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by Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour Since my high school swim team days, my aquatic swimwear has always been your typical one piece suit that usually rides up and becomes a thong by the time I complete my heat. Very uncomfortable to say the least. Cut to 10 years later, when I am discovering the amazing world of vertical aquatic fitness and again, getting wedgies during class. UGH! Why couldn’t there be a comfortable outfit just for the water?! That’s when I discovered Dolfin Swimwear. Why do I prefer this aqua wear over your general swimsuit? Here Are 5 Reasons Jenni Loves Dolfin Swimwear for Her Aquatic Workouts: 1) While swimming we want to create less drag resistance on our body to become more streamlined, but in aquatic fitness, more drag resistance means more muscle contractions, so wearing water shorts or leggings with a water tank top became my ideal water workout wear to make some waves and get extra resistance for my legs and core. 2) No more wedgies! Not only do my water shorts/leggings and tank top not ride up, they help support and help keep “things” secure and hold everything in place (and I mean everything!) no matter how much jumping you’re doing. 3) How many times have you seen straight THROUGH the back of someone’s suit?! Gross! Not with Dolfin swimwear. Their materials are made to withstand the test of chlorine and hold up through hundreds of classes. 4) Speaking of, the Dolfin materials and cut is fantastic! Even if you prefer a one piece suit or tankini, the cut of the suit is comfortable and designed for ALL body types. 5) Selection & Style! I can say I’m a true New Yorker now by how much black clothing I own, but in the pool I love to see some color in my swimwear. Dolfin has a fantastic selection of different designs and styles to suit all types of bodies and activities. Save 20% OFF your next order at Dolfin Swimwear by using our affiliate code at checkout: SWET2022

by Katy Coffey If you ask the majority of aquatic fitness professionals about their relationship with management, more often than not, their answer will lean towards ... "there's plenty of room for improvement!" As we have discussed in blog posts of the past, strain between management and aquatic fitness staff can stem from many common problems: Lack of understanding the aquatic format Feelings of isolation from the rest of the fitness community Inequality in pay compared with "land based" formats Disagreement on programming priority for pool spacing Communication Part of our passion here at S’WET™ is to change the perception of aquatic fitness, but also focus on education and collaboration for both the instructor and the facilities. As we start the new year I am going to set up a challenge for the aquatic fitness professional who might feel frustrated with their relationship to management. I have been in aquatics and recreation management for over 15 years. Today’s blog will be reflecting from that lens as well as polling some of my former aquatics director colleagues. I challenge you to take a moment to reset your past experiences with your staff and management, and see if there are things that can help eliminate the "Us vs Them" mentality. Do more. Learn More. A lifeguard’s job is 100% about eyes on the pool and safety. If you are working at a 1 guard facility, the reality is that it is not the job of the guard to change lanes and clean up equipment. If this is the situation at your pool, chat with your supervisor about the best course of action to handle setup and tear down before and after class. Learn how to loosen and tighten lane lines yourself, and have clear directions from your manager about who is getting paid for that time. When it comes to aquatic’s managers, don’t assume anything. Managers have to deal with Board of Health Compliance, chemical imbalances, programming with lessons and teams, lane usage, member retention, budget, and most importantly, safety for lifeguards and staff recruitment. It is an impossible job. If your equipment is dry rotting, breaking or is no longer sufficient, make sure you communicate the needs to your manager. Document in an email the request, and follow up as needed. This way there is a clear communication chain that can help support your case. Chat with your manager about what are the budget expectations on other programming. What are they expected to bring in with lessons, swim team and other programming? Why is this important? These paid programs are often what keeps the pool from losing money. Also the temperature of the pool will directly reflect the needs of the greatest programming draw. If your pool has a massive competitive clientele, the temperature of the pool will be in the low 80s. Meaning a stretch and flex class might be frozen! Understanding the needs of the pool and how the temperature will reflect, may help you program your class better. A quality S’WET™ class (no matter the skill level) will warm up in the first 5 minutes in a cold pool and the class will appreciate the cooler water for it. Learn your state's protocol on aquatic management. Every state has different expectations about pool spacing, chemicals and depth. I encourage all instructors to read up on their local city and state regulations in better understanding your pool’s compliance. Ask how you can promote the department as a whole! You are part of the aquatic team! If there is a big flick and float event coming up, mention it to your class. Many of your participants might have children or grandchildren who might like to attend. You can help build community among your members