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Guest Blogger: S'WET Instructor Kimberly Nesbeth A few years ago, a gym-based personal trainer told me that one of his client’s core had become notably stronger after incorporating just two days a week of Pool Aerobics with Kim into her schedule. I was intrigued! This client is very active and pushes herself in every aspect. She’s also great at ensuring she nutrifies her body well for her fitness goals. So, I was excited to start doing some research to identify what exactly made her core so much stronger in the pool? First, let's start with the basics. What is your core? If you ask the average person this question they’re very likely to point to their stomach, your stomach or refer to the abdominal muscles. Abdominals: These muscles of the anterolateral walls of the stomach are composed of three flat muscular sheets, the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis. The obliques are located along the sides of the body and play a role in spinal protection and rotation. The traverse abdominis is involved in movement and spine stabilization. These three muscles are supplemented in front on each side of the midline by rectus abdominis. This is the muscle most persons associate with a six-pack. It helps stabilize the internal organs. These stomach muscles are a part of it however, there’s lots more. Your core is the central part of your body. It not only includes your stomach muscles, but also your back muscles, glutes, hip flexors, pelvic floor and diaphragm. Back: The quadratus lumborum is in the lower back. It extends from the lower rib to the top of the pelvis and is associated with back pain, posture, and mobility issues. The erector spinae and multifidus muscles are back muscles which run vertically along the spine and enable flexion, extension, and rotation. Glutes: The glutes are group of three muscles in your backside that influence hip rotation and extension. Pelvic Floor: The pelvic floor houses internal organs and includes connective tissues such as hamstrings, hip flexors and abductors. Together the pelvic floor muscles and tissues are associated with hip stabilization. Diaphragm: The diaphragm contracts and flattens during inhalation and exhalation. The core is the center of our body, and it functions to stabilize the trunk, shoulders, and hips, while the arms and legs move during functional movements. A strong core spares the spine from excessive load and transfer force from the lower body to the upper body and vice versa. Why do we aim for a strong core? If you ask the average person why we work on our core, they will say because they want lean stomach and six-pack abs! Having visible abs means that you have low enough body fat to make the muscles defined. Those who are physically strong may have more pronounced abdominal muscles, however where your body stores most of its fat is largely up to genetics and hormones. Someone with a strong core may not have visible abdominal muscles. But what was mind-blowing to me is that someone with a visible six-pack may not have a strong core. Having a strong, stable core helps us to prevent injuries and allows us to perform at our best. It’s a key factor for your bodily balance, performance during workouts and mobility. Let’s dig deeper into the benefits. Injury Prevention: Most injuries happen during performing everyday tasks like taking out the trash, lifting kids or reaching into the bottom drawer to get out that pot you rarely use. Maintaining a strong core can help you avoid all types of injuries, including muscle strains, joint sprains, disk protrusions, and even fractured or bruised bones. Reduces Back Pain: Having strong core muscles creates a system of support for your spine. According to a recent study by PubMed Central, 50% percent of adults in the United States live with chronic back pain. Although there are many causes of back pain, researchers know that there is a correlation between weakened core muscles, mobility issues, and back pain intensity. Improved Balance and Stability: Having good balance and stability is essential in everyday life. Walking down a set of stairs or getting dressed, a strong, stable core reduces the likelihood of a fall. While aging and managing health conditions such as arthritis, a fall can be detrimental. Regular core strengthening exercises improve balance, independence, and quality of life in older adults. Improved Posture: Many people unconsciously have poor posture from looking down at their phones or computers. This can lead to neck, shoulder, back, and other musculoskeletal disorders. Strengthening the core muscles improves posture by maintaining the spine’s natural curvature and pelvis’ neutral alignment. With a strong core, less strain placed on supporting structures like muscles, ligaments, and disks. Athletic Performance: Your core is the power house of your movements and core strength allows the pelvis, hips, and lower back to work together more smoothly with less rocking and less excess energy expended. This results in improved legs and upper body synchronization, better running form, more power swinging a tennis racket or baseball bat, throwing a punch and the ability to lift more weight. Why is core so much more in the pool? There has been a strong movement away from traditional core exercises – sit-ups, crunches, side bends, etc. New research on the effectiveness and safety of these exercises shows that they may do more harm than good. Health professionals have shifted to more functional exercises to enhance the stability of the hips, torso, and shoulders. The pool is becoming a go-to for core strengthening. Here’s why! In the pool, you engage your core almost straight throughout class. This is because the water moves around your body, trying to move your body and your core muscles work to stabilize and support your torso. This is just core work from static positioning. Core exercises which include movement is movement against resistance, in every direction. With the natural density of water and add the water flows in different directions when you’re doing movements in a pool with other participants, the water resistance can be anywhere between 4 to 42 times greater than air. That is, your core muscles work much harder moving against the water than against air. Being in the water makes you feel weightless, allowing you to move more freely and easily. Participants feel more comfortable fully lengthening then contracting, stabilizing, and rotating to their maximum potential, despite feeling some muscle fatigue because they feel safe and supported in the water. They are also not feeling the pressure of their body weight on their body but still enjoying the core muscle burn. Pool Aerobics with Kim and Core Work The biggest challenge I have with teaching core work is helping my clients learn how to engage their core. When I just started coaching there were a lot of tips about holding your hand on your lower stomach, however most can’t relate. Instead, I vary my verbal cues to keep everyone core aware. A few cues I love are: No hands-on-waists! Use your tummy to try to gain stability. Exhale as you bring the belly button to the spine. Try to make an SSSSSSS sound while you brace your tummy for a punch! I encourage them to try practicing these things while sitting in traffic, standing in the line at the bank or even during their supermarket shopping. My group class participants have quite a laugh when they see each other running errands or at an event and remind each other to engage their core. I also remind my participants about the importance of nutrition. In Jamaica the fitness community is pretty knowledgeable on the building blocks of muscles however the average Jamaican does not recognise that eating right is an essential part of building a core that is healthy and strong. I encourage them to discuss their goals with a nutritionist and implement the advice received as best as they can. A stable core is important for preventing injuries and for enhancing performance in sports and everyday life. Getting your core work done in the pool is very effective, safe and a tonne of fun. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kim Nesbeth is an aquatic exercise instructor certified with the Aquatic Exercise Association, a S'WET™ Instructor, Aqua Zumba® Instructor and Certified Lifeguard. She is also the founder of Pool Aerobics with Kim, a great low or no impact exercise option. The intensity is easily modified to your ability while achieving your goals. Classes focus on aerobic endurance, resistance and strength training. Exercising in water also improves balance and gait, mobilizes joints and stretches muscles in an enjoyable atmosphere with music. Find out more about Kim's services and specialties on her website: www.poolaerobicsja.com Follow her on the following socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poolaerobics Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoolAerobics/ Copyright Disclaimer: All content, including text, images, videos, and other media, on this website is protected by copyright law. The content, including Guest Blogs, unless otherwise stated, is owned by Jenni Lynn Fitness and is subject to applicable copyright laws. You are welcome to use the information on this blog for personal, non-commercial purposes. However, you may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or republish any content from this blog without prior written permission. If you wish to use any content from this blog for purposes beyond personal use, please contact us at JenniLynn@JenniLynnFitness.com to request permission. We are open to collaboration and partnerships, but all uses must be authorized in writing.

