, you know, this both out and indoor, which is absolutely amazing. So, speaking of, I know you obviously have your presence on social media with aquatic fitness. But what is your background? How did you find yourself becoming involved with aquatic fitness? Sharlie: I owe all of that actually to my mom. She has been teaching, oh, gosh, since either 2012 or 2013. She started teaching after she started taking aquatic classes for her own health. And they needed more instructors. And she was just kind of thrown into it. But she developed her own programs. And she kept asking me to come and I was like, I hate saying this, but I had that stereotype in my mind of well, it's for old people. I think I'm good. Yeah. But then, you know, in 2016, she finally got me to try a class. And that's when I was in a really bad headspace myself, because of the stomach disease I have it was leading to really dark depression and an eating disorder. And the minute that I got in the water and tried the class and discovered that it was a super powerful workout, I automatically fell in love with it. And so my mom is a big advocate for it. She kind of saved my life in more ways than one because she got me active again. And she showed me what the water could do. And then from there, it was almost something immediately that I knew that I wanted to teach. And so, you know, four months later, after taking the classes, the group coordinator at the time at the facility where I was at, she said, Hey, I think you have the personality to teach. Do you want to teach? I was like, yeah, that's awesome. So it's been a journey. And I just, I have my mom to thank for it 100% Jenni Lynn: Wow. AJ: I love that. Jenni Lynn: Touching on that, I know you've posted a little bit about your incredible physical transformation. I'm curious if you wouldn't mind sharing your journey of how, you know, you've kind of come through these medical stomach issues and kind of having such incredible results, and seeing the incredible process you've gone through. Sharlie: Sure. So back in, I believe it was 2013 as well, I was diagnosed with a stomach disease. It's called gastroparesis. It's basically where your stomach muscles do not work and you do not digest food on your own very well. And I am the 4% with an already rare stomach disease that actually gains weight from it rather than loses. So I gained weight very rapidly. And that led to depression because it's not quite a boost to your self esteem. And I also unfortunately developed an eating addiction to food and so that on top of gaining weight with a stomach disease was really really rough. And then you know my mom in 2016, she finally said, you've got to do something because I know that your stomach disease is weighing you down but you can also help yourself. And so I started. Once I started off with fitness and getting fit again it's kind of been a yo yo thing with me because I can flare up overnight and gain six pounds overnight if I have a gastroenteritis flare up. Jenni Lynn: My gosh. Sharlie: Yeah, it's super fun. But when COVID first started while a lot of people ended up gaining weight during that period, my mom and I actually started getting active together and going on walks and I was shooting videos for my water people. Stuff that they can do on land that was gentle on their joints. And I've kept that up and I've kept up better eating habits. I mean, I stumbled here and there, but since March I think all in all right now I've lost 49 pounds. AJ: Wow. Sharlie: Yeah, that's with a stomach disease still fighting against me. But, I mean, yeah, being active, and you know, changing your eating habits, because that's the more important part actually. It really, really saved my life along with the aquatic portion. So that's why I always tell people that, you know, getting into aqua fitness has literally saved my life in more ways than one. Because I'm happier, I'm not just laying in bed all day, sad. So yeah, it's been quite a journey. Jenni Lynn: That is, I mean, that's unbelievable. I really did not know much about this disease. And hearing you talk about it, I'm just curious how many other people are, you know, suffering in silence, so to speak, you know, with this sort of condition or similar types of conditions? Sharlie: Mm hmm. Right. And I actually have two people that take my class where I was, at the end of one of my classes this summer, I told them a little bit about it, because I do get the questions from people and they don't mean anything by it. But they're like, you know, you're go-go-go, why aren't you a stick fixture basically? And so I told them about my journey, and it made a few of them come forward and say, Hey, I actually have this too, or I have something like it such as Crohn's disease, or whatever. And you're making me feel better about myself and showing me that I can do this. So it's so gratifying. And I didn't want to open up for a while just because I was embarrassed and everything, but I'm finding the more that I share, the more inspires even that one person to get up and keep going. Jenni Lynn: Yeah. AJ: It does. And you also touched on a very important topic that we sometimes overlook very easily, which is mental health. You know, your physical health, your weight, all of that is is something that you actively work towards and fight against. But your mental health, you mentioned depression, not wanting to get out of bed, not wanting to do anything. And you know, that was my experience. I was working 80-hour weeks, eating three meals a day at my desk, you know, and when I worked in New York City at a law firm, I barely saw sunlight, and I was depressed, like, you know, I didn't feel sad, but my body was depressed, and I gained weight. And I'm short in stature. And all of my weight goes right to my stomach. And it was just something that I, once I experienced it for the first time I was like, resistant, more resistant than anything else, because I hate working out and I hate the gym. So when Jenni would be like, you should come to the gym and workout with me. And I'd be like, No, thank you, and No, thank you. Like, you should try the water. And I'm like, Okay, I will do one class to get you off my back. One class, one class, you know, once a week became two classes a week then became three classes a week. And by the end of a couple of months, I'd say by the end of the year, I lost a ton of weight. But beyond the actual weight loss and strength gaining that I got was that mental lift that like, Oh my god, I feel connected to an element. And I think that's what it is. It's like when you're out in nature, you're walking, you know, you mentioned your nature walks, you're connecting with nature, you're connecting with the elements of the earth, and water is a primary element. And so when we're in it, I think it really does do something to our mental health and in a good way. Sharlie: 100% and that's like, the quote that I always tell people is I when I was depressed, I didn't like the darkness. But I was comfortable there. It became comfortable. And you don't even realize it until you start to get yourself out a lot of times, so and I'm so glad I'm not comfortable anymore. And that's, that's awesome for you too. AJ: Aww. So correct me if I'm wrong, you and Jenni have never met personally? Jenni Lynn: No, not yet. It was supposed to happen this year. AJ: I know. IAFC? Was it in Daytona that we were all supposed to meet up? Sharlie: Yep. And I had actually on top of the conference, I had actually signed up for one of her special workshops. So so excited. AJ: Oh, shoot. Jenni Lynn: Oh, the HydroRevolution? Sharlie: Yes. Jenni Lynn: I love that. Oh my gosh, Katrien and I had such a great time and Chris working on that program. AJ: Yeah, that was great. So how did you actually remember connecting with Jenni? How did you find out about, you know, Jenni Lynn Fitness or S'WET? Sharlie: Um, I totally stalked her. So I started probably in 2018, I came across the fit motivation, videos, just a small little clip ones that are on YouTube. Hmm. And I noticed that Jenny Lynn was featured for, you know, sweat and I her stuck out to me so much, because it was more of a challenge to me and stuff that I was looking at incorporating into my own workouts. And so I started watching those and taking notes. And then I found her page on Instagram. And I, I literally, when I say I stopped her, I just went back through all the posts, and I was so intrigued and amazed at all the equipment she used. And so and I finally sent her I followed her and then I remember she followed me back and I literally had a fan girl moment. To the point I posted it on my Facebook, I was like, Jenny Lynn followed me. And when I finally got up the bravery to I think add you as a friend on Facebook. And then we just started kind of talking back and forth. You've been nice enough to give me advice over things when I need it. Because I'm still very new to this. Jenni Lynn: I mean, but I have to say like your go get them attitude is so infectious. And I absolutely love it. Especially once I was like who is this? Sharlie? Oh, she's really liking my stuff. Okay, so I just started been stalking you and following you. I was like, Who is she? I need to know more about this girl. And I was seeing your stuff on Instagram and Facebook. I was like, Oh no, she's not playing around. Like she's making waves like these are warriors. And it was super cool to connect. Because I know I sought out a lot of mentors and people in the industry and I just I love having that feeling. But also just seeing your style and flair on it because everyone takes away something from other people. Yeah. And it's it's amazing to have that connection. And I also Oh, that's right, I remember as I'm sitting here at my desk, staring at it the the wooden plaques that you I don't know if you create or help create with the Isn't it like you hook it up with like electricity, and then it burns? Yeah, well, I don't even know. But I was like fascinated with it. Once I saw these art pieces coming to life on your website, and I was just like, this girl does so many different things. Sharlie: So fascinated by it. But you I mean, you'll have to explain it to our listeners because I am not doing it justice because you create these beautiful plaques it was lightning woodburning where you take the generator out of a microwave, and you hook it up to some wires, and kind of like you hook up a car battery almost. And you put baking soda down on the wood. And as soon as you hit the gas on those wires, it creates this beautiful lightning Woodburn and you can kind of direct it where you want the burn to go. You can make them deep burns. And right now we're actually getting into experimenting with this is where I come in where I add color to the burns and I helped design logos like I made you the sweat bootcamp logo. Jenni Lynn: Oh my gosh, it's my all time favorite. And I know you saw pictures of me just like hugging it. It's this beautiful round plaque that says sweat by jennylyn fitness and it has the birthmarks there's blue in it. The teardrop is blue. It's just I love it so much. It brings me so much inspiration. I can't thank you enough. And him enough for creating it. It's Oh, my favorite. It hangs it hangs above her desk at home. Yes. And for anyone who's listening who's like, why are we talking about wooden Aqua? This pandemic has forced people to like throw themselves into their hobbies. And I have to say this was something that I was like, wow, this is something it's so cool. First of all, it's cool to watch. It's cool to see how it came together. But then when you see the end product, you're like, Oh my god, this is this is something really inspirational and you know, focused. Sharlie: Yeah, it just took off. It's become one of our favorite things to do. And so now you know, we have people that saw Jenny's plaque. I've already had messages from people on that as well. Like, can you do this for me and we're happy to like we love doing it. So I mean, if there's any other mermaids out there that want something for their business or whatever, you know, we're happy to work with you and get something done just because it makes us happy being able to burn stuff. Jenni Lynn: I love fire so much. I mean, I love water more than anything but I have to say fire and water go really well together. I mean it's kind Sharlie: Like he was talking about, it's another one of those elements. So there you go, exactly. Jenni Lynn: We're gonna share a photo of the final product, obviously, on your blog, so that people can can visually understand what what we're talking about. Okay, it's so cool. It's so cool. Sharlie: Next time, I want to make you another one, because after I gave you that one, I actually discovered glitter. So one of these times, I'm going to have to make you something with glitter in it, because I've gone crazy with glitter. Jenni Lynn: I can never be enough glitter, there can never be enough glitter. But move moving back to the waves we were just creating. Besides that would work. And we will put links for our listeners of how to like contact you and him to get the information regarding nap. But tell us a little bit more about your current brand in your business, you know, kind of what your hopes and dreams are for it, were you were you taking Shockwave? Sharlie: Okay, so I created Shockwave Aqua fitness because I've noticed the places that I've taught in Kansas so far when I come across other instructors, they're just doing a basic workout routine with their class where they're reading down a list of exercises. And it's the same class every time. And it's simply because they don't know that places, you know, such as the AEA and other training facilities and such are out there for them. So and what a lot of people don't know about me is when I was certified, the way that I got certified, was an in house certification training at the gym I worked at. And she sat me down for I think an hour and went over this training manual with me that basically just taught you the principles of water. And that was it, it was okay, here you go. So I was literally put out kind of in the deep end to sink or swim. And the more that I've talked to instructors around here, they're telling me the same thing. So I came up with Shockwave after I developed strong and effective hit workouts and boot camp workouts and a class that I call h2o go which is nonstop cardio and strength training. And so I want people to be able to get a basic understanding of these three different formats. And you know, I'm nowhere on a level of a or anything like that I just this is more of for people just starting out, or that just want to learn a little bit more, it teaches you about that. And eventually, I would like to expand this so that I can get this accredited, which I'm working on right now. Good. I actually have two instructors that now work for Shockwave and are helping me with this. And we're just trying to develop a really strong program that we can share with Kansas and eventually throughout the Midwest as well. That is the overall goal is to get this program like off the ground and get really strong and effective instructors behind it. Jenni Lynn: Awesome.I love that. AJ: Yeah, that's great. Sharlie: Thanks. Because I just really don't want people like it really was a rough start for me. Because the first class I ever had, it was it's my class called Aqua jam, which I still teach. But it started out just this basic like water dance class because my brain choreographs moves to the beat of the music just naturally. And so I did that. But the feedback I was getting, they're like, well, it's fun, but it's easy. And so that is actually at the time where, you know, I went online and started discovering your videos and other videos because I had to teach myself how to make more effective classes. And I, I don't want new instructors to be shoved into something that they don't understand. I want them to be confident in what they're teaching. And it's not just teaching it's you know, how to build your brand and yourself as an instructor. And so that's what I want to do. I just want to help other instructors. Jenni Lynn: That's great. I mean, it's all it's all a journey of helping others. That's how we become better. AJ: Yeah, we're all in this together. You know, and something that you said is actually interesting. We've we've noticed as we've been talking with guests all over the world, really, that a lot of people kind of found themselves thrown in to Aqua fitness, and and kind of had to start with with little to no education. And then slowly, you know, obviously train and learn. And it seems to me that like obviously, with the AIA being the gold standard for the certification process, it's it's something where, you know, you you go through the process And you learn all the principles and whatnot. And then you can take your learning in all these different certification programs and broaden and create your own brand, which is really where, you know, I think a lot of water instructors are heading right now it's the future for aquatic fitness is for these people to take everything that they've learned from various certification programs and build intense workouts, build different types of workouts for different types of populations, and not just offer the standard, you know, old school water workouts that that, you know, just are not in demand the same way they they were 1520 years ago. Sharlie: Exactly. And you know, the classes are changing too, because, you know, I've heard on the podcast and several other places where, unfortunately, the stereotype rock with fitness is you can come and socialize. And it's socializing while you're kind of getting a workout. And I'm thankful that in my classes and that in other instructors classes that I'm helping with, you know, they're they're combating that talking by making them actually focus on the workout and having them discover that, wow, I can really get a true workout in if I shut my mouth. So. So yeah, that's been really cool to see as well. AJ: Yeah. And God, Jenni, that's like, what was Katy? Katy Coffey, we had her on on an episode. And she shared she has two rules that she tells people, Jenni, do you remember what they were? Jenni: Well, I thought I think the thing The first one is, your feet need to move faster than your mouth? Yep. And then your hair will get wet and your hair right. That's right, your hair will get wet. That's right. Sharlie: Yeah. Jenni Lynn: That's so funny. You just said that AJ because Ashley actually put her on the spot at one of our ABA virtual workshops. It was like Katy, remind us what your rule is about talking. Right there she was on it. It was it was really funny, but it's true. And you know what you learn that through taking certification programs like sweat, the sweat cert, like we're gonna teach people like, guess what? You want to stop the talking in your classes, here's how you do it, you make them use their their lung capacity for something else other than chitchat. Sharlie: The funny thing is that this summer, what I started telling people is, um, like, it's called Aqua fitness, not mouth fitness, now, and now they want my people like their t shirts. And now they want that on a shirt. So I'm like, hey, if it'll help people not talk? Cool. There you go. Jenni Lynn: It's so true. And just for the record, you know, obviously, there is something very beneficial to the socialization that comes with Aqua fitness. And I, I don't mean to demean those who, you know, come to it for, for that element and that element alone. But there are also people who show up to work out to really treat this like you would any high intensity interval training, and you need to be able to offer that as well. So I'm very curious with Shockwave and everything you have coming to fruition, so to speak, what Where do you see yourself in the future about you maybe even 510 years from now, what is your goal? Sharlie: I'm basically just expanding not only, you know, not only taking Shockwave further and further out, but expanding on what I know, you know, once COVID is over, I'm dying to learn in person from other instructors, so that I can just continue to build and learn new things. I discovered that teaching and training, aquatic fitness is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. One goal I actually have for myself, is to actually at some point be featured on fit motivation. Yes, good goal. Yeah, I would love to do that. And just to get more exposure to the programs that we do with Shockwave, and, you know, just reach more people with it. I just want to keep going, keep learning, and doing all I can to be a part of this community and making it you know, absolutely amazing. So that's, that's pretty much my goal right now is just to keep moving forward and to keep learning. Jenni Lynn: I love it that those are great goals to have. Sharlie: Sure. Jenni Lynn: And so, on that note, what is one piece of advice that you would give someone who maybe wants to follow in your footsteps either getting involved in group and aquatic fitness or even like the business side, you know, whether it's land or water, what's some advice that you would give, give someone Sharlie: I you know, I would just say, do your research, if this is something that you want to get into, don't just say, you know, okay, I've been Got this, do the research on the field exactly of what you want to go in, make sure that it's absolutely something that you want to go into. Don't be afraid to reach out for help. I know a lot of people think that, you know, receiving help is like a handout and you're too embarrassed to do it. But I wouldn't be at the level that I'm at right now, if I wouldn't have, you know, reached out to people, like you and to Katie, and, you know, even my mom asking for advice, and, you know, continuing to learn. So I would just say, go into it open, willing to learn, and be willing to accept, you know, criticism if it's needed, because it's good criticism, it's feedback. So just, you know, stay positive in it. Make as many contacts as you can learn about it as much as you can. And definitely, like, you know, we've talked through the AEA, I even I even tell my Shockwave people a is the standard look into them, reach out to them get started with them and then you know, you will grow and learn and continue to learn along the way for sure. Jenni Lynn: Absolutely. AJ: I love that. That's a very beautiful note for us to to wrap up on because I do think continuing the education is key, and 100% Yeah, so why don't you share a little bit about where people can find you. Sharlie: I'm probably the most active on Facebook. I have a Facebook page it's if you just search for Shockwave Aqua Fitness with Sharlie I had that should pop up for you right away. I post daily on there. And then I also have a website www.ShockwaveAquaFitness.com. And that has my class schedules on it about Shockwave and it also has info and registration for the certifications that we have through Shockwave. And then I'm also on Instagram. It is ShockwaveFit with Sharlie. So yeah, that's everywhere. I am in the social media area. Jenni Lynn: Excellent. And there are lots of great posts including the the woodworking posts that we were talking about earlier in the episode. So we encourage you guys please go. Go find Sharlie. Reach out to her for inspiration and motivation and keep educating and keep keep making waves. Sharlie: Just keep swimming. Just kidding. Jenni Lynn: I love it. We're finally thank you so much for joining us today. This was such a great interview. Sharlie: It's been a blast.