beyond the 55 minutes of your class. The greatest challenge I give you is to remember that it is not "You vs Them." I know sometimes it might feel like that. When a member speaks to you about a complaint, instead of throwing your manager under the bus, respond as part of the team. "That is a great suggestion, Nancy. Let me chat with my manager and see what we can do about that request." Then loop back to your manager and share the concern. Being part of the solution makes any staff member feel accomplished. If you have an idea, chat about it and see if the solution might fit into the programming and safety guidelines that your pool has to follow. Help be the bridge of communication between the staff and the members. All too often we get frustrated at the situation and challenge the members to "attack" management on your behalf out of frustration. Even if the manager is 100% in the wrong, being attacked by the members will only burn more bridges. Instead, take the time to communicate with your manager about the issues, bring a few possible solutions and then follow up with an email documenting your takeaways. No matter how long you have worked at your current location, take a moment to step back and refresh your outlook on your facility. Give this challenge one month and then report back to this blog! We would love to hear how it went, and see if any changes were made to better your professional experience. Do you have other ideas on how staff can connect better with their managers? We want to hear from you! About the Author: Katy Coffey is a S’WET™ MASTER TRAINER teaching aquatic fitness in Boston, Massachusetts. She's been working in aquatics since 2002 and currently holds Instructor Training certifications for the American Red Cross, ASHI and YUSA. She is also an AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor, an AEA Aquatic Training Specialist, Master Trainer with Aqua Body Strong and holds a collective of 15 additional fitness certifications for both land and aquatic fitness training. Contact Katy here: Katy@JenniLynnFitness.com

Guest Blogger: Andrea Velazquez Tell me I’m not the only Aqua Pro that does this? ... I leave my aquatic fitness equipment in my car overnight!!! I have done this during winter’s frigid temperatures and summer's sweaty humid heat waves, for quite a few days at a time, weeks…okay maybe a month or two! Equipment has also been dropped from various heights ("Sorry, Boss Lady. I didn’t mean to roll the barbells down the flight of stairs!"), left in super warm chlorinated environments, salty environments, collided with hard surfaces, and hard heads (ouch!). Now for the great news: My equipment always survives. It lasts for years. The investment in my aquatic fitness equipment was worth every single cent. The quality of the products made a huge difference in the longevity and use. Sometimes I even hint to my children about my "Aquatic Equipment Trust Fund" they will one day inherit. I have been in the aquatic fitness industry for over 25 years. I have ordered and used various types of equipment, ranging from empty milk jugs to Acquapoles. Standard flotation barbells, noodles, belts, balls, elastic bands, stars, bars, plates, Aqualogix, Aquastrength, AquaOhm, fitness boards, trampolines, bikes, and poles. And I have replaced standard equipment numerous times due to deterioration. Many factors can contribute to wear and tear, such as water and air temperature, pool chemicals, and storage. The equipment starts to smell moldy and disintegrates within a short span of time. But those foam "dumbbells" and noodles are cheap, right? Facilities buy the same inexpensive equipment over and over again. As managers, we then make excuses every fiscal year why it’s okay to buy the cheap stuff, but reason it’s too costly for the "expensive" equipment. Yet the "expensive" (translation: well-made equipment) turns out to be a better return on the investment in the long run because you buy the product once, and it lasts! The Indigo Aquatics equipment line is made with great material and intended to withstand the corrosive aquatic environment. Acquapole Poles are made with marine grade steel that does not rust. Foam equipment, such as the boxing gloves and "Liquid Stars" are made of closed cell eva foam, which isn’t porous and does not get stinky at all. Best yet, most of Indigo equipment can be used for other aquatic activities as well, including swim lessons. Working within a municipality that requires justification for anything and everything, it is not an easy task to convince management of the importance and advantages of investing in quality products. But if you are blessed with an abundance of budget and have an aquatic "Just Do It" policy, go for the better, costly but worth it products. Your patrons will thank you for it. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrea Velazquez has been immersed in the Aquatics Industry for over 25 years. She is a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Yonkers and Creator of AVAQUATICS. She is Master Trainer for many aquatic specialties, representing Acquapole, SAF Aqua Drums Vibes and HydroRevolution. She holds numerous certifications including AEA Fitness Professional, ACE- GF, Aqua Vida Floating Yoga, Tsunami Fitness Boards, and RM Medically Based Aquatics. She is a StarGuard Instructor and Starfish Aquatics Institute Swim School Instructor Trainer. She is a Presenter at the NYS Parks and Recreation Conference, SUNY Cortland (her alma mater) Recreation Conference, DCAC Fitness Convention, Association of Aquatic Professional Conference (AOAP), and SCW Fitness Mania Fitness Conferences.

by Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour Thinking back to my first experience in an aquatic fitness class, I can remember my "swimmer mindset" changing forever. After years of staring at the pool floor in my lap lane, discovering vertical water fitness was a game changer! Thankfully I was able to meet my future mentor, FitMotivation founder Mark Grevelding, at an AEA certification training shortly thereafter, and the flow of my aquatic fitness journey began. Making waves and breaking a S’WET™ was filling up my classes with students of all abilities and ages, but like many starting out, I soon came to realize I needed more education. Specifically, I needed to serve what became my most precious and fragile demographic of clientele - my arthritis community, or as I like to call them, my S’WET™ Silver Squad! I knew a small amount from my personal training certification and some education workshops I had previously attended, but I had to seek out more information. Thankfully the AEA (Aquatic Exercise Association) offered the Arthritis Foundation Leadership Program. This course and the continuing education that I received helped me discover ways of accommodating both my land and water participants, and I found myself being able to give my students multiple modifications during their classes and sessions. Soon I started to see 20-year olds working next to my 80-year olds and BOTH were able to adapt the movements to their needs no matter their abilities or restrictions. Eventually, the dreaded moment arrived when I needed to find a substitute instructor for my arthritis classes. Talk about trying to find a needle in a haystack?! I came to realize there were very few aquatic instructors educated in arthritis guidelines, and after months of trying to find a sub, the aquatic director decided to pull a land instructor onto the pool deck. Please hear me out, I am NOT shaming land instructors who graciously offer to help cover water classes...But not surprisingly, for a land instructor who may have never even taken an aquatic fitness class, let alone understand how different movements are felt in the water, this scenario did not go well. Sadly, I returned to my classes with a flood of complaints! I heard it all: "He told me to do twists and I told him I wasn’t allowed to. He then insisted 'you can't hurt yourself in the water.'" "She had her back turned to us for more than half the class duration!" "He gave the class extra large hand buoys which I couldn’t grip and then shamed me for putting them on the side of the pool when my hands and shoulders hurt." "She kept insisting that I jump higher and wouldn’t listen to me when I told her this was hurting my back and knees." Needless to say I was horrified! As an instructor who cares deeply for their students and their well being, I couldn't believe the aquatic director allowed someone unqualified and uneducated teach such a special population without the proper training. Isn’t the purpose of serving all populations to help them live a healthier and more movement rich lifestyle?! Can you imagine the uproar if a yoga class was subbed out by a Zumba trainer who didn't know a downward facing dog from a warrior pose? Or a pilates class subbed by a CrossFit instructor who insisted everyone push themselves beyond their limits because..."you can't hurt yourself" stretching? I posed these questions to management but got no real answers. I got the same message a lot of us hear: "It was just a water class" and they were "in a jam." I know I’m not the only instructor or educator that truly believes we have a responsibility to protect and help our clients/students. This is why education and structure mean so much to me, because they SERVE people’s lives for the better. A "great personality" and "rocking playlist" will never cover up the fact that an instructor lacks the education and training in a specialized format. In arthritis training, we’re taught to keep an open line of communication with our students, even after the class has ended. This allows us to inquire about useful information such as The Two Hour Pain Rule: if exercise-induced joint pain lasts more than two hours, then the program was too intense or difficult, thus the previous routine needs to be restructured to accommodate these individual’s specific needs/abilities. As my aquatic career has evolved, I still continue to S’WET™ it out with my able bodies participants, but my arthritis and active-agers hold a place near and dear to my heart. Watching my students build their strength and balance and increase their everyday activities truly helped me understand why I chose this career. I continue to educate myself with