Since launching the training in June 2021, over 100 aquatic fitness professionals from around the world have taken the plunge and became the first wave of certified, licensed S'WET™ Instructors! They come from all different backgrounds, ages, genders and experience levels, but are united by their passion to change the perception of aquatic fitness, and make their students S'WET™! But what exactly does that mean for you? We've compiled some F.A.Q.'s to help clarify our mission. Q: What exactly is S'WET™? A: It starts with a philosophy: Water is for everyone, and there's room in the pool for all of us! Technically speaking and officially trademarked as a licensed format, S'WET™ stands for Structured Water Exercise Training. It's our approach to building effective, high-intensity, low-impact workouts for just about any population, without any choreography or routines to master. It's learning to combine HIIT, advanced cardio, plyometrics, strength training and the science behind the principles of water to create a freestyle flow to your aqua fitness teaching. All you need are STRUCTURED building blocks of WATER EXERCISES used to TRAIN the body, mind and in some cases, yes, the soul! Q: What is the S'WET™ Instructor Training? A: It's a fun-filled 8-hour in-person training filled with intensive education and practical learning designed to revamp and reinvigorate your aquatic fitness teaching skills! Interactive lectures, demonstrations, group exercises and in-pool workouts will arm you with the ability to incorporate the S’WET™ philosophy and formula for success into your current programming, and certify you to teach the branded workouts we offer at your facility. Q: How many CEC's are available? A: The Instructor Training offers the following: AEA (7.0), AFAA (7.0), NASM (0.7), ACE: (0.8). Q: How long does my S’WET™ license/certificate remain active? A: First, it's important to note that the license is assigned to you, the instructor, not your facility. So you can take your training anywhere you go. Your certificate offers a one-year renewable license to teach S’WET™ and at the end of your first year, you will be given the option to renew by attending another S'WET™-branded instructor training, repeating the original program or paying a flat annual renewal fee. Or you can join the S’WET™ SQUAD network, and get an on-going license plus access to so much more. Q: What is the S’WET™ SQUAD network? A: Digital access to our subscription-based S’WET™ SQUAD instructor network which allows subscribers to stream video and audio workouts, review detailed instructional guides and presentations, as well as access to exclusive members-only content. Receive updated monthly videos included with SQUAD membership to keep your workouts fresh! Attend Virtual Meetings with Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour and the SQUAD team to continue your education and provide additional coaching techniques and assistance... ...and so much more you'll have to attend to find out! Q: What do our SQUAD members say about their experience?

by Master Trainer Katy Coffey At the start of my fitness career, let's be honest, I knew NOTHING. I had taken a few 1 day training sessions under companies like ZUMBA, and I was really excited to have passed my Water Fitness Exam with the United States Water Fitness Association. I was teaching ZUMBA Gold 1 day a week with a decent turn out in attendance, and occasionally subbed our "Water Aerobics Class" focusing on joint mobility and mild jogging. Members were happy, numbers were stable and overall I thought I had figured it out. When it comes to the fitness industry we are influenced and educated from the immediate world we see and know. You watch other instructors and formats, you learn from classes that are packed and you take notes on what not to do in classes that are lacking in numbers. In many cases you might even be the rockstar! Your classes are well attended, the members adore you and your boss asks can you teach more! What more would you need to learn? Then I attended my first fitness conference and EVERYTHING changed. It was the Friday 7:30 am session attending SCW Boston Mania, and Jeff Howard was teaching a workshop on Tabata in the water. We were 3 minutes into Round 1 of Tabata, my muscles were screaming for relief. (Thank you Tabata protocol!) My heart was pounding and my face had a MASSIVE smile plastered on it. I had NO IDEA that you could work so hard in the water. That one weekend of workshops and education would go on to show me I had so much to learn, so many ideas to work with and an entire industry to be educated through. Fast Forward to 2022. I am currently an Aquatic Training Specialist through the AEA. I am a Master Trainer with S’WET™ and Aqua Body Strong. I have more than 20 certifications between land and water specialties. And where was I this past November? I was right back at SCW Boston Mania, not as the presenter, but as the student. Why? Because you should never stop learning! Conferences and continuing education should be a non negotiable when it comes to your fitness career. It doesn’t matter how long you have been teaching, the fitness industry is always growing and changing. Conferences will give you the unique opportunity to be in a community of professionals and learn the science behind the method. During training you get to try equipment and decide if you love it or could leave it. You can network with other fit pros and make connections that will build your career. If you walk into these conferences with an open and humble heart, you might even realize things you have been doing incorrectly and see areas of improvement. These conferences also are great for cross training. I love to attend and take a variety of water and land classes, as the theory always makes me a better educator and allows me to bring back knowledge to my students. There are a variety of conferences you might be interested in looking at and attending in your local area. Here’s just a few upcoming conferences where the S’WET™ SQUAD will be this year: 30th Annual Southeast Collegiate Fitness Expo February 17th - 19th, 2023 Charlottesville, VA 22904 Jackie Lebeau is the Senior Director of Fitness and Instruction for the Southeast Collegiate Fitness Expo, the premier university fitness & wellness experience on the east coast. More than 500 attendees from 40 to 50 universities come together each year for a weekend of networking, continuing education, and fun! The 2023 Fitness Expo at UVA marks the 30th year of the event, which began as a 1-day choreography exchange between the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and James Madison University. Join Jenni Lynn for Turf to Surf on Feb 19, 9:15 AM – 1:00 PM. IAFTC (International Aquatic Fitness & Therapy Conference) April 30th – May 5th, 2023 Orlando, FL 32836 If you are looking for aquatic fitness inspiration, IAFTC is the Super Bowl of Conferences! 5 Days in sunny Florida learning from the best of the best in the industry. This year AEA and ATRI combined forces for 1 power house event. You can attend with a focus on Fitness or attend the Therapy Driven conference. You will have the ability to demo and learn about the latest equipment for the water, take workshops in both shallow and deep or even sit in lectures learning about how to speak with your supervisor about support in the industry. Stay tuned for details on where we'll be at IAFTC 2023! DCAC FITCON August 4th – 6, 2023 Reston, VA 20190 For the past 30 years, Fitness Conventions Inc. has been providing continuing education courses to fitness professionals to satisfy their certification requirements and further their education. It is their goal to provide this necessary education in a professional, affordable and service-oriented manner. Their events are great opportunities to promote your fitness related products to the fitness professionals around the world. The attendees include group exercise instructors, personal trainers, fitness directors/managers, aquatic instructors, yoga/pilates instructors, senior fitness teachers, and many more. MUSIC CITY FITCON October 27 – 29, 2023 Nashville, TN 20190 These FITCONs also are great for cross training. I love to attend and take a variety of water and land classes, as the theory always makes me a better educator and allows me to bring back knowledge to my students. These conferences are just a few to speak of. There are tons of opportunities to try other local conferences or even host your own educational weekend with the team like S’WET™. Copyright Disclaimer: All content, including text, images, videos, and other media, on this website is protected by copyright law. The content, including Guest Blogs, unless otherwise stated, is owned by Jenni Lynn Fitness and is subject to applicable copyright laws. You are welcome to use the information on this blog for personal, non-commercial purposes. However, you may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or republish any content from this blog without prior written permission. If you wish to use any content from this blog for purposes beyond personal use, please contact us at JenniLynn@JenniLynnFitness.com to request permission. We are open to collaboration and partnerships, but all uses must be authorized in writing.