Episode 8: Craig Yaniglos As the Chief Financial Officer for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Public School District in Northeast Ohio, Craig Yaniglos knows as thing or two about balancing a budget. He is also the former Aquatic Director for the Hubbard Community Pool, and told us he understands that most aquatic facilities often get the short end of the stick when it comes to financial assistance. But under his watch, Yaniglos says the Hubbard Pool was run like a business, and for the first time in it's 40-years of existence, they were able to profit from the use of their pool! How? By investing in specialized programming and equipment. As you'll hear in the below episode, Craig has a long history in aquatics, both as a student, instructor, director and CFO. We cover some creative tips for aquatic fitness facilities struggling with their budgets to help raise money and awareness for their communities. We also discuss how investing in specialized programming and equipment can draw new participants and memberships to a facility. Name Drops: Adrienne Poullas, AEA, Ashley Bishop, Aqualogix, Aquastrength, Aquapole, Aqua Stand Up, Fitmotivation, Hubbard Community Pool, Hydrorider, IAFC, Ian Levia, Joao Santos, Lori Sherlock, Mark Grevelding, Pedro Santos Full Episode Transcript: Jenni Lynn: Joining us today is Craig Yaniglos. Craig is the Chief Financial Officer for a public school district in Northeast Ohio, as well as an Aquatic Training Specialist for the AEA. He holds many other certifications such as Aqua Stand Up, HydroRevolution, aqua cycling and ACE group exercise. He is also a CEC provider for the AEA and a Master Trainer for Aquapole. Craig, welcome to Alcoholics Bootcamp! Craig: Thanks. I'm super excited to be here. AJ: Hi Craig! How you doing? Craig: Hi, AJ, I'm doing good. AJ: Good. Jenni Lynn: I get so excited. Just because more I mean, not just that I'm interviewing you. But also when I finished the introduction, and I've like gotten it on one take. It's just like this is gonna be the best episode ever. Craig: This is gonna be the best episode ever. Move over Mark Grevelding! AJ: Ohhh! It's a throw down. It's gonna be the Choreography King versus the Choreography Prince? Craig: That's right! Jenni Lynn: I feel like we need like Game of Thrones music going on right now or something? Craig: I think we should. We can edit that in, right? AJ: Yeah...I don't know if we can afford it. We'll get like the, I don't know, the "B-rated" version. Jenni Lynn: Yeah, exactly. AJ: So Craig, where are you calling in from right now? Craig: Well, like Jenni Lynn introduced, Northeast Ohio. So specifically Macedonia, not the country, of course. But you know, Ohio. So I recently moved during COVID. So that was really exciting. But that's where I'm calling from. AJ: Overall, how have things been where you are during this pandemic? Craig: Well, it's definitely been kind of interesting. So just huge life changes were happening. And you know, couldn't predict that. I didn't realize I would be signing on to a new job in a district four times the size of what I was coming from, and have a pandemic hit a month later. And basically build a house and move into that house exactly as the state of Ohio was completely shutting down was a little bit overwhelming, to say the least. Jenni Lynn: Wow. Craig: It was it was pretty intense. And it was just a really long process. It's a complicated district in terms of its finances and things like that. So getting acclimated to that was hard enough, and then you throw on top of it, you know, the pandemic piece where people are working from home...It just makes it harder to get to know people and to be able to answer questions. So that was probably the hardest part about you know, the day to day job, I guess that was happening. The worst part about this whole pandemic has actually been though that you know, all of the aqua fitness has stopped. And by moving I was leaving my home pool which Jenni Lynn was just at in December, right prior to this all happening, you know, so leaving that was a big part of me and that was pretty tough. So I got pretty emotional towards the end of it realizing that, you know, I had been a part of the Hubbard pool since I was eight years old, and so that was like crazy that this is the first time I've actually not been there. AJ: Wow. I can't imagine one of those many life changing moments happening during all of this, let alone all of them. New job, new home, new house, you know how to work being shifted and having to pivot to all of this digital and remote stuff and then not being able to be in your own home pool. It's a lot. Craig: Yeah, and I've struggled here because...I'm getting to that point where a lot of the pools in Ohio have opened they have not been opening up near like a full capacity schedule. So I'm trying to figure out where, you know, maybe locally, I can kind of get back involved on a local pool level. So we'll kind of see what I can bring to the table. Jenni Lynn: Yeah. And you know, on that note, tell us about your background. How did you find yourself becoming involved in aquatic fitness? You said you were a part of the Hubbard pool since you were eight. I mean, that's a long time. Craig: Yeah, so I've always loved the water. That's been my passion. I started off competitively swimming, and had worked at the Hubbard pool as an employee since I was 15. I was a lifeguard, I was a lifeguard instructor, I was a water safety instructor, I got into coaching. I graduated with my degree in business. And once I graduated, which was in 2004, I know that starts to date myself at this point. But when I graduated, I was looking for what I was going to do. And it actually just kind of happened that the school system and the pool that I had been basically raised in was going to be hiring an aquatic director. So that's kind of how I got my start. My whole focus was on horizontal fitness, because that's what I knew swimming. And I knew nothing about aqua fitness at all. Nothing about vertical fitness. It was basically an afterthought, and I broke every rule in the AEA manual, and I'm very open about it. I was an "in the water" teacher, teaching in the circle. I'm doing moves I had no idea what I was doing. Not teaching with music, then sort of teaching with music. It was awful. I was atrocious. That was 2004. In 2009 is when I went to my first IAFC and I remember I got down there and I arrived in the afternoon, it had already started. And I walked in, I checked into my hotel room, which was in Orlando, and I could hear the music bumping and I walked out to the pool deck. And I think it was actually, I want to say it was Ian Levia that was teaching, and I was like looking at this class. And I was like, "Holy crap, this is amazing. What on earth am I doing?!" I went back to my room after that first night, and I just started writing stuff down. I think self reflection is so important in everything that we do. So I went back to my room and I started writing everything down. I was like, "God, I suck. I've got to fix this." And so I made it a mission. But I've always been interested in teaching. And so I think it ended up becoming a natural fit that I went back to Hubbard and I basically brought AEA, or the beginnings of AEA to Hubbard without even being AEA certified. So I went and got my AEA certification that year, and just started teaching my instructors the very basics, and then it kind of just evolved from there. AJ: So Craig, you touched on this new position of yours that you're in as treasurer and CFO of the Brecksville Broadview Heights School District. Can you share a little bit about what your role has been there since you took over and the impact that this pandemic has had on on what you do on a daily basis? Craig: Sure. So the one thing that's interesting is that, I guess I didn't really talk about how I ended up getting out of aquatics. I was still in aquatics, and kind of still attached to the Hubbard pool even after I became a treasurer. But I do love working in schools in the school system. And so, you know, I had a friend of mine who basically was the treasurer at Hubbard at the time who kind of encouraged me to get my treasurer's license, because I had the business background. And she's like, "You've done such an amazing job with balancing the budget at the pool, making the pool money, doing all this creative programming and fixing so much that's never been fixed in it's 40 year history, you really need to become a treasurer and really affect a school system, an entire system, a bigger entity because of your skill set." And so I went for it. I was really heavily involved in aquatics, really deeply involved in both the aquatic fitness and coaching for a while, and then I finally took the leap to kind of become a treasurer and still be connected to the pool side. So I had an opportunity that basically happened in October where I got a phone call and said, "Hey, are you interested in this position?" And you know, I was kind of like honored I guess that people called me and were asking me because I was successful also at Brookfield where I was previously working. And so I was like, you know what, maybe this is the right moment. You know, it's an amazing opportunity. I always had been looking to get back to the bigger city, getting towards Cleveland, where I went to college, and just kind of went full steam ahead. Jenni Lynn: So you obviously touched on the amazing work that you were able to do at the Hubbard pool, but how can facilities without a large budget, what can they do to maintain and improve their aquatic programs? Craig: This is a great question. And I get asked this a lot. And sometimes I may, on occasion, go off on a little tangent while I'm traveling the country sometimes with AEA. And you know, people want to ask those questions. I think the big difference of why we were successful at Hubbard is because I was the director. I'm sure you see the same thing when you go around and travel, the aquatic director, or the group fitness manager isn't really AEA-certified. They're not involved in it very much. Or if they are, it's like the bare minimum. So they don't have the investment in it. And I also hear, if they're not invested, they're not going to invest in the programs. And so I guess two things: One, I think you have to do a proof of concept. And what I mean by that is you need to get some type of authorization to find something, some program that is unique. And whether it's a small purchase, I always use Aquastrength or Aqualogix as my example because plastic is cheap in comparison to the bikes and the trampolines and the Aquapoles. So you can do an investment of $1,000, you can get 10 sets roughly, of you know Aquastrength or Aqualogix products, and do a specialty class and up charge for that. That's going to generate revenue. And if you can pay off that equipment, and then start making the facility money, I feel like that proof of concept needs to happen. And people need to see something tangible like that. Now, for me, I did it backwards, because those products weren't available at the time. So my concept that I worked with my Treasurer at the school district with was actually the Hydrorider bikes. So I was like, "Look, I want to buy these seven bikes. I'm going to do classes of six. It's going to cost $8,000 because I got them at the After-IAFC special. Jenni Lynn: Nice! Craig: And I said, "It's going to cost like $8,000. And I have a plan of how I'm gonna pay that back and actually make money within 12 months." And she was like, "Go for it!" So that was my first premium class that we offered. And I was right. It was a new program, no one around had it and we were packed with classes, charged premium for it and people paid it. It started to generate money and revenue. And it's been a hit ever since. It's one of the top most popular classes that they still have. So that kind of led into all the other programs. So when people would come to the pool, everyone would be so jealous, because I mean, we did have it all. I mean you've seen it...We had the Aquapole, we had the boxing bag, we have the plastic... Jenni Lynn: All the toys! Craig: We've got the trampolines, we've got the bikes...I mean, we have everything and that's because we were making money on all of those. So I say start off small. And I also think that they need to reach out and really make that connection with the aquatic director or the group fitness manager or something. And I always tell them to use me as a resource. Call me, have them call me, whatever we can do because I think that's what's going to keep pools alive in this country. Jenni Lynn: Oh, yeah. AJ: Oh my god. Yes. You know this is exactly why we wanted to have you on this show to discuss these kinds of things. Because you know so much more from the business side of things. And we've talked about it on several episodes, the aquatic facilities and aquatic programming get the short end of the stick no matter what. In the world we're in right now, the pools which are some of the most expensive pieces of equipment in a facility are just not being used to make that facility money. And because of the misconceptions of aquatic fitness, because of the the lack of awareness of aquatic fitness and what is actually possible with new equipment and new programming, I think slowly we're going to get there. But having someone like you on staff has to be such an asset for that. Like you described, that proof of concept; that's brilliant. That's exactly how you can start to pull in the money and then invest in yourself and then have that pay off. Craig: Sure, and I think that we could utilize and maximize the pools at a higher level if we just program them correctly. People will pay for quality products but they treat it like it's a, "Here's your membership to this facility. However, you can use the pool if you want, it's great that you come. But all those classes are free, who cares?" And it's such a powerful tool. It is the best place for our aging population, you know, Silver Sneakers land classes and whatnot, great programs. But water is the best place for really everybody, but specifically people over the age of 50. They're starting to get arthritis and pains and joint pains and all kinds of issues sometimes as they age. And it's just always put on the back burner. So that kills me inside a little bit. So I at least always offer my services that if I can help in any way for people to talk to, I'd be happy to do that. Because they always say, "Well yeah, but they won't want to charge extra money for it." I always say if you build it, they will come. If you charge, and it would have to be a good program, though, too...You can't just buy plastic or buy equipment, and just be like, "Oh, here it is." It's got to be good, you know? Jenni Lynn: Absolutely. You got to have the education behind it to make sure that the participants are getting a quality service. Craig: Right. And it's got to be different. AJ: Yeah. So what are some other ways? Besides, you know, the facilities themselves working working to do that, are there ways that the community or followers of the aquatic fitness realm can work together with a facility to help raise money or raise awareness? Craig: Sure. One of the things that we did was we developed a pool committee. And so we used to do fundraisers just to show the involvement of how we could reach out to the community. One of the first things I did before I was even involved in aqua fitness was I wanted to invite the community into our space. And so I didn't want it to just be for people who had been to the pool, I wanted to invite new people. So we did this mass promotion that was like "free swimming at the Hubbard community pool." It was one day in the middle of July. And we ended up turning it into a fundraiser, which we called the "Summer Sizzla!" But every year, we would get like 350 people. We ran it for five hours, and we would get 350 people. And these are people that sometimes never ever had been to the pool before. And so that got them in the door. They could see all of what we offer. So they could see that we offer swim lessons, they could see that we offered competitive swimming, they could see that we offered aqua fitness, we'd give them flyers. And so we ended up developing a committee that worked, you know, in coordination with me as the director to put on some of those programs. And any money we raised, we pledged that all of that would go into the facility. So sometimes it was like suit dryers, sometimes it was new equipment like the Aquastrength products or the trampolines or whatever. And then the other thing that we use the money for was investing in instructors. Because as I went through the process, I was like, "You know, education is so important." So that committee also raised money to help send more instructors from the facility down to IAFC and get involved in AEA. Jenni Lynn: Wow. That's awesome. AJ: Yeah. And so important. We've talked about that on the show a lot. The education piece, and your choreography rival Mark Grevelding mentioned in his episode, that investing in your aquatic instructors and their education and their qualifications is how you improve and take aquatic fitness out of that, you know, short end of the stick world that it keeps getting. Craig: Yeah, absolutely. There's no requirements. And I'm sure when you compare it to different countries, we see it at the international level. In different countries, I mean, people to teach aqua fitness need like a bachelor's degrees and exercise physiology. And I always say, "Yep, and in the United States, you can just have a pulse to teach a class." You grab on for someone as a director, like I always did. When I first started, I was just grasping for people, because I'm like, I don't want to teach all of these classes. So you're trying to find warm bodies, you know, that might want to do it. Jenni Lynn: Oh my gosh, you just need a pulse. That is hysterical. So I mean, you're clearly very diverse within the aquatic fitness field. And you can really help educate on many different topics within our industry. So where do you see yourself taking your career, rr should I say careers plural? Because I feel like you could wear multiple hats. Craig: Yeah, no, I mean, I love being able to kind of do both. It's kind of exciting. I could easily retire from Brecksville Broadview Heights. So you know, I'm only counting down 20 more years. Jenni Lynn: There you go! Craig: So that part of me and the longer you stay in that job fortunately and unfortunately, like, I don't want to say that I would get bored with it, but you kind of get to the point where you do get things where you want it. And so it kind of runs itself, which is exciting. But it would also open me up to be able to have more time to kind of still always stay involved in the aquatic side of things. So, I mean, I love getting out and traveling and