more specialized education as this is what not only helps me evolve as an instructor, but better serve my community and ensure their safety during each workout. This also increases their trust in me, knowing I will do my best to work within their capabilities and seek out modifications for movements that they may need extra care in performing. So as we begin a new year, my ask to instructors is please seek out further education. Find specialized programs and certifications that will further your own experience and skill sets. Besides keeping your career interesting, it will allow you to offer even more programming and class options in the future. And to the directors and facility management, PLEASE STOP allowing unqualified and untested staff to teach formats they have no training or education in. Invest in your team! Insist they educate and train more. If not for themselves, for your students and members to whom all of us have a responsibility to serve and protect. It is all of our personal and professional responsibilities. ABOUT THE WRITER: Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour is a NSCA-CPT (National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer), AEA Aquatic Training Specialist & CEC Provider, AFAA Group Fitness Instructor & CEC Provider and NASM CEC Provider. With a Bachelor's Degree in Health Psychology, Jenni Lynn combined her knowledge of neuromuscular and physical conditioning with her love for swimming and aquatic fitness to create S’WET™. S’WET™ combines muscle, strength and high intensity interval training (HIIT) with advanced cardio, plyometrics, unique equipment from around the world, and a splash of fun! Contact Jenni: JenniLynn@JenniLynnFitness.com New Workshop Coming 2022: In an effort to help facilities expose their land-based instructors to the philosophy and practice of aquatic fitness, the S'WET™ SQUAD team has built out a brand new comprehensive workshop, TURF TO SURF: Effective Strategies to take Land-Based Exercises to the Pool! It's the perfect way for instructors with little to no experience with water fitness to get their feet wet and learn how they can "aquafy" their repertoire. Stay tuned for details on how you can register to attend, online or in person! CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR NOTIFICATION LIST! JUST ANNOUNCED: SERIES V - ONLINE CHAIR-BASED ARTHRITIS CLASSES! Now's your chance to join in online! Take one class, two or three, a whole week or sign up for all 28 sessions! Best yet, if you can't attend the LIVE session with Jenni Lynn on the date and time of the class, you'll still get access to the recorded version to follow along at your own pace!

Guest Blogger: Stephanie Newberry Fitness facilities offer a pool and variety of classes for healthy exercise. But what most of these gyms lack is the importance of offering a well rounded aquatics program. Or if they DO, they often aren't clear about all they are offering by using generalized class names and titles. If you have ever stepped into a traditional gym, you probably have seen a schedule of organized exercise classes set up in their aerobics rooms. There are strength classes, cardio classes, yoga, pilates, balance classes, etc. It is clear what is offered at each class. When it comes to the pool, however, all you see is "aqua aerobics" with a list of times on a schedule. The reality is, these classes are usually taught be several different instructors, each with their own style. Often these classes have a targeted focus - but you wouldn't know it by the term "aqua aerobics." This generic term actually does a disservice to the aquatic fitness department of these facilities. In an effort to make it clear, at AquaGym Fitness™ our classes have a specific name and focus, allowing our clients to choose exactly how they want to work out in the water. AquaGym HIIT, AquaGym Circuit, AquaGym Pilates, and AquaGym StretchFlex are just a few of our specifications. We have found that a clear description for each class coupled with a consistent schedule of classes really enriches our program. Our clients customize the aquatic fitness to their interests and needs, creating more engaged clients and a stronger retention rate. If you are an aquatics director, you may want to take a strong look at your programming. Do you have classes that have specific targets? Do you offer a wide range of aquatic fitness styles to your clients? It can be as easy as titling the classes to their style. Not everyone enjoys a choreographed aqua aerobics class, while others love it. It is important to have a variety of class styles for your clients. The aquatic environment has so many benefits for those of ALL