Guest Blogger: Dom Gili Considering the many benefits that water workouts offer – including challenging cardio and strength training with increased range of movement in a reduced impact environment – it’s no surprise that Aquatic Fitness classes continue to grow in popularity. Beyond the physical benefits of aquatic exercise, the mental, social, and emotional benefits are also significant. There is a vulnerability about this unique breed of water warriors. The bond between them is strong, and for some it lasts a lifetime. After 30 years of teaching Aquatic Fitness, it is still a privilege to be central to that connection. So why then is one of the most challenging, effective, and inclusive exercise programs available still the most underappreciated and under-resourced? ANSWER – Because very few pool owners and group fitness managers have ever taught or participated in an Aquatic Fitness class or understand the value proposition a successful program offers. AquaFitnessOnline.com founder Dom Gili, sat down to chat with several Pool Managers that do understand the value of a thriving Aquatic Exercise Program and shares some tips to help grow Aquatic Exercise programs. Diversify your Aquatic Fitness Program Some of the most successful aquatic exercise programs are the ones that target specific members, to offer a more tailored workout experience. These sometimes reflect the level of intensity of the water workout, the target audience, the training outcomes of the class or even the use of specific equipment. A club in the north-west of Sydney offers a diverse aqua class schedule with an incredible 46 regular aqua exercise classes throughout the week. The quick guide on the weekly schedule explains the goals and benefits for class such as: Aqua Power - fitness, fat burn, toning, core training Aqua Fit - fat burn, toning, core training Aqua Relax - toning, flexibility, mobility. Jane-Maree Evans, the club’s Fitness Coordinator says, “Our class retention rates are now higher due to the introduction of specific class types and intensifies. It ensures that members get the water workout that best suits their needs. Prior to this schedule update we had people of different fitness levels attending the same class format and beginner 85yo participants were getting washed away by the white-water waves created by a fit 40yo keen to work hard in the pool.” Invest in Your Biggest Asset: Instructors A wise move for fitness clubs and aquatic centers is to make themselves a preferred employer. This can be achieved by offering safe work conditions, competitive pay rates, and ongoing education opportunities. With the advent of online education, there are now more learning opportunities than ever before. Hosted by some of the world’s leading Aquatic Exercise experts these options include: virtual conferences live workshops and masterclasses online subscription sites with workout video resources and printable class plans online mentoring groups As Senior Learning and Development Officer and Group Fitness Coordinator, Julie Manning understands the importance of ongoing education and instructor development. “We recently conducted an in-house training day with our ten instructors, and not only was it a chance for all to review and share skills and knowledge, but it also gave us the opportunity to focus on team building. A new initiative for us is that we can now rely on online training opportunities via organizations like S’WET and AquaFitnessOnline.com to tailor educational resources to our training needs. Our experience over the years is that happy and valued instructors create enjoyable workout experiences for our members, and this leads to high staff retention and low training and staff acquisition costs.” Invest in New Equipment Programs In the last ten years the introduction of innovative programs and equipment for aquatic exercise classes has flooded the market. The list of new programs now available include: Aqua Pole Aqua Boxing Aqua Step Aqua Jump (mini tramps) Aqua Spin Aqua Resistance hand weights and barbells Donna Wilmott, Aqua Instructor/Coordinator at Parafield Gardens Swim Centre in Adelaide, was one of the first centers in Australia to invest in Acquapole equipment. Donna states “our goal has always been to change the perception most people have of Aquatic Fitness classes. Having Acquapole equipment programs such as Boxing, Circuit Fusion, Step and Jump in our facility has brought an entirely new audience to our aqua classes. And although the equipment are large ticket items, it only takes six months to get a return on our investment. It has been a complete game-changer for us.” Identify New Talent within Your Team A shortage of qualified instructors is causing some pool owners and group fitness managers to develop innovative ways to recruit instructors. Some have had success identifying people within their organization with the suitable skills and passion who they can train as aquatic exercise instructors, including: - land-based group exercise instructors - swim teachers - identifying certain club members About the Author: Dominic Gili is an Aquatic Fitness Specialist from Sydney Australia with a reputation for innovative, engaging, and challenging water workouts. Dom is founder of AquaFitnessOnline.com - a website that offers a variety workout videos and training methods to keep instructors and clients moving and inspired. Find Dom on Social Media: IG - @AquaFitnessOnline FB - Aqua Fitness Online Website - https://aquafitnessonline.com/

Another year has gone by, and with it, a chance to fall in love with some brand new items we've added to our list of Favorite Things! Whether you're looking for some fresh ideas for new equipment, branded swimwear, much-needed accessories or a brand new microphone, these are the items the S'WET SQUAD loved using this year! Bietrun Wireless Microphone Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.facebook.com/BietrunOfficial or https://www.instagram.com/bietrunofficial/ The Body Buoy Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.facebook.com/thebodybuoy or https://www.instagram.com/thebodybuoy/ HydroRevolution Resistance Bands Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.facebook.com/HydroRevolutionFitness or https://www.instagram.com/hydrorevolution_fitness/ Sprint Aquatics Noodle Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.facebook.com/sprintaquatics or https://www.instagram.com/sprintaquatics TriSwim Shampoo Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.facebook.com/sbrsportsinc or https://www.instagram.com/sbrsportsusa Yes! Fitness Music Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.instagram.com/yesfitnessmusic/ or https://www.facebook.com/yesfitnessmusic SwimandSweat's Aquamore Shoes Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.instagram.com/swimandsweat or https://www.facebook.com/SwimAndSweat Aqua Ohm Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.instagram.com/aquaohm or https://www.facebook.com/aqua.ohm PoolFit Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.instagram.com/poolfittv or https://www.facebook.com/PoolFit.TV Dolfin Custom Swimwear Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.instagram.com/dolfinswimwear or https://www.facebook.com/DolfinSwimwear Aqua Combat Gloves Why We Love It: Where to Get It: https://www.instagram.com/aqua_body_strong or https://www.facebook.com/AquaBodyStrong Continuing Education via Conferences! Why We Love It:

by A.J. Meyers It's time to have some tough conversations. I'll go first. If there's a rubber ball at the end of a string that claims to help me do a better push-up, I own it. Used it once and paid $39.95 for the pleasure. If you're the creator of this gadget, you're welcome. But everyone else should probably read on... I'm admittedly a sucker for what I call "tools of the trade," in particular from the fitness realm. Both land and water, if there's ever an "As Seen On Instagram" channel, I could curate it entirely from the cluttered shelves in the back of my closet. As a fan-boy for any new product to incorporate into a workout, from plastic to elastic and everything in between, chances are, at one time or another, I had yours at my disposal. Which is exactly what I did. I got rid of it. But any guesses why it sat there unused collecting dust for so long? Because you sold it to me without any education on how to use it. And here's the worst part...I'm not alone. "The problem we hear all the time from clients and in group forums online is their facility finally took that leap of faith and invested in the purchase of all this new equipment. But no one on staff knows how to properly use it. And so it just takes up space, until the very end of the year when they have to address the negative return on the investment and find themselves posting "...or Best Offer" sales ads on Facebook Marketplace." These are your Facility Directors, Gym Owners and Small Group Fitness Instructors who found a way to scrape up some cash to invest in improving their students lives, and hopefully their bottom lines in the process. But now they're feeling stuck. So if you are the company behind the better push-up product I referenced earlier, you should know that many of your customers are complaining about the same thing. And their plan is just to unload it all. You may have built it. Some may have bought it. But word on the street is getting out, and they're not being too quiet about their frustration. The Field of Dreams Syndrome There are only so many ways to re-invent the treadmill. Peloton did a pretty solid job with it at the start of the pandemic. They seized on the sudden demand for at-home workouts and sales surged by nearly 175%. But the other thing they got right was they didn't just provide you with a piece of machinery, they also offered a ton of valuable, well-made programming to go with it. Literally, a trainer at your fingertips. Every product, every piece of equipment, tool or technique deserves to be backed by a well-thought out, easy to follow program, at the very least, a guide or manual. Inventors, vendors and product pushers heed the call: invest in your brand and build the proper training. For the rest of you, especially those despondent directors, owners and instructors, before you let go of all those valuable, untapped resources at your fingertips...first consider partnering with a professional in your network who can help you with proper programming. And let me be clear, that does not mean find a Tik Tok influencer to dance around with your device. There are numerous trainers, accreditation programs and fitness professionals with the proper education, experience and exposure to help build customized workouts and training programs for you, with whatever equipment, products or gear you've got access to. When it comes to aquatic fitness, I happen to know 3 of the best! But before you clean out your closets to try and cut your losses, make the ask of those in the know. And if you're on the fence about to make that next big purchase and are having any doubts, stop and ask customer support what type of training, programming and education is coming with your order! If the answer is none, you're better off using that money to pay professionals to help you with what you already have! Disclaimer: Jenni Lynn Fitness has many wonderful affiliate relationships with varying vendors, including equipment and product sellers. The views expressed in this article are those of the author only, and are not directed towards or representative of any particular company or industry. But seriously, if you sold me the piece of twine with a lacrosse ball attached to it for $40, we both should be ashamed of ourselves.