getting to see different people and going to different parts of the country and just sharing that, you know, we're all different. And that's one thing I loved about how the training specialists that we have, you know, everyone's different. They have their different strengths and weaknesses and stuff. I don't think any facility should only host one...I mean, at Hubbard, we always hosted multiple people. We've had you and Ashley Bishop. We've had Joao and Pedro Santos. We had Lori Sherlock. So it's always good to have a different type of training. And so I think that, you know, nothing's going to replace the live trainings once COVID is over. As much as I'm glad that the virtual stuff is working out -- and I'm actually going to do one of the virtual workshops in November -- but I'm really, really excited about getting back, out on the road, at least a little bit, and being able to travel because it's just exciting to get out of the office and do something physical and really kind of focus on the passion piece of it. And I don't know where else you could go, other than being a Training Specialist. So I mean, you can't go up any higher. Jenni Lynn: Right! But it's totally true. Having different types of specialists, you know, teaching at one time, I think is just so awesome. Because every single person has such a different style, flavor, attitude, concept, theory, and you just take away so much information, and especially for myself, who as we know, is very freestyle. When I take one of Craig's classes, I'm like, "I have work to do! I need to go listen to the beat, watch myself in the mirror, and practice, practice, practice." Craig: I know how much you love to be on the beat, but you are improving. And that's great. Jenni Lynn: Thank you. I appreciate that wholeheartedly. So I'm actually curious, I was just reading the next question that I have here and I'm actually very curious about this. But what does the future of aquatic fitness look like for you? Where are you taking it next? I know you have this amazing job and career going on but you're still an ATS and you know, doing a lot of work with the AEA. So I'm curious, what does your aquatic fitness future look like? Craig: I am excited in general for the future of aquatic fitness as a whole. And I think that, you know, I have seen some major improvements. I mean, I think you have too. You're starting to see a change. And I think that's a good thing, because it's such a vital place for people to be and I think it's starting to get more notoriety. Because of social media and whatnot, I think it's starting to make more news and social media news, I guess. It's just more out there. And so I start to see positive changes. I'm starting to see younger people get involved. And that's what's exciting. I was, in the beginning of this, very challenged with finding people that were young that wanted to be involved, because everyone just goes like, "Oh, you know, water aerobics is for old ladies who have their little flower swim caps on and they stand in a circle and chat the whole time." And I'm like, "Okay, well come take one of my classes okay?!" Jenni Lynn: Exactly! Craig: I think it's good that some people are starting to do that. And one of those I think, you know, Adrienne Poullas, for instance, who started teaching at our facility, is now running the Hubbard pool. She was one of the ones that I had to basically beg to get in the water and just to try it, and then she was like, "Oh, my God, this is such a great workout." And then she did it through her pregnancy and whatnot. And, it inspired her to start becoming involved and wanting to be an instructor. So, you know, I do think the other piece is that getting some of this specialty equipment like Hydroriders and an Aqua Stand Up and Aquastrength or Aqualogix, getting that that type of equipment has helped drive younger people to the pool than the hand buoys or noodles, because I think they unfortunately carry a bad connotation that's what old people use, even though they can be very effective tools. That equipment change and seeing the different types of equipment hit the market and start to take off more in the country is leading the charge of making the aquatic fitness industry a little more prevalent. As we kind of move forward, so I'd like to see that continue, obviously. Jenni Lynn: Oh, yeah, absolutely. And I think those are good things to note because as much as we would love change to happen, you know, very drastic and quickly in a short period of time, it does take decades. And I think we've been following a lot of mentors and leaders in this industry who have literally and figuratively made a lot of waves, and had to kind of break things up for us to get in there and the new people to kind of say, yes, we're still going to continue this, we're going to update things, bring them to today's society with the newest type of equipment, and also put it on social media, get it out there for people to actually see. Craig: Well, and the one thing too that I guess is really encouraging for the aquatic fitness industry is this: we're starting to see such a push for NordicTrack and Peloton and really taking this to this live streaming outlet. And I have concerns. I don't think it's going to happen overnight, but I have concerns that we're going to end up in a streaming world where gyms don't technically exist, or they might exist, but I think it's gonna be different. But the one piece about a pool is that I think there's room for growth in a pool, because most people don't just have pools in their backyard. And if they're in Ohio, they certainly are not using them in the winter. So I think that pools are more stable. Because I mean, I don't know, do you agree? Like you're starting to see so much streaming content that I'm like, "Are people gonna just start doing this at home?" Jenni Lynn: Yeah, I mean, the thing is I totally agree with that. And I think gyms are definitely going to look different going forward from this standpoint. I also know a lot of land instructors that make 10 times the amount of money doing it elsewhere instead of the gym, and so there's that financial kickback of it. But with that, I think there's going to be a lot of injuries, I think people are going to need to come to the pool eventually. Or it's just going to be a factor that the pool is that one thing that is offered, you know, as an exclusive piece of equipment, and that maybe facilities start basing more things around the pool, which would be like the best situation ever, but you know...people can dream! AJ: Well, you've given us so much. And you know, I know that we could probably spend an entire episode just talking about the financial side or the aquatic side. But I'm curious if you have a nugget of advice that you would offer to instructors who are out there just getting started, or students, or anyone who's maybe even interested in on the business side the financial side of of what it is that you do. What advice would you would you give them going forward? Craig: Don't give up, number one, but number two, don't be afraid to network and make some of those connections. I do remember getting started off, you know, and Jenni Lynn probably thinks the same thing, you go to your first IAFC and you look at some of these people like they're icons, and you're like, "Oh my god, I can't say anything!" But all of us are just regular human beings. And so don't be afraid to approach and have that conversation. I think that I even say this in the treasurer world, sometimes when you go to a workshop, some of the best information that you get out of that workshop is just the networking with a fellow colleague, and the conversations that you have with that person versus anything that happened at the workshop, right? So don't be afraid to network and reach out and have conversations. You know, imitation is perfectly fine, especially in this business. So find what you like, and don't be afraid to go after it and make a difference. I think that people that are doing water are probably almost even more passionate than people that do land. And so, you know, follow your passion and realize that you're helping a lot of people, because that's what kind of has kept me going in this industry. And why I don't mind working in my life, working with the senior population just as much as I do with young athletes, as well as you know, everyone else in between. So I guess that's the best advice I would probably offer. Jenni Lynn: Which is very good advice. AJ: That's great advice. This has been such a great episode. And I hope people do reach out to you with questions because not to put the pressure on you but if you can educate the community that's out there across the entire country, I think we could start to see these waves changing and improve what we all love, which is aqua. Craig: Yes. I certainly hope so. Jenni Lynn: Having facilities take it seriously and learning that the budget needs to be spread around the entire facility, not just land. Craig: Yeah, absolutely. And seriously too. I have not listened to all of the Aquaholics Bootcamps, but Jenni Lynn, I seriously thank you for all you're doing because you're really doing this full time. And that's amazing because not a lot of people can do this full time in this country because of how the aquatic industry is kind of treated. You know, there's all kinds of gaps in terms of pay when it comes to land versus water. And it's kind of crazy, but you're doing it, you're living the dream, and so we appreciate that. Jenni Lynn: Well, thank you. You're getting me all teary eyed. This is an emotional one! Craig: Air Hug! Jenni Lynn: I was just abuot to say, air hugs! AJ: I can't wait for us all to be together at the next IAFC. Jenni Lynn: Yes, next IAFC, for sure. But we definitely need to come back to the Cleveland area and host an event because that would be absolutely amazing. Craig: Absolutely. AJ: Craig, thank you so much for stopping by. This has been so great. So thank you so much. Jenni Lynn: Thank you. Thank you. Craig: Well, thank you for having me on. This was a wonderful, wonderful experience. And you know, I hope that we'll see each other soon and definitely stay safe.

Episode 7: Adrienne Poullas Adrienne Poullas is the Aquatic Coordinator of the Hubbard Community Pool in Hubbard, Ohio. Adrienne joined the Aquaholics Bootcamp to share her aquatic fitness journey from a student to instructor and now her dream job, as director of the facility. Sounds like a fast tracked story since her initial reaction to getting in the pool was “Heck No!”, but then cut to her taking her FIRST Aqua Stand Up class and she’s hooked. Taking 4-6 classes per week, Adrienne also explains how aqua fitness helped her lose 50 pounds after her second pregnancy and why she recommends the aquatic environment for all expectant mothers. After the birth of her second son, Adrienne's courage shined through as she dared to get back up on deck and teach her wave warriors again, even though she was still fighting through postpartum, working part time and motherhood. Talk about a little stress?! Yet she kept going, set goals for herself, but led with grace. Take a listen below to how this mermaid flexed her muscles and continued to make waves both in and out of the pool, while going after the life she wanted. Name Drops: AEA, Amy Landino, Ashley Bishop, Aqua Stand Up, Hubbard Community Pool, HydroRevolution, IAFC, Yoga with Adriene Full Episode Transcript: Jenni Lynn: Joining us today is Adrienne Poullas, Aquatic Coordinator of the Hubbard Community Pool. Adrienne is AEA and ACE Group Fitness Instructor certified and also holds certifications in WIM Platinum, HydroRevolution and Aqua Stand Up. As you will hear in the interview, she started at the pool as a student, then an instructor and now a director. Adrienne, welcome to the program. Adrienne: Thank you. I'm so excited. AJ: How you doing? Adrienne: I'm good. How are you? I missed you guys. Jenni Lynn: You know, this has been too long. This is getting ridiculous. Adrienne: It's been a bummer. AJ: Yeah. But you know what's been great? Since Jenni and I started this podcast, we've been actually able to connect with people who we used to see every year at IAFC, and several other places. And it's just been really great to reconnect in this new digital world we're in. Adrienne: Yeah, like it almost gives you more opportunities to connect, as opposed to like one time a year, you know, in Florida when we're all together. So that is really cool. AJ: Absolutely. So Adrienne, where are you calling from? Adrienne: I'm calling from Hubbard, Ohio. It's a small suburb of Youngstown, in between Youngstown and the Pennsylvania border. We're right on the edge there. AJ: Nice. Jenni Lynn: So I don't know why I'm even realizing that I don't know more about your background, because I think we met, what was it three or four years ago four? I have no concept of time anymore. Adrienne: I know. Right. What day is it? I think it was when I was pregnant with Roscoe so IAFC 2018. Maybe? Jenni Lynn: Wow. Okay. It seems like so much longer. But it that's a good thing. We've just it's like we've known each other so much in a short period of time. I'm curious, how did you yourself find yourself in aquatic fitness? Like, was it just going to the Hubbard pool? or were you were a swimmer? Adrienne: No, I know, I hated the water. I didn't like being wrinkled and pruny. It was something that wasn't on my list of favorite things. I straight up, like if we ever went somewhere that had a pool, like I get into cool off, but I wasn't hanging out in there. Like I don't, I don't like being wrinkly. So my husband actually got deployed in September of 2016. And I had an eight month old, my first. I had one little eight month old and I was working part time and 10 days before he left, we sold our house. And I had to move an entire 2400 square foot house with an eight month old and no husband, and nowhere to go. Jenni Lynn: Wow. Adrienne: And it was very stressful. And I ended up gaining about 30 pounds while he was gone. And it was only four months. So actually, mutual friends of ours, Craig and Patrick, ended up becoming my next door neighbors. And at the time, Craig was director of the Hubbard Pool. Jenni Lynn: Yes. Adrienne: Shortly after that Patrick took over as director and they had been trying to get me in the pool for I don't know how long and I kept pushing them away and push them away. Finally, I said okay, fine. I'll come and take one class. But I'm telling you, I'm not going to like it. And the first class I took was Aqua Stand Up, which here at the pool, it's probably our toughest class. And I loved it. And I bought a package that day and I never got back out and I ended up taking oh geez, four to six classes a week. I was here as a participant. I lost 50 pounds in about six months, which totally helps how much you love the water when you see how effective it is. Jenni Lynn: Yeah! Adrienne: You know, I was one one year postpartum when I started coming and I was bigger than I was when I was pregnant. So that was a huge plus for me was this works. This works better than running. This works better than gym time, for me personally. My body took to the water very well. So then I said Hydro Spin was my favorite, I said, I want to teach Hydro Spin. So they put me on the bikes. And I started teaching Hydro Spin. And I said, okay, I want to do all the things. I want to teach everything. I want to learn everything. This concept of how your body works in the water, and how beneficial it is to you was so fascinating to me. I just started learning everything I could. So I got AEA certified in 2018. 2019, I attended IAFC and got my GFI, my ACE GFI. And then March of 2020, well, I started teaching on deck, which was very scary for me, actually. I was always in the pool, you know, with the bike. Jenni Lynn: Yeah. Adrienne: So getting there and being on deck was it was a vulnerable thing for me, especially, because I didn't start till after the birth of my second son. So I wasn't in the shape I was when I started here and how people remembered me. And it was, it was a vulnerable thing for me to get up there and put myself out there and, you know, do it. And it took a while for them to really twist my arm and get me up there. But I did. And then as soon as I got comfortable enough, I knew that that was where I belonged. I might be the director now, but those days that I'm out there on deck like that is where my heart is, is out there teaching and instructing and being with my students like, that's where my first true love is. Jenni Lynn: Listen to those swimmers. Adrienne: They're celebrating something... AJ: They just opened every pool across the country! Jenni Lynn: You know, I saw the Facebook group that you're doing. And that was absolutely amazing. And now I've seen on your Instagram stories that you are doing yoga, is this kind of your way to keep yourself grounded? Almost like meditating for you during these times? Adrienne: Yeah, you know, like, I was a full time mom before this and take still being a full time mom and now taking on a full time job and a husband who drives 100 miles a day to work. And, you know, managing all of this has been...it's been a challenge, you know, trying to make sure that I'm still taking care of myself. I had to find something like yes, I'm here and I'm teaching and I'm getting my work out there. But sometimes that's work. And I needed something that was just for me. And so I used it as a way to just kind of like get me going in the morning and get me like focused for my day. And it has been so helpful. I'm going to I'm only doing a 30-day thing. But I'm going to I told Nick, I said I'm going to keep doing this, I'm going to find all I'm just going to keep doing it every morning. It's only 20 or 30 minutes, and it just, it starts my day on a totally different foot than I was starting before. Jenni Lynn: Good. AJ: I love that. Adrienne: But the yoga that I'm taking, I'm taking Yoga with Adriene on YouTube, I love her. She has given direction to me in yoga practice that I can now give to my students here that makes it easy to understand and accomplish. So instead of saying tighten your core, squeeze your abs, blah, blah, blah. I say tuck those lower ribs in or push your bellybutton through your spine. And that they can understand So it's helping me personally, mentally get focused. It's helping me in my job as well, and to help my students. It's been like a double whammy for me, you know, it's benefiting just me but I'm able to help others as well. AJ: Yeah, Jenni during this pandemic, you started a morning routine yourself following the advice of Amy Landino. And I think it's really important for people or instructors and people whose lives have been, you know, turned upside down and don't have the same work schedule that they used to, to find a routine that works for them. And if this is working for you yoga in the morning, there's no reason to stop even when pools reopen and you're back to work. Now, do you want to share Who do you follow online for inspiration? You mentioned Yoga with Adriene, I'm assuming that's a different Adrienne than yourself. Adrienne: We have I have two N's in my name and she only has one. So I do her yoga daily. She's really great. Honestly, this is not just because I am on your podcast, but Jenni has been invaluable to me since I started in aquatics. Um, actually, I think it was today it came up in my timehop my stickers you sent me last year. It came up that one year ago, I got my little care package for me with my little mermaids. And my little note and in the winter, when I was talking about you know, maybe starting my own brand before I got this job, I mean, you talked to me on the phone for so long, and it has been invaluable information that I get from you. So I appreciate that so much. And Ashley always has great content to, Ashley Bishop, she was on here a couple sessions ago, she's she always has awesome content. And it's so motivating, because she is the most organized person how Jenni Lynn: Oh my gosh... Adrienne: You want to be organized just being around her! AJ: So true. Jenni Lynn: So true. And I The thing that I love, and like I can hear what you're saying, I just love women supporting women. And it feels so good to meet other strong women like yourself and take each other's strengths to be like, okay, I can see, like you just said with Ashley, her organization skills, I lack in that 100% have my entire life. But like that was motivation. The people she referred me to his motivation. Meeting you and seeing you being a mother and working your tail off in the pool. Like, just seeing how hard you worked while being a full time mom was. I mean, it's mind blowing. Because, you know, there's just a lot of things that you're juggling. And as you even said, you were basically single mom as your husband's deployed and doing all of this stuff by yourself, you know, for your family. Adrienne: I appreciate that. Yeah, it's, but you know what, it comes down to like, what other choice do you have? If this is what you truly want to do in your life? And this is your dream? You there's no other choice then to just dig in and do it. And having people like you and Ashley, and Yoga with Adriene, who centers me in the morning to have that support system, even if, you know, Yoga with Adriene doesn't know who the crap I am. But, you know, that's part of my support system that I take on for myself, and to have those types of women, not just women, anybody in your life that does that, you got to lean into that. You lean into that support, and you use it to fuel your fire. And that is something that in this season of my life, especially with COVID, and the quarantine, I really leaned into that, because I didn't have another choice, and I want to do it. And that was what was my heart and my soul. And I knew that if I wanted to be the best pool director I could be and the best mom and the best fitness instructor and be there for myself and the best wife, I had to lean into all these different people that inspire and motivate me and draw that energy from them to fill me up. AJ: Yeah, right. I love that. That's great advice. Jenni Lynn: Very, very good advice. So a question I did want to ask you is what advice would you give to other expecting mothers or I guess mothers who have come out of pregnancy? Maybe they're struggling with losing the weight? Like what would you tell them as far as taking aquatic fitness, any advice or tips that you would extend? Adrienne: First of all, you got to be super easy on yourself. Hold yourself accountable but don't beat yourself up. Your body just did the most amazing thing that bodies can do, which was literally birth another human. It's never going to be the same. And that's okay. It's okay. I look different after Jordi and I look different after Rosco, in different ways your body just holds on to things differently, and just have to lead with grace. So as far as getting in the pool for me, during pregnancy, it was so relieving. And it takes so much pressure off of all those different places that just being pregnant, puts on your body. I mean, your back hurts, especially later on when you're getting bigger and bigger and bigger, you know, just a lot to carry. So even if you do nothing but get in and walk back and forth, just just getting in and using that buoyancy to take some of the pressure off of all of those parts of your body that are hurting, do it. But even just if you don't want to get in the pool, take a walk, just do anything. I've written an article for the AEA website about the benefits of working out during pregnancy. And even less than physically, mentally...I mean, naturally, when you work out your body makes endorphins. Endorphins make you happy and it could be a mood changer. The mental part can be so, so beneficial. And if you're a first time Mom, you have all those anxieties before you have that baby because you've never done this before, you know? So if you're nervous about labor, if you're nervous about the delivery, exercise. It doesn't have to be in the pool. Do I want you to get in the pool? Heck yes, that's my number is I want you to be but if you don't want to get in the pool or you can't get in a pool, go for a walk. Find something to move your body because recovering after that is going to be so much easier. I was out four days postpartum. AJ: Wow. Adrienne: I had worked the whole time I was pregnant, to prepare my body for that. AJ: Yeah. And do you believe that aquatic fitness is a safe, or I should say a safer place to work out for expectant mothers? Adrienne: From experience for me, I am short. I'm five one. So when I get pregnant, my belly has nowhere else to go but straight out front. At even six months pregnant, to run, that is awful. It feels awful. It hurts. It looks awful. It just I mean, some people do it. And you know, my sister in law, she ran until I think the day before she gave birth to one of my niece's. She doesn't have big bellies when she's pregnant. I do. But some people work for me personally. And what I would say is if anything hurts you at all ever, get in the water, because that natural buoyancy...if you're swollen, get in the water. That hydro-static pressure is going to help to push that fluid were born or out of your body completely. So I mean, I could go on and on and on about why getting in the water when you're pregnant is literally the greatest thing you could do. AJ: Mm hmm. Well, I don't mean to put you on the spot, you and Jenni. But what are some of the the actual physical changes that happen when you're in the water that would affect a person who's pregnant? Jenni Lynn: Well, I mean, as Adrian mentioned, hydro-static pressure. Not only does that get rid of extra, you know, fluids that your body is holding on to, but it lowers your natural heart rate. So you know, you're in a safer environment, in that respect, but also the fact that you're not going to fall, you know. Like on land, gravity, that your weight is already offset due to a belly or imbalances, your gait starts to widen, everything starts to shift. And so you're just naturally safer on so many different levels in water. AJ: Yeah, that makes sense. And then post post delivery, you mentioned Adrienne, that dealing with postpartum depression and other feelings that exercise and in particular water exercise and fitness was key to your recovery. Adrienne: Yeah, yeah, it totally was. I couldn't wait to get back in the pool and I had to wait six weeks. That's just that's just what it is. I didn't have to wait six weeks to exercise. But I had to wait six weeks to get back in that pool. And the day I went to my doctor's appointment and she said, you get back in the pool, I was here. Because I couldn't wait. And I really don't think I crawled completely out of my postpartum anxiety or depression until I got back in the water. I mean, the walking helped, but I don't think I fully like crawled out until I was back here. And I don't know if it's just because I love the water or because the water is so healing in all different aspects. But for me, I did not...I didn't crawl out completely until I got back in the pool. AJ: I love that. Jenni Lynn: Wow. AJ: Yeah, that's important. So where do you see yourself taking your career in aquatic fitness next? I mean, clearly you have your dream job right now. But you mentioned, you know, forming your own brand and working on your own material. Where do you see yourself taking it next? Adrienne: I still want to do those things. You know, I before I knew that this position was imminent possibility, which meant, you know, it was approaching a lot quicker than than I thought. I still would love to become a master trainer for AEA because like I said, my first love is up on that deck. It's instructing. It's learning like anything that has to do with aquatics. I would really love to focus on pre- and postnatal research. And I have reached out to to those that can help me with that. But like I said, my goals and you know, my five and 10 year plan and my list it still has, you know, AEA master trainer on it still has those things on there. It's just right now my focus is here and but my heart's in instructing and leading and I'd really like to get back to that eventually. But do I love being a director of a pool? Absolutely. I don't see myself leaving this position for a long time. We're tied to the school. Jordi is going to start kindergarten here like literally one door away from me next year. I love this as my full time gig, but I still would love to just really nurture that instructor part of me and that love I have for that and learning and you know, being knowledgeable because, you know, knowledge is power. Jenni Lynn: Hundred percent. AJ: Yep. Adrienne: And the more you know, the better you are at your job. And if you love your job, you want to be the best at it that you can. So I want to do all the things I want all the certificates. And I want to know all the stuff. AJ: That's amazing. And then of course, when our S'WET certificate launches, you will become a S'WET certified instructor. Adrienne: I already I'm first on the list. Jenni Lynn: Oh, I already told her, I said now that she's the director, I'm coming there, and we're gonna get a group going and it's gonna. Hubbard will carry the S'WET cert. Adrienne: I will be first on that list. I probably won't be the first, because I know everyone is so excited for that program to roll out. Jenni Lynn: Excitement all around. Adrienne: Well, and I know how hard you've been working - always, but especially since you've had the time. Yeah, you know, to really focus on it. So I'm so excited for you. Jenni Lynn: Oh, thank you. I was just I mean, again, so excited to meet another aquatic enthusiastic person because, you know, there's so many people that you meet within the industry that they start as a student, they get curious about it. And some of them stay students and they become our leaders and they, you know, pave the way to help us with management and things like that. But then there's people like yourself, who actually take it that step further. And they're like, yeah, I'm willing to teach and put myself up there and be vulnerable, like you said, and then now, having these opportunities fall into place, you've taken it to that next level, and you're helping other people become inspired and educated and showing them, these are the paths that I took, they could help you, and you have many other paths to take to because you know, there's so much versatility within this industry. Adrienne: Yeah, I tried to get as many people like that, that stereotype of water robots is for old people just absolutely kills me, because it's not true. Well, no. And then when people say how do you know your weight, and I'm like, I got in the pool, I did water aerobics, and they're like, what?! So I just I try to just feed that and not I could go on and on. Honestly, I could go on and on about all the benefits and why you should do it and how to get them in the pool. And, you know, I mean, you know, you know, I know, it's my life's goal to get people into water. Jenni Lynn: Exactly. But this is also where Katy Coffey said we have to change the stigma by changing the wording because there is so much power in words and it's not water aerobics, it's not aquatic aerobics, or whatever you want to call it, water fitness, aquatic fitness, you know, adding these words that really resonate with a different demographic, so to speak, because as we know, aerobics is a little dated. So we're changing it. Adrienne: Yeah, that was one of the first things I did when I started doing the schedule and stuff here was I changed everything that said water aerobics to aquatic fitness. AJ: Oh, I love it. Adrienne: I did it on our schedule on our calendar, on our website, I went right in and changed it immediately. And I don't say water aerobics instructor, you know, on our staff page. It says, aquatic fitness instructor because that's what they are. AJ: It's true. Many people have shared their opinions about the misconceptions with aquatic fitness. And you know, you mentioned just one of them again, that it's for old people. It's not. Certainly there's room for everyone in the pool and there are people who are less agile and not able to necessarily keep up with every format that's out there. But the water is for everyone. The other misconception that I think we don't talk about that often is how effective it can be. You lost how many pounds? Adrienne: 50? Five-Zero AJ: 50. I lost four-zero. 40 pounds. And it's not something and that's all I did. 3 days a week, you know, of course, I had Jenni as my instructor, so she certainly didn't you know, lesson her. Jenni Lynn: Oh I didn't hold back. AJ: You did not hold back. But she saw me, she knew how unhealthy and unhappy I was. And then lo and behold, you know, 40 pounds later and it's just something that I think people forget about. It's so easily forgotten and overlooked in the industry. And so that's why we're so happy to bring people like you and others on who are saying, you know, no, this is for everyone. It's effective. It works. It's safe. And there's so many other benefits that we could go on and on and on about... Jenni Lynn: So I do have another question being that you are a very versatile instructor and you teach many different types of formats. First question, what is your favorite format to teach? Second, what is your favorite format to take? Adrienne: I knew you were gonna do this to me...I think this is why we're so like, drawn to each other because like, my favorite to teach is, basically just like you. I love a bootcamp interval. Let me kick your butt for this amount of time and then I'll give you a little active recovery and then I'm going to go back to kicking your butt again. My favorite class to take. Oh, geez, that's hard. I do love anything HydroRevolution, anything with resistance equipment. But when we and I'm not just saying this, because it was you. But when we did the HydroRevolution training here, and we had the circuit. Oh, I love a circuit. Yes, I love a circuit. I love a bootcamp, I love something that's gonna challenge me because I am competitive. AJ: You know, in a lot of Jenni's classes, I remember, you know, there would be different types of people and some you knew personally, others you didn't. And there was a sense of competition where you were like, Oh, she's doing hammer drops? Oh, I'm gonna make the biggest splash. And you just come, you know, and I really think aquatic fitness puts you in a position where you can be that competitive without hurting yourself. Because if I were doing that at CrossFit or anywhere else, you know, on land, I probably end up in the hospital. Jenni Lynn: Right? AJ: Well, Adrienne, as we're, as we're wrapping up here, I do want to ask you, because you made the journey from student to instructor to director, and I'm sure there are many others who would vie for that path as well, what advice would you give to people who want to kind of follow in your footsteps? Or who have never explored aquatic fitness? Maybe advice you'd give to them? As we're wrapping up here. Adrienne: Oh, geez. You know, for me, the class was fulfilling, the class was so fulfilling, being a student was so fulfilling, it was something that was just for me. But knowing that I got to, I still get to get up there and help people, or to show people something that they did not know existed. I have a couple ladies right now who showed up here maybe two weeks ago and never took a class, never did anything. And their first class was with me, and they got out of the pool and said, I did not know I could feel like this. Jenni Lynn: Wow. Adrienne: And that is something that if in your life, you want to make a difference, even if it's something little. Try it. If you're a student, and you're trying to find something to fulfill, you, something to just let you know you're doing something, you're contributing in some way to anything, even as little as just changing someone's mood for one day, because coming to an aqua class is going to change your mood. Coming to any workout class will change your mood. But if you if you're looking for something to fulfill you in another way, or to to fulfill someone else, just try it. And you're already in the industry, just make the jump, take the jump and if the opportunity arises for you to do what you truly love, regardless of whether it's becoming director of your pool or starting your own brand or becoming a master trainer, you owe it to yourself to do it. Because I have never been more fulfilled in my life, in my almost 35 years, than I am right now as my dream job. My kids are amazing. My husband is awesome. I have a wonderful family have a great group of friends. I have mentors. I have people who are wonderful friends and inspirations to me. And it was because I took the chance. And I accepted help when I needed it. And I wasn't too proud to ask for things. Ask questions, because 99% of the time that person is going to be thrilled that you cared enough to ask it. Jenni Lynn: Yep. Absolutely. AJ: I love that. Jenni Lynn: I love it. Could not have said it better. Honestly, there's so many things that you've touched on that are so important for other people to hear. AJ: Well, it's a great note to end on. And Adrienne, thank you so much for sitting down with us. Jenni Lynn: Yes, thank you so much. Adrienne: Thank you guys for having me. I'm super honored. Anyway, I can help in any way I can, you know move aquatic fitness along, I am happy. Jenni Lynn: Please give the nuggets kisses for me. Adrienne: I will. AJ: And please thank your husband for his service. Adrienne: Oh, I will. Jenni Lynn: You guys make such a good team. All right, have a good one. We'll talk to you soon. Adrienne: Thanks you too!