By Sharlie Peterson In the last few years, I have become known by many of my aqua peers as the ‘Social Media Queen’ because of all the photos and videos I post both to build up class interest and to share tips/comedy with other instructors in our industry. But why did I begin posting so often? When I began my Aqua Fitness teaching career in 2017, I quickly realized the facility I taught at was not going to advertise my classes for me. What better way to advertise my brand than on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where all my friends can be found in one place and see what I’m up to?! Social media is the number one tool that has helped me to get my company, Shockwave Aqua Fitness, to where it is now - even being recognized as Best of Topeka. You might be thinking, that’s great for YOU, but I have no clue where to start! Have no fear - Sharlie is here! Social media can be very overwhelming when it comes to how you will advertise yourself as an instructor. Here are a few quick guides on how you can build YOUR brand and start attracting more class members and social media followers. Create Your Brand: Whether you’re an instructor working for a facility or you’re starting up your own aquatic fitness company, people need a way to find you and check out what you’re doing in the water world. Coming up with a creative name is the first step in selling yourself! AquaFit_With_Your Name Here, Aqua Zumba with _, Wave Shakers, etc. Don’t be afraid to get creative and find the perfect name for your brand! I came up with ‘Shockwave’ because I want people to enter the pool and be SHOCKED at the power of the waves. See what I did there? Start a Page: Facebook and Instagram are your new best friends! By creating both a Facebook and Instagram business page, you can separate your work and private life and give people in your community an easier way to find you. You can also link several social media pages together so that your followers and class members can see what you’re up to on various platforms. Content: Now that you have a page, what on earth do you post?! I’ve personally found the best way to keep interest is to post at least 3-4 times a week. This keeps your brand active and engaging. Posting quick clips of your workouts (30 second to 1 minute clips are great - don’t give it all away!), upcoming class schedules, workout tips and events are great ways to keep your followers involved. However, it can be easy to get caught up with life and forget to make a post or two…or three. A great tool that Facebook offers is the ability to schedule posts for specific days and times. I like to sit down each Sunday evening and plan out a majority of my posts for the week so I don’t have to worry about it! Networking: Keeping your class members and community active on your socials is one thing, but it’s also important to interact with your peers and stay up to date on upcoming events along with sharing your own events and opinions. There are several great groups on Facebook, such as Water Fitness Instructors and Aquatic Fitness Instructors that are wonderful for giving and asking for advice from your peers. I’ve made several instructor friends through these groups and have learned a great deal about equipment and upcoming training events. And, don’t be afraid to post in these groups to show other instructors what you’re doing in your neck of the pool! Stand Out: There are so many amazing aquatic instructors who are making social waves on various platforms. This is where YOUR creativity and individuality will help you to shine and set you apart. Learn from what others are posting and then figure out what you can do to stand out and draw others in! I have found my own niche to be making comedic videos on Tiktok that address common stigmas of aqua fitness, just like Jenni Lynn and her S’WET team have made their mark on showing how powerful the water truly is. How will YOU be a Wave Maker?! These are just starting blocks to help you succeed in a world that is social media-focused. I realize that this digital world doesn’t come easy to most, and one service I have begun to offer is Digital Consultations. If you are a new instructor just starting up, or an instructor who’s been around the block but needs that online help, I am happy to chat with you! The internet can oftentimes be a scary place, but I promise it can also be one of the most beneficial tools to you as an instructor. Aqua Fitness is becoming more and more popular through social media platforms, and it’s all thanks to a list of instructors - a list that your name should be added to! Please feel free to email me directly at Shockwaveaquafitness@gmail.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sharlie Peterson began her aqua fitness teaching career in 2017 in Wichita, Kansas after her mother invited her to a water fitness class. She was instantly hooked and wanted to teach, but knew it would be on her to advertise and get her name and class styles out there. She created her now signature class, Aqua Jam, which is a favorite among her class members to this day. In 2019, Sharlie moved with her mother to Topeka, Kansas, and created Shockwave Aqua Fitness. Shockwave was created to establish Sharlie’s goal of creating fun and effective aquatic fitness classes throughout Kansas and the midwest by breaking the stigma that aqua fitness is just for older adults. The water is a powerful tool that every age and body type should be able to enjoy! Sharlie currently teaches in Topeka and has built her Facebook Shockwave group of nearly 1000 class members and is currently working on getting her AEA certification. Future plans? To start traveling to teach other instructors how to build their own brand and be successful with or without the help of their pool facilities. She also enjoys long walks through the Sunflower fields and sweating profusely in the Kansas humidity.

by Ann Gilbert Twenty-two years ago I got a message that the 9:30 aqua class needed a sub. I approached the club manager and asked, “So what is the format of the class I'll be subbing?” She quickly remarked, “It’s just the 9:30 class.” I then asked a regular attendee, “What’s the focus of the class you take”? The member responded by saying, “It’s just the 9:30 class. It’s always been the 9:30 class." Having completed a playlist for my Hi-low land-based class, I loaded the cassette into the player and hit go. The volume was too loud, and the chosen movements defied all the principles of aquatic exercise. Yet there was never a sneer, a boo, or a frown. The students willingly accepted me and quietly repeated, “We just can’t go that fast in water.” They were so glad to have a coach that day and we all fumbled through the 45-minute window while singing aloud to each of the songs I had chosen. The members had come for the socialization. They had little or no awareness of how their body could experience a well-balanced, full body workout in water in the 9:30 class. The members came for the camaraderie, as witnessed when I suggested that we just hang out and play volleyball after class. We filled that pool with laughter, and a few splashes, for almost two more hours! For years as a trainer, I had tried to motivate the aquatic members to train on land. I realized that very day, that the pool was their workout studio, their own little boutique and it was my duty to bring all aspects of fitness to them. That same year our club was recognized in San Diego at IHRSA, accepting the IHSRA/ACE PT of the Year Award. The boutique style, women’s only, niche facility stood out for having initiated small group training options for fee, personal training programs for women in all of life’s stages and for becoming the area wide hub for aquatic fitness. Over the next 22 years, formats such as Luscious Limbs, Aquatic Weight Loss, Water Walking, Aquatic HIIT, Trifecta and Aqua Tabata launched as quarterly class options. Formats were choreographed, timed, and even circuited, using all equipment the small growing facility could find. We had frisbees, gallon jogs, aqua bells, and ankle cuffs. As class numbers grew to all-time highs, the need for educated pros to join the team became evident. It appears the aquatic pro was the most sought-after instructor the managers could interview. Land based instructors and personal trainers struggled with the understanding of the properties of buoyancy, drag, viscosity and surface tension. Many tried to duplicate, as I did, the land experience in the pool and realized, with a few failures under their belts, that science was something that took time to learn. They were missing the certification and training. Our land based exercise education doesn't always equate to the pool. Once the leadership saw how crucial certification was to the success of their numbers, they brought the training to their instructors and the numbers did indeed grow. Like in the popular land formats of the time, there was an increase in what we now know as "overtraining" symptoms. Doing the same 9:30 class over and over was leading to a lack of recovery, increase in painful movements and unfortunately lack of measurable fitness and wellness results. Addressing all five aspects of fitness was not, at the time, the focus. Very few knew methods of training strength, endurance, balance, and true cardiovascular improvement. Growth came not only with education for the instructors but through the introduction of opportunities for the students to actually understand the benefits of exercising in the aquatic environment. Our focus has become teaching how the body works and how the training in a well formatted schedule, will translate to the ability to participate in advanced activities of daily life. Twenty-two years ago I entered the aquatic world to help sub the 9:30 class. Through proper certification & training for the Aquatic Fitness professional, our team now pushes play to fight the loss of skeletal muscle mass, to increase one’s cardiovascular endurance and to introduce a focus on speed, power and balance. We maximize the properties of water to be the best aqua boutique available. ABOUT THE WRITER: Ann Gilbert is ACE, CPT, AEA and SCW certified and is an owner Shapes Fitness for Women. She oversees the operations of as many as 8 certified Personal Trainers, 12 Group Fitness professionals, and coordinates fee-based group personal training programs. Ann promotes the popular Aging Fit series and is the choreographer for S.E.A.T., an innovative chair fitness program. Ann was awarded ACE / IHRSA Personal Trainer of the Year in 2001 and has been a popular speaker at Club Industry, SCW MANIA, and IHRSA Conventions since 2002. Ann also writes for Fitness magazines and can be seen on local TV. Contact Ann: https://shapesfitnessbrandon.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Walkathon On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annfitt/ As Ann recognized when she began her career in aquatic fitness, proper education and certifications remains crucial to the success of professionals in this and other training industries. Our S'WET™ SQUAD is committed to change the perception of aqua fitness, and our path to do so begins with continuing education. Join us in NASHVILLE, TN for Music City FitCon - October 21-23rd for FIVE CEC workshops including S'WET™ Silver, S'WET™ Bootcamp and the Power of Om with Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour, Dude Moves with Chris LaCour, and Build Your Own Brand with A.J. Meyers. PLUS...Become a certified licensed S'WET™ Instructor and help us #changetheperception of #aquaticfitness!

by Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour How I Make the Belt Work for My Class Unlike most aquatic instructors, living in NYC has not provided many opportunities to teach a deep water class, simply because, there aren’t too many deep-water pools. However, once I found one to practice in, I found myself constantly getting acid reflux and struggling to get “comfortable” in the belt for the entire duration of my practice. I knew I wasn’t the only one who had to be experiencing this discomfort from the floatation belt. This spurred my curiosity to create ways of building my deep water routines so that students, and myself, could avoid these discomforts as much as possible. I started to notice that many of my students would get ‘annoyed’ with the floatation belt right around the 15–20-minute mark in class, so this got me to thinking, “How can I create a full workout, which will allow them to be as comfortable as possible in the belt?” As a previous swimmer, I understood that the lungs are our biggest asset during aquatic practice. With deep-water fitness, we put the floatation belt ‘snuggly’ around the trunk of the body, which does hinder the rib cage expansion during breathing. I was not about to remove the belt and try other floatation devices because the belt allows for proper form, and it stays attached to the body without the risk of slipping off. But how would I create an entire body workout in deep water without causing discomfort for participants? I started thinking about my swim practice and my fascination for watching synchronized swimming videos. LIGHT BULB! Use all three planes of motion: sagittal, frontal and transverse! Not just with our limbs, but the entire body. Going from vertical, to diagonal and horizontal body positioning was not just helping create a dynamic workout experience, it allowed me to reduce the pressure around my rib cage and breath easier without discomfort. By adjusting our body position, we manipulate how much pressure the floatation belt is placing on different areas of our trunk. In a vertical body position, it holds the body upright and gently squeezes the base/lower half of our ribcage. When we take the body horizontal to the pool floor and lay on our side with hips stacked, this will displace the floatation pressure to one side of the body and vise versa when switching over to the other side. Now going into a modified supine or ‘hammock’ body position, we then move the flotation pressure to the back of our body, which helps the front of the lungs expand just a little more, while working the abdominals! At first, I decided to focus on diagonal work to really amp up balance, coordination, and cardio in class, but creating more modified supine positions really challenged everyone’s core strength! My personal favorite is doing seated positions while isolating movement of the lower body to focus on upper body strength and stamina. It takes brain power to control the lower half of our body from moving while the upper body is doing something completely different, like bicep/triceps curls and check/back flies. Mind you, I had several members that were already resistant to wearing the floatation belt and insisted that they could do the same workout with the noodle and/or hand buoys. I even tried hiding the noodles and hand buoys, but they managed to find them. I warned that if they chose not to wear a belt, that 99% of the movements would not be effective and that the noodle/hand buoys would hinder them. Of course, once I started class, they quickly realized this. A few did leave, but most of them got out, put the floatation belt on, and continued the class with much success. PRO TIP: Using the wall can be a great way to space participants, as well as add an element of creativity! Structuring your deep-water routines can look very different when adding in different body positioning as well as trying to isolate the upper and/or lower body. This also forces participants to really breathe and pay attention to what their body is doing. Stay mindful of how long you have moves in a vertical position and try to get your wave warriors using all planes of motion to give them a challenging and comfortable deep-water workout. Moves You Can Use This is a fun circuit of 14 exercises that that I enjoy doing with my deep-water class. Each move is held for 30 seconds, or two 32-count phrases. You can also use building block, pure repetition choreography or any other formatting you want to plug these moves. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour is an AEA Aquatic Training Specialist, NSCA-CPT, continuing education provider, an international and national aquatic fitness presenter, and creator of S’WET™. She has been working one on one with clients and teaching aquatic fitness classes in New York City for over a decade. Jenni’s S’WET™ structure takes HIIT and strength training to a new level in the pool. She believes the perception of water fitness is transforming the way people cross train and soon ALL ages, abilities and genders will be making waves in the pool together. Reprinted with permission from the Aquatic Exercise Association website - July 8, 2022 https://aeawave.org/Articles-More/Fitness-Pro

by Haylley Pittam As water fitness instructors, it is quite common for us to have a pregnant woman or two attend our classes. They may be there because the doctor/midwife has suggested they attend or they may be there on their own accord. Pregnant participants are categorized as a ‘special populations group’ and can include women who are going through treatment to help them conceive. Attending an Aqua Aerobics/Fitness class is particularly effective for the natal and post-natal woman as it offers a wide range of therapeutic and health benefits without the hard impact of land exercise. Regardless of an individual’s current fitness level, aquatic exercise allows each workout plan to be personalized by changing the speed, intensity or amount of rest based on the participants needs. It is ideal for cross-training workouts, simple to advanced fitness workouts, as an aid to recovery from injury or management of chronic conditions. In comparison to land exercise, it is far safer for mother and fetus to exercise in the water. Being in the water supported by the buoyancy, the mother-to-be can literally take weight off her feet and feel weightless as she exercises. With the hydrostatic pressure assisting venous return, there is an increased blood flow and oxygen up-take to both mother and baby, without having to exert a lot of effort and become breathless and fatigued. The assistance of blood traveling back up to the heart helps with swelling (oedema) and varicose veins, which can easily occur during pregnancy. The calming influences the water has on the nerves of the body means that their sympathetic nervous system relaxes and their body and mind can be more at rest. If this is following a busy day at work or running around after the older children or even if they are just feeling emotional, anxious and stressed, this time can be really soothing for them. During this period of time where the woman is either becoming pregnant, being pregnant or preparing for labor and birthing, some can experience little changes whereas others can be very complex and severe. This can have serious consequences if exercise programs are not safely designed. For example, if the woman developed gestational diabetes or their placenta was low lying (placenta previa) their training regium would look very different from one another. If they have joined in with the regular aqua class, this would mean you as the instructor would need to give them a fair amount of your attention as you modify and adjust the exercises accordingly. America College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ACOG) recommends a pregnant woman is to exercise for 150 minutes per week, with the aim to reduce issues such as obesity, diabetes and other health concerns. Pregnant women who are already active should be encouraged to maintain their physical activity levels with adaptions made over the course of the 40 weeks. The 150 minutes of physical activity is not to start training to run a marathon nor push their training program to achieve their personal best or working in high heart rate zones but instead to focus on maintaining their fitness level, strengthen postural muscles and to help keep them mobile ready for the birth. We must consider that birthing a child is the equivalent to running 3 marathons as labor can continue over a few days and these pregnant individuals need to be fit and strong for this event. We need to prepare their body for labor and birthing and the series of exercises to do this are very different to marathon training. During their time in the pool our goal is to help guide them to be gentle on their body yet keep them fit in preparation of the challenge ahead. Despite all these reasons, the common statement from the women is to manage pregnancy weight gain, not become too big and leading to societies expectations of bouncing back