Episode 6: Katrien Lemahieu As one of the most in-demand international presenters, Katrien Lemahieu has had the opportunity to teach in over twenty-two different countries across the globe...and if the entire world wasn't "Back in 5" right now, that number would be growing monthly. But thankfully for her followers, Katrien has pivoted perfectly to the virtual fitness realm. Edited out of the episode for time, the Netherlands-based instructor gave a very special thanks to her husband for designing an incredible home studio for her, fully equipped with a working Green Room and interactive virtual backgrounds. Though the pandemic has literally locked the entire world down, Katrien's approach, as always, is to point out the positives, not the problems. "Actually, the virtual stuff has brought the whole world together so much more," Katrien told our Aquaholic Bootcamp podcast listeners. "I have so many friends who are always presenting," she shared and because Katrien spends most of her time traveling, she's never been able to attend their classes. "Now I can take courses by people I love in Japan, in the US, all over the world...And it's not just fun to teach with them, but to participate too." As you'll hear in the below episode, Katrien is also co-developer of not just one but TWO amazing programs: BioExercise™ with Laurie Denomme and HydroRevolution Power Training with Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour. More about both these programs below the fold, and to find out why Katrien believes today's #aquaticfitness professionals need to be more than just instructors, take a listen to the full episode! Name Drops: AEA, Angie Proctor, BioExerise™, Dr. Bruce Becker, Ekaterina Polozkova, IAFC, Ian Levia, HydroRevolution, Laurie Denomme, Strong Nation, S'WET™ Katrien Lemahieu helped design these popular aqua fitness programs: HydroRevolution Power Training by Aqualogix™ & Aquastrength™ - Developed by Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour & Katrien Lemahieu, this course is designed to help trainers around the world further their fitness education and grow their client base through the use of effective drag resistance training. Powered by Aqualogix™ and Aquastrength™, this training course will introduce the comprehensive range of drag resistance equipment on the market that can be used for just about all levels and goals: sports/athletic performance, rehabilitation, general fitness for group exercise, small group or one-on-one training. BioExercise™ - Experience an innovative new water exercise program that combines activities for the body and mind to improve total body functionality. Using evidence-based research and developed by international fitness experts Laurie Denomme & Katrien Lemahieu, this award-winning duo is passionately committed to educating, motivating and supporting coaches to deliver life-enhancing programs in their communities. Full Episode Transcript: Jenni Lynn: Joining us today is Katrien Lemahieu. She's the founder of Kataqua, an aquatic educational institute in the Netherlands. She's an educator in both the fitness and hydrotherapy fields with a Bachelor Degree in physical education, a post degree in special movement education, child psychology, and hydrotherapy. She travels worldwide as an international trainer for AEA and is a known speaker for big organizations such as ATRI. She co developed aquatic programs like BioExercise™ and HydroRevolution, and is a winner of two Aqua Emma's and a Tsunami award. Katrien, welcome to the program! Katrien: Hey, hello. AJ: Hello, Katrien, welcome. Katrien: Woohoo, yay. It's so nice to hear from you guys. Jenni Lynn: I know. I'm so happy you're here. Katrien: I'm so happy. And thank you so much for doing this with me. I feel very proud and very honored to be on this podcast. Jenni Lynn: Ditto. I feel very honored that you're here. AJ: Is this your first podcast? Katrien: This is my first ever podcast. AJ: Oh, wow. Really? Jenni Lynn: Yes! Katrien: Yeah. I've been doing interviews but I was always on Zoom with video. This is my ever first podcast. So I hope that people enjoy listening to me. AJ: I think they will. So Katrien, where are you calling in from right now? Katrien: I am in the Netherlands and that is like a really beautiful place in Europe. I wasn't born here. I come from Belgium originally, but in 1998 I came here to do my studies, a master study that we didn't had in Belgium. So I ended up here in the Netherlands to do that. And well, you know, sometimes something pops up, and love comes around the corner and I've been here for more than 20 years now and enjoying it and loving it. Jenni Lynn: We know a lot about your background but how did you become involved with aquatic fitness? Was it swimming first or aquatic fitness first or I guess a blend of both? Katrien: Actually, I'm a really poor swimmer. I learned how to swim when I was still in Belgium. So I was never really in the water. But I think it was around the 1990s that aqua aerobics started to evolve. And I really enjoyed doing aerobics and fitness a lot, and I think a lot of people will recognize this themselves. "Oh, you can do aerobics? Here you go..." and boom -- you are pushed to the aquatic environment without any knowledge or whatever. But hey, you can teach, you can support groups, you're interactive, you can work with music...well here you go. So I ended up in the pool and then when I moved to the Netherlands, here in the Netherlands, they are a little bit more advanced in the aquatic fields. And after a while, I was like, "Okay, now I need to learn a little bit more about this." And we had a trainer in Belgium at that time, an AEA trainer. So I contacted them and then I was just so lucky. She had a conference with Ian Levia and Ekaterina Polozkova from Russia. And at the very last moment, one of the presenters didn't come. And she told me like, do you want to teach? I'm like, "Serious? On an international AEA accredited CEC conference?" I was like okay! But there was Angie Proctor, who was also there. And she was like, if you want to teach at an AEA event, you should be AEA certified. So I studied that evening. I did my exam the next day. And I did the conference. And I remember Angie coming up to me after that class, and she was like, "Oh my God, you have talent. Congratulations. If you want to pursue this dream, you can come quite far." And that's how it all started. I went to the US, I think a year later, just to see everything there. And then from that point it just started to grow. And I loved it. I loved it so, so, so much. I was like, "Whoa, that water world...that is my world!" Jenni Lynn: You studied in one night for that AEA test? Katrien: I had to. Jenni Lynn: That's just blowing my mind right now. AJ: I took a couple of months, and even that I thought was not long enough. Katrien: Well, I have to say I am lucky. I was always really easy at studying, even in school as well. AJ: Yeah, sounds it. You know, if you've been following along with the show, most people will hear that a lot of our guests were just thrown into the pool. Jenni, that was your experience. Someone didn't show up. And then they asked, you know, "Hey, you want to sub this class?" And every person who was kind of just thrown in has really taken to it and loved it and then pursued this career. And I think that's just fascinating-- Jenni Lynn: There's a trend and a theme through all of our guests, which I'm really starting to like. Katrien: Yeah! AJ: That's true. So how did you and Jenni Lynn meet? Katrien: I think we we've met like before some of the IAFCs. I do remember and I don't know if Jenni still remembers...I remember seeing her on deck for the first time. She had no clue who I was, probably. But I went to her right after the class, and I told her my opinion on that class, and she was shocked. She was like, "Who is this girl? Who is this woman coming up to me?" And I was very nice because she earned all my credits. And I remember going to her and say like, "My, you were amazing. You have so much to offer" and -- Jenni Lynn: Oh, I remember that. Katrien: You do? You do? Yeah. Jenni Lynn: Yeah. Because I knew of you...because we all have people that we look up to, or are inspired by, or aspire to be like, and I had heard so much about you, and everything that you were doing overseas and just like the leader that you were. You're a very take charge, get it done. Don't doubt, don't second guess, just go. And it's one of those things when you came up to me first, I was already shaking like a leaf and you gave positive feedback and I was like, "Catch your breath, catch your breath, you're doing fine." And then over time, you know, Angie started to say things like, "Oh, you're getting compliments from these people. And these people are saying things," so you just want to do better and strive harder because you're like, "Okay, this is the pack I want to run with. I want to be in this pack." And so you just work harder. Katrien: Yeah. And it pushes you, right? Yeah. And I remember that and then I think it was years later that we were connected through the program of HydroRevolution. They told me that we're gonna do like a one week shooting with you. And I was like, "Oh my god is this really happening? Are we going to work together?" You know, and I think that week, I think it was even more than a week that we spent together working so hard -- getting all the scripts done, waking up at seven, have a meeting at 7:30, eat breakfast, have the scripts ready, rewriting, go in the pool...Then after all the shots in the pool were made, we had to go and do stuff on a desk, like live video. Oh man. That was probably one of the highlights of my whole aquatic career. Jenni Lynn: Oh my god. Katrien: It's true. It's true, because the professionalism that you guys had there. I didn't know you that well at that time. But you could like click the switch and be like, "Okay, cam on," you know, and it was...Yeah, it was so much, I don't know...it was special. Jenni Lynn: It was so much fun. Katrien: Yeah, it was so much fun and I really enjoyed it so much, and the value, the knowledge that came out from -- come on, look at the program? That was huge. It's beautiful. It's wonderful. Jenni Lynn: It's a great program. Katrien: Absolutely. It works in so many ways. And yeah, I just totally love that, that time with you guys. Jenni Lynn: Me too. I miss it. Katrien: Aww. I think we have to come up with a new program. Jenni Lynn: I was just gonna say now HydroRevolution has to come up with a second part so we can do another one. Katrien: I think so. Yeah, with the new blades. AJ: Oh yeah. So besides HydroRevolution, Katrien, you also co-developed an aquatic program called BioExercise™, right? Katrien: Absolutely. Yes. AJ: Why don't you tell us about that? Katrien: Well that, that's an amazing program as well. It was me with Laurie Denomme. We developed the program together. She was doing a lot of things. She is one of the people that I look up to, from the very beginning that I saw her teaching. I was like "Wow, I want to be like her, I want to have her words, I want to be her when I teach on deck." So she had done a lot of things on her side, and I had a program that has a lot of repetition through variation. And at one point, we were sitting down talking about our work and then it was like a puzzle coming together. We were like, "Hey, do we actually realize how strong it will be if we bring all of this together?" And it took us two years to develop and to have a really research-based, good program, but the first moment that we brought it out, it was like, boom, and it works. That BioExercise™ program like was like a huge boost. And we did one in the US that got really, really well accepted. And it was also introduced in China two years ago. And it worked and people are trying it out. They're doing it. The biggest issue that we feel is that it's not easy in the beginning, but once you get to know it, like in your veins, in your fingers, it just runs so smoothly. And on the other hand, it's less preparation for an aquatic instructor. I know a lot of people that teach probably like 15 to 20 classes a week. If you have to prepare those classes weekly, and you have to come up with new things all the time, it's really hard and you get demotivated by that as well. It's really hard to come up with new stuff, find new music. And this program gives you everything that is already out there. You know, like here you go. Jenni Lynn: Everyone that has taken the program that I know absolutely loves it. And it's actually on my list of several things that I want to take over the next couple months. It's an amazing program from what I keep hearing about and obviously the videos from Fitmotivation. Katrien: Yeah, and it's going to evolve even better because even if the world would be the same again, like a year ago, I think I will continue to do more Zoom sessions, probably monthly. Jenni Lynn: Oh, wow. Katrien: Just like a gathering with people to get together to talk about how was your last month in aquatics? A lot of people love it because they enjoyed doing all my classes that I had now during the pandemic. And they say, "You have to do it because it's less traveling, it saves a lot of money. It's easy access, and you learn so much for in a very short period." Jenni Lynn: That's amazing. I mean, that's just something that will really help solidify knowledge and keep it ingrained. So that's an amazing step. On that note, you know, now that you are doing more Zoom stuff, you are our first of many international instructors that we've had on the podcast, so we're very excited for you to be the first...But I'm very curious about how you feel aquatic fitness differs in other countries versus in America? Katrien: Well, this is probably why I like traveling so much as well, because I totally agree that. It is different. And I remember the first time going to America, the first thing that I would say is it's so much slower. Everything in the water is slower, the tempo is slower. The movements are much slower, which is weird for us in the beginning. But on the other hand, you guys are more into working full muscles in a full range of motion. You know, like we would work much more in a shortening way or a strengthening way and more faster speed. While in the US, you are looking more at that, which gave me the idea this is different. But for us as a presenter, we know that if we go to the US, we have to slow down everything that we design compared to what we do here. AJ: That's really interesting. Jenni Lynn: Right? Katrien: Yeah, we really have to slow it down, slower music, because the first thing that we get as feedback in our classes is, "What you do on deck is too fast!" And I say you should come see Europe! In Europe, people work much faster in the water. And I guess it's more like the strength and the acceleration. We use a lot more speed. Here in Europe it's much more like high intervals stuff, and it's much more embraced than in the US, I guess. Jenni Lynn: Yeah, I like that style. Honestly, I watch a lot of videos. There are some big movements and there's definitely a lot of suspended or level three type movements, but I also noticed a lot more hand manipulation and the way that the hand slices or cuts in the water to get that speed through each lever...So it's interesting because I really like, you know, a lot of variations, as you can tell from the way I put S'WET™ together. I like high intensity, you know, speed. Katrien: Yeah, but that Jenni Lynn, is exactly why S'WET™ is so well accepted in the US because the only thing that they've known before was the way they were working. Right? Jenni Lynn: Yeah. Katrien: And as we look at Americans, Americans look at Europeans as well. So they would give us the feedback, "it's too fast"...but they still loved it. And they still felt like, "Oh my God, my heart is pumping, my muscles are aching. I'm burning here," you know, so they still embraced it in a way. It was just too different. It was like, "Whoa, you guys are different," but they still embraced it. And I think Americans are more hesitant to start to do new stuff. They're often like, "Okay, but I've been doing this for 20 years, and it works and I got my groups and I got my peeps..." and I always tell them, "Okay, you got your peeps now, but what about the young people?" If they come in to your pool to try a class out for the first time and the only thing they see is 50+ gray haired people wearing flower bathing suits...It's not going to work. So you have to think about your future. You have to think about what are you going to do in 10 years? You have to bring in those young people and those young people do not embrace the aquatics from 20 years ago. AJ: No. Well, you know, I myself, I know this as Jenni and I have have worked together for so many years, I've seen Jenni and she was always on that high intensity level. She teaches other classes, like arthritis and whatnot, but there's always been an intensity to her teaching in her classes. And the only other place I would see that was in Europe and abroad. It always seemed to me that aquatics, at least in America, was just never the same as it was everywhere else in the world. And that didn't become crystal clear to me until my first IAFC when I saw everyone from around the world gathering and I was like, "Wow." Every single international instructor brings it to the table. And it is incredible. So, my question to you as someone who's traveled all over the world and seen it in different places, what do you think are the biggest misconceptions? And what can we do to change people's minds? Katrien: : I think the biggest thing we have to remember is it all started in hydrotherapy, and that the fitness part only came a lot later. So there was already a lot of developments in the therapy world. Everything needed to be evidence based. And then I think there was a big turning point when in the therapy world, one of the famous people there -- it was Dr. Bruce Becker -- he said that the aquatic fitness world is going to be much faster in the progressions than the therapy world ever was. And that's not because the development was not there. It is just because it's going so fast that they don't have the time to measure it, and to put evidence on it. That is a misconception that is still out there that we need to fight against too. But it is practical based. Don't wait for the evidence to come. We already see the results. It's already out there. But it's not evidence based. It's practical. And I think we can change it by just keep on doing the things that we do. Keep on putting it out there on social media, and people will follow. Jenni Lynn: Oh, yeah. Katrien: But it's different. So everything that is different is going to bring resistance to it...but hey, you know what, the water is resistant, we can handle that! Jenni Lynn: We can definitely handle that being in this industry. And I know you've kind of touched on it throughout the interview, but what does the future of aquatic fitness look like for you? Where are you taking it next for yourself? Katrien: I see a lot of new things coming up especially here in Europe. We have a lot of new development on equipment. And what I see is that the development, especially in the equipment, is that it is water equipment. It's not a copy paste from the land fitness or the aerobic world which was there in the past years. We all know the copies that we made, like the first trampolines that we added to the water were regular trampolines until they noticed they might change it a little bit because of the aquatic environment. And now we have these wonderful, great trampolines that do not work on land but they do work in the water. So that's a good thing. That's a good development. Another thing that I strongly believe in is the programs. The common instructor of now is not the typical monkey-see-monkey-do instructor anymore. Now she has a more coaching job. "This is the exercise. This is how you can change it. This is your progression. Oh, it's too hard? Okay, here's a variation for you. Oh, you have a shoulder issue? Here you go. Then you can do this and this." And you can change it on the spot. That coaching part, it's huge. Jenni Lynn: Huge. Absolutely. Katrien: I guess the development, the development is right there, it's in the instructor. It is in the education of the instructor. It is in the knowledge. It is in the self-regulation of the people, and it's in the water itself. AJ: Jenni, you actually made a presentation as part of one of your presentations at IAFC, that you're more than just an instructor when you're up there. You're a coach, you're a motivator, you're an educator, right? Katrien: Psychologist, therapist, yeah... AJ: Sometimes a babysitter... Jenni Lynn: Yes. Coach and Command. I think once I realized teaching in classes in gyms, doing one on ones, going to in-home, and then getting to a presenting level, just nationally, not even internationally yet. But just realizing the different roles that we play and the fact that we have to also deliver information to different people in different ways, because everyone learns differently. You are wearing so many hats when you're up there. And I think, the well rounded instructors who take all of that on, and take that challenge and say, "How can I be the best of the best to help others become the best of the best?" -- and not just other instructors, but your students. And that's where all of the versatility in our teaching skills comes in. Katrien: Exactly, Jenni. Like that multitasking, that coach and command technique is something that people need to develop. The only part that is really, really hard...There is a talent part in it. Knowledge you can learn, but like interaction with the people, teaching from the heart, having a passion, is something that you cannot really learn a lot. And, yeah, that's where the biggest, best coaches come up. Every time they push their own limits, they're right there. They see something and at the spot they can change it totally. When you teach a class and you are so well structured and organized, you can change it on the spot, you know, and still have a better outcome than the thing that you even scripted, right? I always find it very hard when people ask me, "Can you send in the practical handout?" I always ask them like, "Can I do that after it?" Because I know that when I put it down, it's never going to be exactly like I developed it because I see something and I interact on it. If I see that somebody is not moving correctly, or I know that I can improve the move...That is something that I think you need a talent to do. Jenni Lynn: It is a talent and I appreciate you saying that too. Because I have always struggled with the fact that, you know, when you go to these workshops, I will have a general outline of content. There is a system when you go into teach of what you're going to teach but I am so in-tune with watching my students. And sometimes certain things don't work or sometimes other outside circumstances affect what you can actually deliver or how you give it. And so you have to be willing and able to adapt, and know that these students are not going to be able to do this, so I have to modify with this. And that's something that just has to be come almost like intrinsic in your body, like just a part of who you are. Katrien: Yep. AJ: Yeah. It's what separates a good instructor from a great instructor, I think. Katrien: I would not even use the word "instructor" because an instructor, for me, is always somebody that instructs others. And here it's the people instructing you. AJ: Hmm. Katrien: You can learn the exercises, you can learn to structure a class, but to learn how to play with people, how to be inside their heads, that's a talent. AJ: Yeah, no, it absolutely is. And this has been such an amazing conversation. I feel like you have given us so much. One of my last questions for you is what advice you would offer other instructors, students, or anyone that's interested in getting involved in the type of work that you do, either with aquatics or building a certification program...What advice would you give them? Katrien: I would say embrace everything that you can see around you, and learn from everything that you see. And build that awareness on what you want, and then stay in that field. You know, like, do something that is attractive for you. If you like dance classes, go to dance classes, develop dance. If you like more high intensity trainings or even like STRONG Nation™, do that, you know? Start from where your heart is. And then you can develop to -- even from a high intensity class, you can still go to an aquatic dance class and develop there...but find your true heart first. What do you like? What is your motivation? What is pumping your heart rate up? And that's what I hope that people will follow more, not trying to copy others. Find your true hearts, start from that, and then your world is going to open anyway. So please find your true spirit first. AJ: Mm hmm. Katrien: And then develop from that. Jenni Lynn: That's good advice. AJ: That's a beautiful note to end on. I love that. Jenni Lynn: Thank you so much for your time. AJ: Yes. Thank you, Katrien. Katrien: Thank you both so much for doing this. It was really nice to talk to you guys again, and we'll talk soon. Bye bye. Jenni Lynn: Bye bye! Katrien: Mwah! Jenni Lynn: Mwah! Mwah!

Episode 5: Mark Grevelding If you are serious about #aquaticfitness, you likely already know his brand, Fitmotivation. What you may not know about this video streaming service founder is his career in fitness began twenty-five years ago when Mark Grevelding walked into a gym, told the manager he was interested in helping people lose weight and was asked if he could teach a step-aerobics class. "I said, 'No, but I'll give it a try!'...And that is unceremoniously how I started teaching fitness with no experience whatsoever," he shared with The Aquaholics Bootcamp. Since then, of course, Mark has learned a lot, investing countless hours in furthering his education and skill sets. It's how the chain-smoking journalist from New York transformed himself into an aqua fitness icon! As you'll hear in the below episode, Mark's career with aquatic fitness began no where near the pool, but rather on the page, as a writer for the AEA. Listen to his incredible journey from instructor to mentor, what advice he offers new and old instructors, and what he thinks are the biggest misconceptions in the water fitness industry. Name Drops: Angie Proctor, AEA, IAFC, AFAA, YMCA, JCC, Fitmotivation, PoolFit, S'WET™ EXERCISE IN YOUR OWN POOL From beginner to advanced, PoolFit features a wide variety of water exercise workouts, all led by expert fitness specialists who train instructors all across the globe. This is your chance to enjoy challenging water workouts without discomfort or impact -- all from your own backyard or pool. The PoolFit IOS App is now available in the App Store and the Android App is coming in Fall 2020. Download & Go! No need for Wi-Fi. Just utilize your mobile device or tablet, or TVs with Chromecast & Airplay support. TRY POOLFIT FREE FOR ONE MONTH! The first month is free for new subscribers. No commitment. Cancel at any time. Listed to more episodes of The Aquaholics Bootcamp on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Full Episode Transcript: Jenni Lynn: Joining us today is the one and only Mark Grevelding. For those who don't already know Mark, he is the founder of Fitmotivation, an incredible online video and streaming resource for aquatic fitness instructors, as well as PoolFit, a fitness app for fitness consumers. Mark has been in the fitness industry for the last 25 years and can be found currently teaching at the YMCA in Sarasota, Florida. AJ: Before we dive in, just a quick heads up...We had a little issue with some of the audio in this episode, so please forgive the quality. Otherwise, enjoy. Jenni Lynn: Mark, welcome to Aquaholics Bootcamp! Mark: Well, thank you very much Jenni Lynn. I'm very honored to be here and even more honored to say that I'm a podcast virgin. So this this exciting. AJ: We're your first podcast ever? Mark: Yes. And hello to you, AJ, as well. AJ: I'm so excited. And I'm so glad that we get to be your first. Jenni Lynn: It's a special moment for all of us. AJ: Yeah. So where are you calling in from? Mark: I am in very sunny but very warm Sarasota, Florida. And I have some very exciting news. I just started resuming teaching my classes at the YMCA. Jenni Lynn: Oh, congratulations. Mark: Thank you. I'm not gonna lie, it was kind of nice having a little break on my body. I'm sure Jenni can attest, she also teaches way more than I do. Jenni Lynn: It's hard. Mark: I can't tell you once I was teaching how good it felt to be there. The people were so grateful. So I guess that's some good news, people are slowly getting back to teaching. How about you, Jenni? How's it going for you? Jenni Lynn: Well being that we are in such a huge city. You know, with this many people on top of each other the precautions are going to be very strict. Mark: Yeah, that's pretty sad. But it's not in our control, the virus is in control and we've got to wait and see. It's got to be done safely. Our YMCA is definitely utilizing the social distancing, and all that stuff to get back in action. Jenni Lynn: So tell us, I know you teach water and everything like that, but how did you actually get involved with fitness or aquatic fitness altogether? Mark: Oh, jeez. Well, gosh, I celebrated my 25th year actually, this summer. It was 25 years ago that I started to, you know, I had no background in any of this. I went to school for broadcast journalism. So it's been a long, circuitous journey. I was one of those people in my 30s who still had no idea what they wanted to do with their life. I was pretty much drawing careers out of a hat. But one thing that I knew was I liked to work out. So I was living in Rochester, New York, at the time and I made a list of 10 gyms and the first gym I walked into, I introduced myself to the owner. I said, "I'd like to be a personal trainer and I'd like to help people lose weight here," and she said, "Great. Can you teach step?" And I said, "No, but I'll give it a try." And that is unceremoniously how I started teaching fitness. With no experience whatsoever. We were still using blue wooden boxes for steps. And so five years later, I was teaching at the Jewish Community Center in Rochester and had to get my CPR by the aquatic director. And that person, when she was doing my CPR said, "I saw you teaching kickboxing in the studio. Would you consider teaching kickboxing in the pool?" I said, "Well, I haven't been in the pool since the fourth grade picnic, but I can try!" And she goes, "Oh, well, you don't get in. You can be on deck," and I go, "Oh, cool. Definitely. I'll try that," and so that is how I unceremoniously started teaching aquatic fitness 20 years ago. Jenni Lynn: Oh, I love it. AJ: I love knowing that there was an aquatic kickboxing class 20 years ago! Mark: If you really want to know the truth, when I look back at the history, and you can ask, you know, any people involved in the industry...that was a big transition time. Because up until then, as we know, the urban legend and myth that I know Jenni Lynn and Chris battle constantly, and they do a great job of showing it's not just for "older women." So that was a turning point when kickboxing and taibo became huge, back in the mid to late 90s, that it transitioned to the water, and that was a transition for aquatic fitness that finally gave it a new face. It definitely was my entry point because I taught more aggressively back then. And so it actually became very popular, yes, back 20 years ago in the water, but it was definitely a turning point. From that point on everything started going in the water -- cycling, anything we did on land we started putting in the water because we saw the success of transitioning kickboxing from the studio to the pool. Jenni Lynn: Wow, sounds like you had a really good aquatic manager or fitness director Mark: Yes. I always, to this day, I still keep in touch with her and I still say you're the one responsible. You know, I can't tell instructors enough if you're just teaching land, you really should be looking at teaching water because nothing opened doors for me like that did. That was huge for me. It just made me so much more marketable. I was able to go into so many more clubs, having the ability to teach both in the studio and in the pool and it just opens up you up to different types of populations. It was just the best thing I ever did. Jenni Lynn: That's so awesome. So was that around the time you started to get involved with the AEA, the Aquatic Exercise Association? Mark: It was, and it was exactly because of the kickboxing. So, you know, feeling guilty because my parents spent a fortune on my journalism degree, I was trying desperately to tie it into my fitness. And so I wrote an article in the '90s about my step ladies that always would gather with a group of 20 and have a coffee lunch for AFAA magazine, American Fitness. I think it was about 1999 that they published it and I was so excited that I finally got published that when I started teaching an aquatic fitness class, I thought that would make a good article to try to get published in AFAA's magazine, you know, my transition from land to water. So I set up an interview with someone whose name was Angie Proctor. She was the Executive Director of the Aquatic Exercise Association, and I interviewed Angie for this article about aquatic kickboxing. She asked if they could use the article on their website. And I said, "Sure!" There was some good reviews on the article. And then she asked if I'd write another and then another and then next thing I know, she was asking me if I would write a column for the AEA. So, what a lot of people don't know is that my beginning with this was strictly as a writer, which is another thing I very much recommend to fitness professionals - think about writing as well. That's how I got on the radar with AEA, and well then next thing you know, a couple years later, she invited me to their International Fitness Conference in Sanibel, Florida, to come down and interview and write articles. Jenni Lynn: Wow. Mark: And so that was my first experience, and I kind of watched all the other instructors and I thought, you know, I think I'm pretty good. I think I could do this as well. So literally, me thinking I was all more than that applied to be a presenter and I don't even know why or how, but Angie let me and in 2003, I did teach at my first IAFC. And I got crucified in evaluations; everyone just thought I was a land instructor and teaching it like land, and you know what, they were right. So I learned and I don't even know why, but Angie invited me back the next year. And that's how I got started with the AEA. Jenni Lynn: That is a great story. I love that. AJ: Mark, I've known you for years, and I had no idea that's where it started. Mark: Yeah, you know, I like to tell that story because I really think people struggle with trying to figure out how to become successful in their respective fields. And you know what? I wrote for free, I still write for free for AEA. All those articles were for free. But those articles, that free writing, made a career for me. Because next thing you know, I was teaching at their big conference, and then they asked me to be a trainer because I was successful. Jenni Lynn, you know, same thing, being a continuing ed provider, doing your own workshops. So when you want to do something, sometimes you got to start doing your passion and offering it up and doing something for free. Sometimes that's just what you have to do to get your start. So that is exactly what I did. I was just a writer. AJ: So take us back, Mark. First memories. How did you and Jenni Lynn meet? Do you remember? Mark: I do actually. I can almost...it's like a video in my head of her walking towards me at ECA. That's a conference in Fort Lauderdale. And I just remember Jenni Lynn walking up and introducing herself and just inquiring, "How did you get to this point where you can go teach workshops?" And I've always just been, as Jenni Lynn knows, I remember back in 2002, looking up and outward trying to figure out how to do all this. I had no clue how to do it. So I remember a couple people going out of their way to answer some questions for me, so it was always important for me, from that point on after I started teaching workshops and things like that, when other people would ask me, I always wanted to be a resource for other people to tell them how and to help them. Jenni Lynn: Yeah, one thing I remember you saying the most was you can't hold on to it, you have to share it, you have to put it out there for people to see, to learn and grow. You've been such an advocate for that, and it is so true. Mark: Absolutely. Jenni Lynn: So we know that you have obviously been fortunate enough to have your pool and be able to get in the water and work out. What is your preferred style? I mean, how do you work out in the water? Mark: You know, it's funny you should ask...So I actually just got in this morning, and my preferred way is I brought out a deep water belt. And I love, love, love to get in deep water with my belt on because...as much as I want to try to progress my walking outside to intervals of jogging and walking, every time I try I end up with feet problems, with knee problems. AJ: Yeah, I always tell people I don't run unless something bigger is chasing me. Mark: Exactly. Today though, I have to brag I actually got to follow along with one of my own deep water videos because I have that wonderful app now that I can just prop up and put on the deck and follow along. And so I did follow along with Deep 321 this morning. Jenni Lynn: Oh, nice. Mark: Yeah. AJ: PoolFit. Tell us a little bit about that. Mark: Oh, my goodness. I thought launching streaming websites were a lot of work. It launched almost a month ago in the App Store. And obviously I don't have to tell you launching at this time, it obviously was rather prophetic with people looking for ways to socially distance exercise. I just feel good about it. What this app is, it's really just the PoolFit videos are pretty much the same ones you'll see on Fitmotivation. We have a separate website called PoolFit.tv. But the problem with the website only is that if you don't have Wi-Fi at your pool, the website was no good, you had to use audio downloads. Well the app does one thing and one thing only right now, before we start adding cool things in future releases. It allows you to download a workout in the app. Right now, it's iOS only. That would be your iPad, iPhone. We will have an Android version in hopefully the next six to seven months. But it allows you to download within the app so that you could take your iPad, iPhone directly poolside and follow along. I really believe this is a game changer and the numbers that I've been seeing come in since we launched, the visibility in the App Store, I guess I didn't realize was going to be as huge as it is. So I'm thrilled and I love that I just picked a workout this morning and walked out to my pool and can prop up my phone...or I don't even have to; I could just put it in my bag if I think I can follow the visual cues, or prop it up on a stand and so that's the PoolFit app. I'm feeling really good about this. If people have a pool and they want to exercise in it, this is a good solution for them. AJ: It's a great idea, first of all, because you are solving a major problem in the streaming world and you know...Especially, it's not like we're doing things where you could set up your computer with a speaker in your bedroom or living room or in your backyard... You've got the pool to work with. And so the fact that you can take your phone or your iPad and prop it up right next to the pool, do a full workout... Mark: Yep, and earbuds work perfectly if you've got them and you're using a shared community pool like mine. So I'm not bothering anyone, I've just got my Bluetooth earbuds, waterproof and yeah, it works good. Jenni Lynn: Yeah, this is gonna be huge. Mark: Well, thank you. Jenni Lynn: Talking about this kind of leads into the next question, which is what do you think the future of aquatic fitness looks like? With this app, I think we can see where the direction is heading. Mark: When I was researching this, and I scrolled through the app store, there's nothing for water fitness because as AJ already stated, that's a different ballgame. You got to figure this out here because you can't just roll a TV monitor out to your pool. And so I'd like to think that this is definitely a little bit of a game changer. I hope that the PoolFit app will change things and will give people a different opportunity that they didn't have before to just take a device out and exercise in a pool. If -- and that's the other thing -- if they have a pool, or have access to one. AJ: Right, yeah. Mark: So yeah, I sure hope that maybe this just adds a new element or opportunity for people to exercise in water. AJ: It's a good supplemental fix to what we're dealing with right now. And I think in the future, as you said, and I'm so excited that you've launched it and the timing is perfect. It is prophetic. Mark: Yes. Thank you. AJ: Yeah. So we talked about misconceptions a little earlier and I know that you know, aquatic fitness is filled with them. Do you have any opinions as to what they are and as a male in this industry, what advice you'd give to other men interested in either joining the business side of things or following in your footsteps, either as an instructor or someone who's launching a business like this? Mark: Well, definitely when focused on just the professional first...As I said before, I can't emphasize enough what this did to my fitness career. Anyone, whether it's a male or female looking for longevity in this field should definitely -- if they're only in land fitness, activity should very much be cross training. Let's look at the aging market here. The Baby Boomers, the next one down below that, you know. People just want to be able to work out hard but not have so much impact on the joints. So for male professionals...We just don't have very many, so when there are male instructors, I don't mean to sound sexist, they sometimes do very well. But when we talk about the men attending the class, it's almost like an incredulousness, "Why aren't you? Why won't you try this?" Because anyone who works out in the water, including you, AJ knows, oh my gosh, how hard you can make this. It's intense. And that's just going to be an ongoing campaign that we are going to have to battle and work at, to get men, to just get them in. Because until they get in and try it they'll just never believe it. Until they try it -- and the thing is, the key here is they've gotta try it in an instructor like Jenni Lynn's class or someone who's going to teach to an upper level because we both know in our industry, a lot of instructors who tend to teach to a lower level and that's not going to appeal to a man who's looking to work hard. Jenni Lynn: Exactly. You got to know your market, right? So if you could change anything in the aquatic fitness industry, what would it be and how would you change it? Mark: Well, actually, that's quite ironic because if we dial back 20 seconds it's almost on that same, I guess, vein. I get frustrated sometimes over training instructors...I think I started teaching workshops 18 years ago, and I still see a lot of discrimination of aquatic fitness versus group fitness. We're just never afforded the same microphones and speakers and budget and respect that they give the studio. It's just a constant source of frustration to me and countless other professionals that this occurs. But I think aquatic instructors have to own part of that discrimination because we've allowed for far too many years, less than stellar trained instructors to be leading classes. Why they allow volunteers to teach water classes, but they would never ever in a million years allow a volunteer to teach a studio class. And that's just one example. So you know, when you have instructors that maybe aren't going to workshops...they're still teaching in just kind of an old fashioned with old fashioned practices...They're propping up a boom box on a stack of kickboards and play the radio instead of playing, you know, fitness music...And until we collectively, as instructors, take our training and our certifications as seriously as they take them in the studio, until aquatic directors start mandating that kind of training and that continuing education, and they start looking at the fact that they did complete their continuing education every two years like every almost every group director does for their studio instructors, until we get on that same playing level..that's what I want to see changed. I want to see us on that same level of seriousness. Jenni Lynn: I know exactly what you're talking about. And I could not agree more with that because it is up to us to really make those waves, literally and figuratively. Because we have the education, we have the knowledge, and it's our job literally to do that -- to educate people and to show them exactly what aquatic fitness is about. Mark: Yes, absolutely. AJ: You know, in a previous episode Jenni and I discussed why, as part of her S'WET™ Cert that is coming out soon, requiring people to have previous experience teaching aquatic fitness and also education, continuing education. We know it's going to limit the audience. We know it's going to cut sales because we're not just going to take a land instructor, give them a couple of hours of education and let them teach pool. And it's why we're insisting on that because it's so true. You go to any studio, any yoga studio, Pilates studio, you go to any CrossFit, you go to any of those places and you see how much time, money and energy they invest in their instructors. Mark: Yes. AJ: And the same is just not given or afforded to aquatic fitness professionals. And I agree with you, I really hope that that's the change. And I think, honestly, I think what you're doing with Fitmotivation, with PoolFit the new app, what Jenni's doing with her certificate...I think that this is how we do it. We continue to show that there is not just a brand behind what we do, but that this is an entire industry that deserves your attention and your focus, and I hope that changes as the years go on. Mark: I agree, and really under no certain circumstances should Jenni Lynn or you want any instructor winging a class that's branded S'WET™, right? If they're going to do it, if you're going to put material out there, you want it done the way that it's intended to be to draw in people looking for that kind of a fitness experience. Jenni Lynn: Exactly. Mark: And if there are instructors that hasn't been quality trained in your S'WET™ certificate, and they don't deliver that fitness experience, it's gonna all be for naught. That's the level that they have to aspire to, is this certificate that you're going to be putting out. AJ: Absolutely. Jenni Lynn: Right. And it's difficult to make those cuts because I know some people are going to have a little push back, but at the same time, as we were talking about, you want that quality standard to be up there. Mark: Yeah, absolutely. AJ: Mark, this has been such a wonderful conversation and I'm sad that we're going to end it. Jenni Lynn: I can't believe how fast this went by to be honest. Mark: Well, I can't tell you, I'm really honored. I really appreciate it. It was fun. Maybe I've been in isolation too long. My goodness, I could have talked forever here. AJ: We started the show with you admitting that this was your very first podcast. So how did you feel? Mark: Oh, I loved it. Like I said, once you were just like teaching on you get up there and you just all the sudden you're on there was a lot of fun to chat with you both and to take some journeys down memory lane. Jenni Lynn: This has been so fun. I can't thank you enough.