to pre-pregnancy weight within weeks of giving birth. Though weight is one reason the women may want to keep exercising the other is their mental health especially for those women who participated in regular land-based classes and can no longer attend. Teaching a specific Aqua Natal class is absolutely lovely, they form a community and support network as they meet women on the same journey as themselves. Watching them relax, almost melt into the water and yet keep fit and active is a joy especially as they waddle onto poolside in their third trimester. One of my pregnant ladies once told me that they enjoyed these classes so much more than the other pregnancy classes she attended as she was able to achieve more and felt great when she got out of the water. Aqua Natal exercise combines the therapeutic properties of the water with unique techniques and moves to work the whole body in a holistic manor, giving the individual huge benefits. Benefits of Aqua Natal Improves ability to cope with the stress of delivery Quicker post-natal recovery Reduced risk of medical conditions Decreases pregnancy tiredness Helps with regular bowel movement Prepares body for demand of labor Helps maintain constant blood glucose levels Assists venous return which also helps alleviate oedema Increases blood flow and oxygen up-take to both mother and baby Helps reduce pregnancy-associated long-term memory impairment Increases cardiovascular strength Increases muscular strength & endurance Improves pregnancy posture Reduces back ache Social aspect of the class Mental health benefits – for pre & post-natal Less fat on baby Would you like to fully know and understand the changing body during the different trimesters of these pregnant participants and how the water affects them? Can you adjust the class workout to be safe and effective for them, their baby and their pelvic floor? At AREA, we host an online Aqua Natal course on our website. Once booked on to the Aqua Natal online course you may begin your education/learning, there are 7 pre-recorded video presentations with a manual (13.5 hours) and 7 multiple-choice quizzes. Designed so you can self-pace your learning and fit it around your lifestyle. There will be two 20-45 minutes live video calls/phone calls with an AREA tutor, for any additional help if required or for any learning difficulties. An assessment of a lesson plan and a video submission of teaching the lesson is required to demonstrate competency. You have 18 – 24 months to complete from booking. This course enables you to teach specific Aqua Natal classes in which you can increase your earnings as well as increase your skills and knowledge as an instructor. The fact that this is an untapped market within the fitness industry means you have huge potential to grow your business and have a new target audience you can offer training to. ABOUT THE WRITER: Haylley Pittam is the co-Founder of A.R.E.A. and an Aquatic specialist with over 18 years expertise in the health and fitness industry. Haylley is a very experienced personal trainer, aquatic fitness instructor, swimming coach, GP referral consultant and is also a Vibration Training Specialist. Highly qualified, her main areas of focus include Pre & Post Natal, Pelvic Care, Stroke therapy and Diabetes. She teaches both swimming and aqua aerobics to elite and recreational athletes. In addition Haylley has written and delivered specialist workshops, accredited by CIMSPA all around the UK and internationally for A.R.E.A. Contact Haylley: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaylleyPittamaquatictraining On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haylley-pittam-park-1079ba73 And learn more about A.R.E.A.: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AquaticRehabilitationExerciseAcademy On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquatic.rehab.exercise.academy Learn more about Haylley and her work in aquatics by listening to her podcast episode on the Aquaholics Bootcamp. On Spotify: On Apple:

by Tawny (Palovchik) Cauthon A year ago, I collapsed in my bathrobe and cried. Tears of relief, tears of joy, tears of every possible emotion I wasn’t allowed to express in my corporate job of 17 years. Was I crazy? I’d saved and prepared for this moment for years. But who walks away from investment banking income? What if the job wasn’t making me miserable...but what if truly, deep down, I was destined to be miserable regardless, and I’d just walked away from it all? I was excited and simultaneously terrified. I didn’t know what would come next, but I knew I was fundamentally broken inside. My soul was crushed. I forgot how to smile and I got pissed off when people told me to. I dreaded each day. Enough…you get the picture. So I started working out. I’d always been health conscious and active, but now I had the time to do it right. If I tired the body, I could tire my newly restless mind. If I fatigued the muscles, I didn’t feel guilty watching all 15 seasons of ER on the couch afterwards (I really did…Love that show!) Soon thereafter, one of the trainers I was working with said, “Hey, you’re here every day. Your form is great. Why don’t you work here?” Me, step back onto the stage? Did I really want to be the center of attention? Do I want people staring at my body? You know what, yes, I am good at this. I can do this. So I did. And so began the certifications. I devoured each lesson. I love learning. I got giddy studying the fundamentals of the body, movement, and health. Then, just when I started to get the hang of land instruction, aquatic fitness emerged and changed my perspective. As a self-proclaimed sun goddess, I often preferred to lie by the pool instead of immerse myself in it. But once I really gave water a chance, there was no turning back. My body awakens and rejuvenates in the water. I feel alive and free! Many of you reading this are aquatic fitness instructors, so I don’t have to convince you. You’re wondering what took me so long? So am I. Fast forward a year and I’ve never been happier. I found myself again. I AM fun. I AM full of life. I found the right fit. When I wake up in the middle of the night now, I get excited thinking about my upcoming classes. I smile all the time now and without anybody telling me to. I even put smiley faces in emails ☺. Teaching at the pool fills me with joy as each day feels like I’m playing hooky or on summer vacation. Pushing and inspiring others has been even more rewarding than I expected. Watching them get into the water and feel that jolt of electricity is a beautiful thing. I love everything S’WET™ represents and am proud to be a member of the S’WET™ SQUAD. I love being a face that helps change the perception of aquatic fitness. Water isn’t just for those injured or past a certain age. Water is energy. Water is life. Water works the body in ways land just can’t. Water kicks my a** and I love it! No more floating around on noodles in class. In my S’WET™ Boot Camp class, we work hard, we get our hair wet, we make white water, and we have fun. Join us. Let’s keep this movement going. Let’s S’WET™! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tawny (Palovchik) Cauthon is an ACE and AEA certified land and aquatic fitness instructor at The Claremont Club in Claremont, CA. In addition to S’WET™ Boot Camp, Tawny also teaches Barre, Bosu, Bodyshop and and Balance classes. Tawny’s fitness journey started after nearly two decades in Finance working as a Corporate and Investment Banker for a large international bank in downtown Los Angeles. She lives in La Verne, CA with her husband, Tyler, and two Labradors - also water enthusiasts! Contact Tawny: On LinkedIn Follow her on JLF: My S'WET Profile Tawny took our Instructor Training this past April. Two months later she's already making waves with creative ideas like her printed move reminder signs to help with cuing large crowds, using circuit stations and encourage proper form. We absolutely love this idea and with her permission shared examples below: And here's what she shared with us post-certification: "I subbed the S’WET™ Master Class today. They loved it! Got amazing feedback and even attracted some younger members of the club into the pool for the first time. Word of mouth has spread and we had 24 today. Plus my boot camp is also already wait listed for tomorrow too. One woman told me it’s the hardest she’s ever worked in the water and she loved every minute!" -- Tawny To join Tawny and the rest of our incredible S'WET™ SQUAD to help change the perception of aquatic fitness, check out our upcoming workshop weekends:

by Gia Lucy “I can get a deal on this parachute. It’s only got a two-star safety rating, but it's cheap,” said the skydiver, NEVER! Most everyone can agree that a person’s single most valuable asset is their health. Even skydivers, the ultimate risk-takers, know not to skimp when it comes to quality equipment. Their life depends on it. Gyms and aquatic centers have long been a haven for people wanting to get healthy and stay healthy. They are a social hub and a small piece of paradise, dedicated to helping restore, build and protect health. Many offer a whole host of water fitness activities from traditional aqua aerobics to the newest rage in Aqua Cycling and Aqua Trampoline. And when members arrive it's clear to them that they have arrived someplace special. As health clubs, gyms, aquatic centers, and fitness instructors, we are stewards of our member's health, and as such, have a responsibility and a privilege to protect them. Successful aquatic centers make it their mission to provide their members with high-quality, physical fitness activities while creating a safe and inclusive environment, one that will bring them back day after day and year after year. This is where investing in quality fitness equipment and certification training is imperative. Read below to learn why it is safer, lasts longer, and is by far the smartest purchase you can make. SAFETY The old adage, you get what you pay for, is especially poignant when it comes to fitness equipment. The price usually equals that of its quality. Lower-priced equipment needs to cut corners at the manufacturing level in order to offer the piece of equipment for less money, thus compromising the quality and oftentimes the safety of the people training on the equipment. Take, for example, the Aqua Body Strong™ Water Fitness Board. It’s certainly not the most expensive board on the market but it is the best quality board on the market. AQUA BODY STRONG™ WATER FITNESS BOARDS VS OTHER BRANDS AQUA BODY STRONG™ Four points of tethering to create a very sturdy anchoring system. The deck is made of a textured EVA material to prevent slipping. Made with a double layer of PVC on the top and bottom of the board as well as on all four sides to prevent the board from bowing in the middle. Comes with a Nationally Recognized Certification Training Program OTHER BRANDS Two points of tethering leave the boards very wobbly and unsafe. The deck is made of a smooth EVA material that when wet becomes slippery. Made with a single layer of PVC on the top and bottom of the board and a double layer only on the sides to cut material costs. Bows in the middle. No certification training is available. DURABILITY & LONGEVITY With the wide range of water fitness equipment available in the market today, it's easy to become overwhelmed. How do you determine which brand is best? Aren't they all the same? You'll be surprised to learn that the answer is a resounding "NO!" Especially when it comes to Aquatic Bicycles. Aquatic Spin Bikes entered the pools a few years back and their popularity as a group fitness class is growing exponentially. But, you should be aware that Aquatic Bicycles brands are similar to car brands; there are some that perform like Volkswagens and others that perform like Mercedes. The temptation is to succumb to purchasing aqua cycles that are shiny and inexpensive. However, you should never sacrifice equipment quality just to save a few bucks. In the long run, it will cost you more in repairs and you will eventually have to replace the equipment. AQQUATIX BPM AQUA CYCLE VS OTHER BRANDS AQQUATIX Resistance and intensity are adjusted mechanically with the turn of a knob. The frame is engineered so it is perfectly balanced between the front and rear axle creating solid stability. The bike doesn’t shake when in use. Reinforced base and four suction cups ensure aqua bicycle adheres to pool floor. The 74-degree saddle-handlebar angle ensures the best ergonomic position during exercise. Handlebars and seat are adjustable OTHER BRANDS Natural acceleration resistance. Resistance is increased or decreased by the participant changing the speed of pedaling. There are no means of mechanically adjusting resistance. The frame is unbalanced and feels wobbly in the water. Two suction cups save on costs Handlebars and seat are adjustable A REPUTABLE COMPANY WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE AND DIRECT COMPANY CONTACTS Nowadays, with the convenience of shopping in the comfort of your own workspace, it’s easy to get lured onto Amazon, or even a generic online fitness equipment store to purchase fitness equipment. Most of the time the equipment is of low quality and when something breaks or if you have a question as to how it works, it’s impossible to find a solution. Just last week, I had a potential customer call me up about an aqua trampoline she saw on an online website. She had spinal stenosis and wanted to use it for therapy in her above-ground swimming pool that was 3.5 feet deep. She was just about to buy it but had questions. Because there was no direct company contact she called me instead, with the intention of getting her questions answered and then purchasing the cheaper aqua trampoline. Thankfully, she had the good sense to call. I explained to her that to safely exercise on the aqua trampoline you need to exercise in armpit deep water. With her pool only being 3 feet deep and the trampoline legs being 8 inches tall, she would be exercising with the water level at her mid-thighs, (She was 5’8” tall). The top half of her body would be moving faster than the lower part of her body making exercising unsafe, especially with her medical condition. When it comes to purchasing aquatic fitness equipment, using a reputable company with a working scientific knowledge of the equipment and exercises is priceless. TRAINING If you are like many aquatic directors who see your pool as an opportunity to increase revenue, customer retention, and member usage through fun and challenging group fitness classes, and want to build a program whose very name evokes a sense of health and excitement you need to read this. Only purchase aquatic fitness equipment from global leaders who have a Nationally Recognized Certification Training Program. Time and time again I receive phone calls from aquatic directors who have purchased off-brand fitness equipment and once they receive it have no idea how to use it, let alone teach others to use it. Their brand new equipment sits on deck or in a storage closet for years and their money has been wasted. At Aqua Body Strong™, our goal is to build the health and well-being of people across the world. We want them to use our products. It’s as much of a passion for us as it is a business. We take pride in the quality of our equipment and our world-class certification training courses that are focused on safety, skill development, coaching, and execution. If you are in the fitness industry, I’m sure you share our same passion. Don’t settle for anything less! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gia Lucy is an EAA international fitness trainer, group fitness instructor, author, and founder of Aqua Body Strong™. As a former competitive gymnast and coach, Gia is enamored with movement, balance, and strength. She holds a B.S. in Biology from CSU, Fullerton, owned and operated a 1500-member health club in San Clemente, California, owns and operates Hanalei Gymnastics in Kauai, and shares her passion for fitness by teaching Aqua Body Strong™ signature classes, dance, and, water fitness around the world. Contact Gia: gia@aquabodystrong.com

ANNOUNCING OUR NEWEST WORKSHOP SERIES: TURF to SURF. Learn how to bring land-based exercises safely and effectively into the water​ and what educational steps you should take next to further your career! Muhammad Ali -- perhaps 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 was the truly unique way he prepared for his matches outside the ring... ...in the pool! ​ Whether this story is actually true, we'd like to believe that Ali knew 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! Those in the know understand that adding water to any 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 the fitness experience for yourself and your students. And that's where TURF to SURF comes in... Attention Land Instructors: Just Add Water! If you're interested in learning how to take your land instructing skills pool-side, expanding your teaching experience and opening up some additional income paths for your future, our latest workshop series was built for you! TURF to SURF will help professional land instructors prepare to properly substitute a water-based class by learning how to build a balanced workout using base moves, as well as their modifications to help participants of all levels and abilities. In this four-hour workshop you'll learn how to design effective Strength and HIIT circuits using common pool equipment to progress or regress workouts, and work together in teams to brainstorm how to build the best class for your water warriors! This course will also give you a road map on what educational steps to take next to continue to grow and elevate your aquatic fitness teaching skills. Equipment Featured: Hand Buoys, Noodles, Webbed Gloves (optional) CECs: AEA: 4.0, AFAA: 4.0, ACE: 4.0, NASM: 0.4 Your next chance to participate in a TURF TO SURF workshop is COMING UP: Sept 17th in Beverly, MA! Registration is now open, and you can learn more about the program and what it entails here.