DAY 125 in quarantine. Today I learned what separates acts of the improbable from the impossible is simply the willingness to try. It was improbable I'd be able to stay in shape during this pandemic; but it wasn't impossible. It was improbable I'd find a new hobby to throw my sudden abundance of all the free time in the world into - yet again, not impossible. It was super-duper improbable I'd break down and start my very own podcast. But you know where this is going... Day 125 and Episode One of The Aquaholics Bootcamp has just dropped. Dive In and Start Listening Now: That's right. Just like everyone else and their mother right now, Jenni Lynn and I have decided to try our hand at producing a podcast. Our pools closed. Our livelihoods suddenly stunted. And it wasn't long before the Google Drive doc named Things To Do When We Finally Have Some Time resurfaced. Number One on the list for Jenni Lynn? Finish building the S'WET Certificate Program. It's been a dream of hers for so long to officially launch the training course to build a qualified network of certified S'WET instructors all over the globe. And mine? Start a podcast. Makes sense really, since for the past few years I've been working behind the scenes in podcast production. In fact, one could make a solid argument for it being pretty PROBABLE I'd wind up creating one. But being ON a podcast??? Impossible. Like everyone who's ever recorded themselves in the history of the world, I don't like the sound of my own voice. Plus, I'm a very private person; I don't even have my own social media accounts (anymore). And I'll tell you what, it's been quite comfortable here backstage, watching life from the wings. But comfort is the temptress of time, a siren luring us into a false sense of inner tranquility. Comfort can poison you, paralyze you, push you back down to the couch with every reason and excuse not to change... ...Then suddenly you're forty and realize the list of all the things you want to try before you die has only grown longer while your time and opportunity -- and WILL -- to accomplish them that much shorter. But that stops today. Day 125. Jenni Lynn and I invite you now to join us on a new adventure of self-exploration, as we seek out motivation and inspiration from our peers in the aquatic fitness community and beyond. Each episode we'll interview some of our favorite guests like Ashley Bishop, Aquatic Training Specialist with the AEA and Zumba Jammer for Zumba Fitness about her use of clever time management tricks to remain focused on all her goals - and trust us, she's got a million and they're all amazing! Fitmotivation's Mark Grevelding will join us to share how his new app PoolFit is keeping aquatic fitness lovers fulfilled and fit during the quarantine lockdown - all from the comfort and safety of home. And Master Trainer with AquaBody Strong, Katy Coffey stops by our virtual recording studio to explain how the power of word choice is crucial in combating the stigmas associated with aquatic fitness. HINT: DON'T call it "water aerobics." And in case you're wondering, yes, it's Coffey like the drink! BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Combining Jenni Lynn and my aspirations, we're also giving you a candid sneak peak at the building of the S'WET Certificate program, what it entails to create an official fitness program and when you can sign up to become S'WET certified! One hundred and 25 days ago if you asked me where to find my podcast, I'd smirk and say it's impossible...I don't have one. But now, because I found the will to at least try, I can tell you to search for and subscribe to The Aquaholics Bootcamp on iTunes, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you get your audio content. [ DAD ... Just Click Here! ]

Taking on the adventure and challenge of incorporating new equipment in class can be both exciting and terrifying. The training versatility of the water alone is vast but adding equipment like foam, drag, weights or even resistance bands can take an aquatic workout to a completely new depth. So when transitioning my intermediate class to an advanced level and adding the HYDRO-FIT™ buoyant cuffs, I was equal parts anxious and eager. The transition was a great success and below are some teaching tips and sample exercises that I found effective. Buoyant cuffs are comprised of material that is specific to water and floats. When the cuff is pushed down under the surface of the water towards the pool bottom, it creates a concentric (shortening) contraction of the muscle. When the cuff moves toward the surface of the water, in a controlled manner, it creates a lengthening muscle action, or eccentric contraction. I begin the class traveling in a big circle. My goal is for students to become comfortable and confident controlling the leg movements with added buoyancy attached to the ankles. It is important for students to understand that they need to really use their arms, legs and core to control body movements and keep their feet properly aligned under the hips. Progressing travel from short lever/single foot movements (e.g. jogging), to long lever/two footed movements (e.g. cross-country ski), and finally to elevated foot positions assists students to gain physical strength and control over body alignment. I began to notice that although my verbal cues were helpful, I had to also be mindful of demonstrating with proper posture on deck to prevent students from leaning too far forward and trying to look down to watch their feet. Also, it was important to bring attention to the placement of their legs and feet (not lifting the knees too high) and the constant engagement of their core, hips and gluteal muscles to control lower body positioning. After traveling for 10-15 minutes and gaining confidence in their abilities and proper form, I bring them to the wall for isolated leg and core work. I like to use this as an opportunity to show how effective the buoyancy equipment can be, and at the same time, how it can challenge balance and core strength. Performing single leg lifts in the frontal (side to side) and sagittal (front to back) planes, while holding or having their backs to the wall, creates isometric contractions of the core as well as concentric and eccentric muscles actions for the lower body. I also have them face the wall, using both hands on for support if needed, and begin to do mountain climbers (vertical or diagonal/level III) and double leg tucks for core work. If they feel strong enough to let go of the wall, they have this option, but initially using the wall helps reduce the chances of improper form or injury. From the wall, I have my class take the cuffs off of their feet and place them either on their upper arm or forearms for level III/suspended training. If I have participants with cervical or elevated scapula issues, I advise them to put the cuffs on their forearms and focus on performing scapular depression during suspended exercises. Suspended work with the cuffs on the upper body allows the lower back to relax and elongate and the pelvis/sacrum area to drop. During this level III work I perform base movements that sometimes incorporate the wall, like a level III cross-country ski with their back to the wall while cueing the back foot to touch the wall with each stride for extra posterior work. Or I will have them tap the wall each time the feet come forward during a front to back shoot through. To finish my cuff class on a high note, I enjoy incorporating abdominal and gluteal work using Pilates and some kicks, NYC Rockettes style! Having the ability to float yet use your hands freely allows the opportunity to perform multi-directional diagonal body positions, as well as a challenging V-sit for an extra core challenge. Want to try this in your class? The following workout is a program you can use for a 45-60-minute program. SAMPLE WORKOUT: Warm-Up (8-15 minutes) Traveling with cuffs on ankles – I turn the class around every 2-2 ½ minutes. High Knee Jog with Transverse Opening Arms High Knee Jog with Pumping Arms High Knee Jog with Hands on Head OR Alternating Arm Reaches Cross-Country Ski Level I Cross-Country Ski Level II with Tucks Cross-Country Ski Level III (paying attention to form & upright torso) Hops Level I Level III Tuck HOLD (keep feet below hips & use arms to pull forward) Jumping Jacks OR Cross-Country Level I – traveling laterally Leg/Core Wall Work (8-12 minutes) Cuffs on ankles; hold the wall for support if needed; be mindful how high the leg is lifted. Side Leg Lift (toes forward; control cuff towards surface) - 30/60 sec on each leg Forward Leg Lift (control cuff towards surface) - 30/60 sec on each leg Leg Circles( keep circle small to control alignment) - 30 sec each direction/30-60 sec on each leg Bent Knee Leg Press (control cuff & stop knee/hip at 90 degrees) - 30/60 sec on each leg Turn to face wall Double Leg Press/Hops - 60 sec Mountain Climbers (Level I or Level III in diagonal position) - 60 sec Wall Circuit (6-9 minutes) Perform each exercise for 1 minute & repeat 2-3 times Level III with feet tucked below hips: Pull forward to the wall & push backwards to the lane/wall Facing wall (option to hold): Double Leg Press/Hops Cardio Sprint (option to hold wall): High Knee Run with pumping arms/arms overhead OR Mountain Climbers (level I or level III diagonal) Level III/Suspended Work (15-20 minutes) Cuffs on upper body. Hold each move roughly 1–1 ½ min depending on class ability. Cross-Country Ski – focus on hip opening Hold Split for Stretch on each leg (split stance in sagittal plane – 15 sec) Pendulum Cross-Country Ski – body travels vertical & diagonal side to side Diagonal Plank Hold - Lead into single leg lift (Pac man) keeping bottom foot on floor – Repeat on each side Front to back shoot through - Lead into circling legs (open front to back & back to front) Reverse Plank position – Rockette Kicks (emphasize pushing leg down) Moguls in 3’s (Single – Single – Double) Side to side shoot through - Lead into adding 4 scissor/CC legs on each side (movement at the hip, not knee) Diamond Legs Twisting (feet touching below hips) Travel Diamond Legs up to surface for 4 counts & down for 4 counts Reverse Plank position – Rockette Kicks (emphasize pushing leg down) V-Sit Hold (pike hips/toes & head at surface) trying to keep toes as high above water as possible with heels touching V-Sit lifting straight legs up & OUT V-Sit lifting straight legs out to IN V-Sit stack heel toe & lift – switch feet & repeat Cool Down I hope you enjoy. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jennilynn@jennilynnfitness.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour is an AEA ATS and CE Provider as well as NSCA, CPT and CE Provider for AFAA and NASM. Jenni Lynn is also the creator and founder of S'WET by Jenni Lynn Fitness™, a trademarked aquatic fitness program that incorporates her swimming background with kickboxing, HIIT, yoga, pilates, and strength training in the pool. She truly believes the perception of water fitness can be transformed and soon ALL ages and genders will be working out together in the pool! Reprinted with permission from the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA) www.aeawave.com This article first appeared March 1, 2019 online as a Featured Article.

Hey you. YES, YOU! I got a question. And I mean this with all due respect but... JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? No seriously, who are you? Take a moment and think about how you'd answer that. Because in this world today, if you can't define yourself, you let everyone else do it for you. And until you can accurately describe who you are, separate from what you do, you'll never be able to turn your small business into a big brand! Now I know what you're thinking: I'm just an aquatic instructor or personal trainer. I don't need a brand. I work for a gym, or private company, or perhaps even yourself as an independent consultant. That's awesome! Part of your identify is the company or person you work for. But that's just PART of YOU, right? So what makes up the rest then? Truth is...the rest is the BEST part of who you are. It's what makes you unique. It's your "special sauce"... the "secret ingredient" to your success. It's WHO YOU ARE, not WHAT YOU DO for work. The best part of you is your BRAND. And I promise you, once you understand what yours is, you'll be able to harness it's incredible power to turn small seedlings into fruitful successes! At IAFC 2019 this summer, Jenni Lynn is going to be presenting for the first time a workshop called "B.Y.O.B" (Session #207: Build Your Own Brand). We're gonna be asking some unique questions, and play a few silly games, all so you can begin to identify who you really are and then explore the various technologies and social media tools out there that can help amplify your particular message. We hope you leave the B.Y.O.B. at #IAFC2019 lecture with some fresh ideas on how you can begin to build your own brand and let it attract the customers and clients you want to see show up to your classes! See you in lecture! Attending BYOB at IAFC? Here's an exercise to get you prepared!

Join us for TWO FULL DAYS of #AquaticFitness Education hosted by the AEA and featuring S'WET's Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour! WHEN: March 23-24, 2019 WHERE: Downers Grove, Illinois CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW Early Bird AEA-Member Registration Deadline: February 23, 2019 Check out this action-packed schedule of events: DAY ONE: Saturday March 23rd 8:00 AM - 10:15 AM – H2O CIRCUITS Experience creative aquatic circuit options using a variety of equipment for total-body training! A cost-effective way to add equipment to you pool programs, these teaching tips and class suggestions will put circuit training back on your list of favorite formats. $45 Early Bird AEA Member $55 Late and/or Non-Member CECs: AEA/AF 2.0, ACE 0.2, AFAA 2.0, ATRI 2.0, NASM 0.2 10:30 AM - 12:45 PM – BALLOLOGY Put the fun back into fitness and “round out” your programming with an inexpensive, universal equipment option – a small, pliable ball. Explore effective techniques to challenge cardio conditioning, coordination and core training that appeals to a wide range of participants - both in the studio and the pool. $45 Early Bird AEA Member $55 Late and/or Non-Member CECs: AEA/AF 2.0, ACE 0.2, AFAA 2.0, ATRI 2.0, NASM 0.2 1:30 PM - 3:45 PM – S’WET BOOTCAMP Get your students energized with our high-intensity boot camp classes! By combining circuit training with creative exercises and equipment, this course offers new ways to optimize your pool space with some hard-core aquatic training, helping students achieve results they want. $45 Early Bird AEA Member $55 Late and/or Non-Member CECs: AEA/AF 2.0, AFAA 2.0, NASM 0.2 DAY TWO: Sunday March 24th 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM – S’WET SILVER Expand your techniques using level II, grounded and equipment assisted high-intensity exercises to elevate your elite senior/low level mover aqua enthusiasts. Incorporate everything from cardio intervals, balance work and core teasers that will keep our active aging population coming back for more! $55 Early Bird AEA Member $65 Late and/or Non-Member CECs: AEA/AF 3.0, AFAA 3.0, NASM 0.3 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM – RATED M FOR MATURE Baby Boomers and beyond want a training program that meets their needs and interests, while accommodating special concerns, such as fear of falling. Develop purposeful movement to achieve balance, coordination, mental awareness, posture, and range of motion. $55 Early Bird AEA Member $65 Late and/or Non-Member CECs: AEA/AF 3.0, ACE 0.3, AFAA 3.0, ATRI 3.0, NASM 0.3 ADDITIONAL DETAILS: *** Advance Registration Required - NO ONSITE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED *** View specific event information at www.aeawave.com under Calendars/AEA USA. Click on the Event you wish to attend for more details, registration links or specific downloads. Questions about this event? Email info@aeawave.com CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour is an AEA ATS, NSCA-CPT and Continuing Education Provider for AEA, AFAA and NASM. Combining her education in health psychology and swimming experience, Jenni Lynn enjoys creating a total body water workout that challenges every type of participant.

My idea of the perfect pool is one that’s big, beautiful, clean and maintained at 83/84 degrees - an ideal situation where we can go back and forth between high intensity work and balancing yoga movements without turning into an ice cube. Instead, I am working with ‘swimmer water’ kept at a brisk 80-82 degrees, where it’s difficult for most of my participants to even get in the pool to start class. Dealing with this challenge for the past decade, I have come up with some creative ideas on how to warm my students up quickly in these frigid waters. Most of my classes do start with travel, and this is a fun way for students to not only get familiar with how to move themselves through the water but using the water’s inertia is a fast way to get muscles working hard and elevating body temperatures. Whether working with the entire 25-meter pool (lucky!), a single/double lap lane, or an “interestingly shaped” pool, there are a few more ways that I enjoy warming participants up in cool water. When I started working at the Manhattan JCC, I realized that the previous instructor had always had the students doing stationary warm-up drills, with very little directional changes. Most of the students would complain about how cold the pool was, and they didn’t really care for my encouraging words, "Then work harder!" We all know that change is very difficult for most people to deal with, so I decided to start off slowly incorporating more traveling options into the routines. It all started with turns. I was still in my first year of teaching and not the greatest at cueing directional changes, so I began with quarter turns while doing Jumping Jacks. As I felt more confident (in their abilities and mine), I progressed to half and full turns, while changing up the base moves I was using. This was a hoot for the participants! Eventually, we all progressed to some fun exercise variations. For example: Jack 8 → ½ turn R & Jack 8 → ½ turn R & Jack 8, continuing to make a complete ‘around the world’ with Jumping Jacks. Another fun one was doing a half or a full 360-degree turn with Cross-Country Skis. This definitely required advanced cueing and great music for the tempo, but the students were making waves and warming up. Note: careful no one gets dizzy. The Whirlpool: After starting to gain the class’s approval, I threw a huge curve ball and had them start traveling around in a ‘circle’ to begin class. We have only a single lane of a 25-meter pool (with the line down the middle) for up to 14 participants, so I had them traveling around the middle line. Since one side is deeper than the other, I put a marker on the deck to make sure people are in the appropriate level of water, so they can maintain their speed while traveling. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more annoying than when participants choose to be in water that is too deep – when they have access to shallower water – resulting in horrible form and posture! Once we got the circle going and then turned around to push against the wall of water, people were warming up quickly! The class started to experience the whirlpool effect and truly feel the water’s inertia (or as I call it “water power”); they realized that they had to work much harder to maintain both form and speed. Check out Jenni's One-Minute Warmup on Our YouTube Channel! By the way, I am a big stickler on posture, but being that I train New Yorkers, they can be challenging to slow down and take the necessary time to correct their body positioning. Over time, they realized how much more cardiovascular challenge they were getting from the traveling, and several even noticed physical changes in their bodies and stamina. As the class was progressing and more people were continuously showing up for class, I had to step up my wave game. On those crowded mornings where it was just too tight to travel, I went back to the AEA guidelines - short levers and start to pick up the tempo while maintaining your range of motion. When I can see from my student’s body and facial expressions indicating that the pool is really cold, I use one of my go to warm ups: STATIONARY WARM-UP High Knee Jogs w/ Pumping Arms (Bring hand to hip to pull elbows back) Tire Jog Right (Right leg jogs in & out of a tire, keep arms pumping) Tire Jog Left (Left leg jogs in & out of a tire, keep arms pumping) Tire Jumps (Jump both feet up and out, then up and in to the tire) Wide Leg Jog w/ Alternating Slicing Hook (When R knee is up, L hand hooks across the front of the body; when the L knee is up, R hand hooks across the body) Jumping Jacks (Emphasize pulling and pushing the legs/arms out and in) Level III Jumping Jack (Play around with using one arm at a time while waving the other above the water) Level I Cross-Country Ski (Cueing to scoop and pull the hands through the water) Twisting Ski (Cross-country leg with arms extended out for transverse rotation. Arms held in an “L” shape, so if your L leg forward/R leg back, your R arm is straight out in front and your L arm is straight out to your left side. When the legs move, the arms stay straight as you rotate them to the other side, working in opposition to the legs, to challenge the core) I continue each exercise for 30-60 seconds while giving physical cues, such as: Keep the ears over the shoulders to maintain tall spine. Try to get the knees as high and possible while really pushing and pulling the water! Your abdominals are in control of the legs so let’s try to stay with the tempo of the music as much as possible. For the Wide Leg Jog, brace your abdominals and try not to rock the torso side to side but lift the knees up higher to the side using your obliques. For Hooks, pay attention to your hand placement to change or increase the resistance of the water… Slice → Fist → Scoop With Rotating Skis, keep shoulders and hips squared to the front and brace the abdominals to prevent twisting the torso. This is YOUR workout; you get what you put in! Cueing is an art form that only improves from experience. When it comes to getting your participants fired up and moving quickly, your verbal cueing needs to have enthusiasm and encouragement…especially if you’re going to warm them up quickly and keep them warm! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour is an AEA ATS and CE Provider as well as NSCA, CPT and CE Provider for AFAA and NASM. Jenni Lynn is also the creator and founder of S'WET by Jenni Lynn Fitness™, a trademarked aquatic fitness program that incorporates her swimming background with kickboxing, HIIT, yoga, Pilates, and strength training in the pool. She truly believes the perception of water fitness can be transformed and soon ALL ages and genders will be working out together in the pool! Reprinted with permission from the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA). This article first appeared in the December 2018 - January 2019 issue of Akwa magazine. www.aeawave.com

Every time I get up on deck, it is an act of courage and responsibility for me. Confident is not a word I would have used to describe myself until after I began teaching aquatic fitness. I was terrified to get up and speak in front of my class in high school. A decade later, and my passion for aquatics finally put to use, I found that I felt more and more self-assured after each class I taught. I take my job very seriously. We still have fun in my classes, but I show up for my students with one purpose: to help them reach their goals. Whether you choose to define your title as a teacher, instructor or coach, our focus should be helping our students live a healthier and more active lifestyle. The word “choreography” sounds daunting to me, and I’m sure to many others. My personal style is defined as freestyle/non-linear, or as my students call it, S’WET Drills. I use HIIT and boot camp formats that focus around timed drills, and/or instructor guided circuits. The entire class performs the same exercises for either a designated amount of time. Or, I observe the class to see how effectively they’re performing each move, and transition to the next exercise once the majority are moving correctly. I am a believer in setting realistic yet challenging goals. One of my favorite ways to start class is asking my students to set their intentions or goals for the workout. Whether it’s to keep their mouth shut so they can focus more, give 85% instead of 65% during the interval sprints, or just get in two more push offs during circuits. I like to have everyone, including myself, set a goal. One goal I make for myself, that also benefits my students, is changing my routines every 8-12 weeks, so that we’re always working on different areas of physical and mental fitness. This could be focusing on balance, plyometric, cardiovascular endurance, strength and power training, neuromuscular, etc. Though I do work the entire body every class, having a focus helps to keep things interesting, and allows students to improve in multiple areas of fitness. This Coach & Command workshop came from a student telling me that she appreciated the way I coached the class and commanded attention. Hence the name was born! In this workshop, you will learn goal setting, strategies to push different ‘athletes’, and take away workout ideas and coaching tips to help you and your students achieve success. Reprinted with permission from the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA) www.aeawave.com This article first appeared in the February March 2018 issue of Akwa magazine. Learn more about IAFC 2018 http://www.aeawave.com/IAFC.aspx PDF Copy of this article

Taking Your Land-Based Exercises into the Water​ Muhammad Ali -- one of the world's greatest boxers -- was known for his speed, endurance and unorthodox, dance-like fighting style. And as legend has it, what made Ali the ultimate contender in the ring was the truly unique way he prepared for his matches outside it... ...in the pool! ​ Ali knew that aquatic fitness workouts provide the perfect blend of intense cardio and superior resistance training, allowing you to build up stamina, improve balance and push yourself to work harder, all the while avoiding needless stress and injury to your body and joints! Perhaps Ali was actually revealing his secret training routine when he famously said, "float like a butterfly." The whole time he was actually talking about the swim stroke! Just Add Water! Adding water to your workout regiment can be one of the most effective methods for improving strength and body conditioning. And it's easy to do too. Why? Because almost any exercise performed on land can be done with modification in the water -- often times with even better results! But before you dive in, it's critical to understand the effects of water resistance on your body, how to properly modify certain movements to avoid injuries and how to choose the right pieces of equipment to improve your fitness experience. Our Turf to Surf workshop will do all of that, assisting you with taking your current land-based exercises into the water. Whether you're a certified personal trainer or just an enthusiast looking to expand your own workout routines, these workshops will bring you the latest trends in the fitness industry! Why Water Works... There's a reason S'WET is fast becoming the new wave in aquatic fitness -- IT WORKS! Topics in our Turf to Surf workshops include: understanding the power of resistance in the water, how buoyancy, density and body inertia can effectively work for and against you as part of your fitness training. how water workouts can be the most effective method for those with injuries and in rehabilitation. Pools, Tools & More The right pieces of equipment are the truest tools of our trade. In our Turf to Surf workshop we will have discussions and demonstrations of the differences between various types of aquatic equipment, including: drag, buoyant, weighted and resistant products, as well as when to use them most effectively. Moves You Can Use Finally, as part of the Turf to Surf workshop, we will review some of the core water-based exercises almost anyone can perform, and demonstrate ways to increase intensity for maximum results while still minimizing impact on your joints. Modification is the key to success! Interested in booking the Jenni Lynn's Turf to Surf workshop? Click here to learn more and download the details! You can also read/print a PDF version of this article online:

Here's what you missed this week at S'WET!

Click Images To Play The wheel may have been the greatest invention on land...but in the water, we're going with Aqualogix Resistance Bells for the win! We utilize the all purpose bells as part of our daily resistance training work and during our S'WET circuit drills in class to provide students with a high-intensity, low-impact workout. **** SPECIAL DEAL: GET $20 OFF YOUR PAIR OF BELLS when you download our latest DVD - WAVE WARRIOR featuring the Aqualogix Bells & Fins! **** Below are just eight of our favorite S'WET moves using just the bells and the incredible power of water resistance! 1. Jumping Jills For our Jumping Jills, think of your body -- arms and legs -- forming the letter T (with your legs together while your arms are wide apart) and then move into the letter A (arms together in front, with your legs apart). The key is to work in OPPOSITION, allowing the natural resistance of the water plus the added resistance of the bells to really give your lats and delts a solid workout. 2. Jumping Jennis Of course I just HAD to name a move after myself! Similar to the Jumping Jill, a Jumping Jenni works with the same style of movement -- legs and arms still working in opposition. This time, instead of forming the letter A with your arms down in front of you, move your arms transverse across your body to come together in front of the chest, and then open them back up again to once more form the letter T. This works your upper back, shoulders and chest. 3. Abdominal Rotations The key to working your abs in the water is focusing on your core. For our Abdominal Rotations, maintain proper balance and form, with your arms steady at your sides, keep your feet firmly planted on the floor and use your obliques to rotate slowly around the spine. This move is NOT about speed...It's all about FORM! If you find yourself moving around, you need to move more shallow and anchor those feet so your abdominals are doing the work! 4. Abdominal Presses Just like the Abdominal Rotations, our Abdominal Presses require your feet to remain planted firmly on the ground, feet shoulder width apart with a soft bend in your knees. Slowly pull your parallel arms down towards the floor and then up again to the surface of the water. You should feel this in your abs! Again, proper form is critical so if you find yourself wobbling around, you need to move more shallow so your feet remain anchored to the floor. 5. Bicep Curls What we love the most about using the AquaLogix Resistance Bells is the multi-directional design itself. There is a "blade" on one end of the bell and a "flat side" on the other. This is key to how the bells slice through the water and creates maximum resistance depending on the exercise. For our Bicep Curls, with your feet planted shoulder width apart and the bell's flat side facing UP (blade facing down), you want to flex at the elbow to bring the bell quickly upward and then slowly reset them at your sides. With the flat side facing up, there is more surface area (and thus more resistance) on the upward motion, really burning out those biceps! 6. Tricep Presses To do our Tricep Presses, you will need to flip the AquaLogix bells over, so the blade is now facing up and the flat side is facing down. Again, with your feet planted shoulder length apart and the bell's flat side facing DOWN, you want to extend your arm down at the elbow, emphasizing the downward press of the arm, making sure to complete the full range of motion! The majority of the resistance is now on the downward motion, focusing on the triceps. 7. High Intensity Hooks Our High Intensity Hooks will leave you breathless! Anchor those feet, with a soft bend in the knees, sit into your heels and start throwing some punches! Remember, FORM IS FOREVER, so make sure you remain planted, anchoring yourself downward, and use your core strength to hook left and right. This is a high-intensity exercise that helps work your arms, shoulders, abs and attitude! 8. High Intensity Hammer Drops Last but not least, we end with our High Intensity Hammer Drops. This exercise is a big, full-body workout itself. Take a similar stance to the Bicep Curl, anchor those feet, sit into your heels, and start with the bells at the surface edge of the water, parallel in front of you. Then quickly (and like you mean it) "drop" those arms into the water, fully extending back and forth along your sides and then back upwards again with equal force. Be sure to stop just at the surface of the water to create suction when you drop them back in, over and over. This is a big move and creates a lot of whitewater! And check out some of the DVD's we made in partnership with FitMotivation.

One of our favorite new pieces of equipment to include in our S'WET circuits these days is AquaStrength's Barbell. The light-weight, unique design allows for a multitude of exercises focusing on flexibility, upper body, core strength, coordination, balance, rotary stability, power, agility and endurance! Here are 8 Great S'WET Exercises using just the barbell and the power of multi-directional resistance in the water: We like to incorporate some of these moves in our S'WET Boot Camp circuits. Try three rounds of each exercise in intervals of 15-seconds, 30-seconds and then really challenge yourself for a whole minute! Questions about how the bell works or interested in buying one for your workouts? Contact us through our Facebook page for additional details!​ And check out some of the DVD's we made in partnership with FitMotivation. Their users got a first hand look at our two most popular workshops -- S'WET Boot Camp & S'WET Deep Water! Now you can bring the workout to your laptop computer with our digital downloads!