by Gordon King aka "Splash Gordon" I am my father’s son. I’m a certified aquatic exercise instructor, and I’m a guy. I’m also technically disabled, although it goes over better when I tell people that I have a disorder. I’m partially paralyzed and live with a rare autoimmune condition, which caused swelling in my spinal cord and damage to the nervous system. I have been athletic my entire life and was raised in an athletic family. My father was a star athlete in West Virginia and was a walk on for the college basketball team, meaning he didn’t have a scholarship to pay for his education, and he was an exceptional guard. My Dad led the nation in scoring both his junior and senior year. When he graduated, he was drafted into professional basketball for the Syracuse Nationals and won the 1955 NBA championship with a last minute shot. He went on to become a basketball coach, first for West Virginia University where he coached Jerry West, and later at Purdue University, where he was named Athletic Director after his second season there and spent the remaining 40 years there before he retired. I played sports all through my educational years. Back then, everything was sponsored by the schools, whether it be junior high, high school or college. I wasn’t exceptional like my father but I enjoyed it nonetheless. After I graduated from Purdue University I moved to Los Angeles, California and spent the next 34 years in the entertainment industry as a theatrical agent and personal manager for actors. I decided to semi retire and moved to Palm Springs six years ago. In June of 2017, I was diagnosed with Cervical Transverse Myelitis. It has been hard to come to terms with my disorder and it’s extremely painful. Every morning when I wake up and open my eyes, I am instantly reminded that I have this disorder. It takes me at least 10 minutes to get out of bed and warmed up enough to walk my dog, Bruce Springsteen. I have been doing physical therapy in the water ever since the day I left the hospital. I finally decided in the summer of 2020 to stop feeling sorry for myself and turn lemons into lemonade. In the middle of Covid-19’s quarantine, I got my certification, and my first job came through the recommendation from the Aquatic Exercise Association. I was hired for a 3-week period by a group of ladies who were visiting Palm Springs for three weeks of wellness and I taught them class every morning for 90 minutes. That one opportunity has blossomed and I now teach at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, ran by the YMCA, which is one of the best facilities around and a very prestigious and sought after position. I also teach at three other country club communities. I absolutely love what I do. I became certified as an instructor because I wanted to help people feel better about themselves and I wanted to share my passion and knowledge with others. And this has been the most rewarding experience for me ever. It motivates me to do more and give my students and clients the best of what I can offer. I have received so much positive feedback from students who have improved their skills and reduced their pain level. That’s the best part of it for me. It’s been a goal of mine to focus on the male population and get them more involved. There’s a perception that water workouts are for the older female baby boomers. Men don’t think it’s going to be a challenging or effective workout for them. Well, if that’s the case, then they haven’t been to one of my classes. My workout programs are heavily based in the music, and the beats and tempo. I think music helps keep us entertained and uniformed with our movements. Since starting at PDAC (Palm Desert Aquatic Center) in September of 2021, we have seen a 15 percent increase in male attendance. When I started at PDAC I would have one or maybe two men in my class and now it’s anywhere from 7 to 10 men in a class of 40 people. The numbers are getting stronger and men are hearing the call and seeing the results. My clients love the Tabata classes. It’s hard for me to get them to do anything else. And that’s okay. I use the 20/10 work to rest ratio with HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). It’s a great way to engage with your clients. What most people don't know (or accept) is that while aquatic fitness provides for good cardiopulmonary exercise, it can also build muscle strength. Because the head, arms and legs are doing different things, it can also increase coordination, plus the water's buoyancy prevents accidents from falling, while the resistance amplifies the effort and effect of movement. There was a trend starting back in 2016 of more male instructors and class participants due to the baby boomers. And male instructors, who developed programs designed by men for men. A standout in this area and someone who is a mentor to me is Chris LeCour and his "Dude’s Move" series, along with Mark Grevelding of Fitmotivation. The two have very different styles of instructing, proving that there’s room for everyone in the water. Chris has been one guy who specifically designed exercises for men. These are the most challenging moves and maneuvers that take time to learn and master. I think it helps to attract more men when there’s a male instructor and I focus on using more male-centric terms, like "Turbocharged Tabata" or the "Take No Prisoners Tabata." It’s all in good fun, but it does seem to make a difference. After all, perception is everything. I’m very fortunate to have the position of teaching "water workouts." That’s another male-centric term, and it’s my hope that more and more men, and young people join the millions of people who have improved the ADL’s (activities of daily living) and enjoy better health and lifestyles for many more years to come. Discover the magic of the water. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gordon Scott King is owner of Splash Gordon's Water Workouts in Palm Springs, CA, an AEA certified instructor and aquatic fitness enthusiast. He currently teaches at The Palm Desert Aquatic Center, as well as at several other country club communities. He is loved and supported by his partner Ken Clark and his fluffy 7-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu, Bruce Springsteen. Contact Splash Gordon: On Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingegroup On Instagram: www.instagram.com/GKing60 By Email: iamgordonking@gmail.com

Is it even possible? And if it is, how can you accomplish it? Guest Blogger: Irene Pluim Mentz Most of you reading this have background in water exercise, but just to recap a few of the most basic hydro-dynamic principles: Water molecules like to stick together, known has cohesion, so when something gets moved through water it takes force to “break apart” that cohesion. Once an object is moving, whether it be in air or through liquid, it needs a force applied against it to either change direction or speed, better known as the Law of Inertia. Smaller, narrower objects displace fewer water molecules, requiring less force; larger, wider objects moving through water break up more water molecules, hence requesting a greater output of power. This principle is referred to as “drag.” Force = Power = Strength Now let’s talk about drag resistance a little bit more. If you have exercised in water before, you know about drag resistance. Some call it frontal area resistance, depending on what movement you perform in water. In water, it is possible to increase drag, and thus the need for increased force, in all three planes of movement; i.e. frontal, sagittal, and transverse. With land exercise, there is always the gravitational force to overcome. When you are swimming horizontally, you want to be as streamlined as possible in the water, therefore minimizing resistance and increasing the ability to last longer. However, for training, many swimmers will wear “drag suits;” i.e. trunks with pockets or loose fitting suits, even parachute-type equipment attached to their bodies. Even runners and bikers use the principle of drag in their training and will do whatever they can to minimize it during races. So when you exercise in water, you can utilize drag and frontal area to your benefit; especially given the cohesive nature of water molecules. When you just are just beginning with your work-out program, you want to have minimal resistance. You can obtain this by keeping your surface area and movements slow and small, working on improving coordination, balance, and movement patterns. But then you can start increasing your work load by adding more speed and /or moving larger surfaces through the water. More speed created in water might cause turbulence. Let’s illustrate this: Imagine yourself looking at water flowing through a river: you will see regions were it flows calmly, called a laminar flow. But then there are some rocks obstructing the water’s flow and the water will be foamy and there might be some eddies; there the flow of water is called turbulent flow. Now see yourself standing in this river; first you are in the calm flowing, laminar flow of it: you feel some resistance but nothing you can’t withstand. So you move toward the rocks with the foamy, turbulent water and you barely can maintain your balance! The drag force created by the laminar flow is proportional to its velocity, while the drag force of the turbulent flow is squared to the velocity. The next moment you have an oar in your hand, and the turbulent flow almost rips that out of your grip and you have to apply more force to maintain hold of it and you actually lost your balance; while it was easy to hold on to that oar in the calmer flowing water where you could quietly stand. Similarly, you can use equipment increase surface area in your water exercise programs. Characteristics of this type of equipment include that they enlarge the surface area. One of the options for this type of equipment is the Aqua-Ω (pronounced: Aqua-Ohm). The Aqua-Ω is purposefully slightly negatively buoyant, to enable optimal utilization of the three-dimensional resistance of the water molecules’ cohesion. When using bouyant drag resistance equipment, the force requested becomes two-dimensional, since that equipment would always want to rise to the surface. Invented and developed by a physical therapist, the patented Aqua-Ω is an exciting piece of fully adjustable drag resistance water exercise equipment which can be used to increase surface areas for both arms and legs. It can be adjusted for size and resistance level to accommodate everybody, and since it is not buoyant, it is easy and safe to use for all populations and purposes. The Aqua-Ω is fun to use in both deep and shallow water as well as for boot camp style classes and arthritis management. An extra benefit of the Aqua-Ohm: It packs small and travels well while it is affordable. Just visit our website at www.aqua-ohm.com or email us at info@aqua-ohm.com for more information. To recap: YES, you can perform strength training in the pool! All you have to do is increase your speed and/or your surface area. An increase of needed FORCE = Increased POWER = Increased STRENGTH! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Irene Pluim Mentz, PT became a licensed physical therapist in the Netherlands before immigrating to the United States. She is the co-owner of One Step Beyond, Inc. Physical Therapy. Irene’s passion for anything “water” led to becoming an AEA certified instructor. She integrates her knowledge of hydro-dynamics with physical therapy into all her sessions. Irene is the inventor and developer of the Aqua-Ω adjustable drag resistance water exercise equipment. Contact Irene: Irene On Instagram Irene On Facebook Aqua-Ohm on Facebook Email: info@aqua-ohm.com Experience the Power of Ω with Katy Coffey in Seattle, WA Join us April 28-30th in Seattle, WA for the 2022 PNWFITCON! In addition to several other workshops, Katy will be demonstrating the true versatility of the Aqua Ohm device as part of her session AQUAFIIT: Power of Ω! Learn more here