fitness levels. Your aquatics fitness programming should be able to offer something for everyone. Titles and descriptions are very important for people to make intelligent decisions about their aquatic fitness routine. Be sure to take a good look at how you refer to the aqua fitness classes in your facility. You might be surprised how many more people you can reach simply by being clear and diverse with your aqua classes. No matter how your facility handles their schedule, it is always important to highlight the benefits of aquatic fitness. Talk to your director if you feel their can be improvements, only that way can you consistently be able to service your customers, provide enriching programs, and help bring awareness to ALL of the faces of aquatic fitness. "See You In The Pool!" ABOUT THE WRITER: Stephanie Newberry is the founder of AquaGym Fitness™ located in Amelia Island, Florida. She is AEA and S'WET™ certified with a life long love of fitness. Stephanie received her Black Belt in Tang Soo Do in 2009, and loves to incorporate combat into her classes, both land and water. Stephanie is also a Certified Personal Trainer as well as a Fitness Nutrition Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She enjoys working full time in the fitness industry and loves helping all of her clients lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Contact Stephanie: info@aquagym.fitness

by Chris LaCour How can we attract more men to our aquatic fitness classes? I get that question a lot here at S'WET™ ... and the answer??? Honestly, there isn't just one. I believe a few factors play a role in luring men to your class; some you have some control over and others you don’t, but taking advantage of either situation is the key to retaining men in your aquatic classes. I have the privilege of being a male aquatic fitness trainer living in one of the most densely populated cities in America, New York City. I fortunately don’t need to consciously work as hard to get men into my class, but even so, I have noticed there are some specific things that will lead an otherwise unlikely male participant into the pool to give an aqua class a try and even more importantly, keep them coming back. Here are the 3 of the most common ways men ended up in my classes. 1. Men come into class willingly/unwillingly with their partners to try it out. Their partners have usually tried the class before and want their partner to experience it too. This can be a good introduction if they are both serious about working out and not there to frolic in the pool together. PRO TIP: Challenge your class to invite their partners to join them and throw in some partner drills like those seen in our Pool Power Duo short available here. 2. Lap swimmers interrupted by class taking over the lanes. You’re already in your Speedo, right so why not take class?! 3. “I hurt myself doing ……. and I heard water classes were good for rehabbing.” I always introduce myself to the new participants, ask them their physical situations, and tell them that I understand their hesitancy and once shared the same feelings about the workout as them once upon a time. Concerning the workout, I let them know they’ll feel slightly awkward and that their body may not move the way they want it to and that all of this should be expected the first time. If they have no coordination issues then they are ahead of the game! I’ll also quickly make a statement about how I’m the only one who can see them moving underwater which I believe aids in their ability to relax and not feel like all (women’s) eyes are on them. These quick conversations allow men the ability to workout and freely make mistakes without feeling self-conscious in the water. Once class has begun it is your job as an instructor to give a class that MAKES THEM WANT TO COME BACK! I’ve also found that for most men, hard work(outs) = breathing heavy/heart rate+/muscles burn, so if you can incorporate as many of these elements into your water class, you will have a man who is more willing to give water classes a second, third and fourth try. How do I do that Chris!? Structure! Structuring your class to ensure these elements of work are included is very important, not just for keeping men in your class, but anyone who is serious about fitness and improving their overall health. This is why the S'WET™ program is so effective, because it teaches you how to STRUCTURE (the "S" in S'WET) your water exercise training in the most effective way possible. Here are three of my favorite basic moves that push your new aqua men to make waves. Wall Work: Tempo’d Flutter Kicks (add a push up @ the wall if advanced and capable) Wall Taps (Open-Close legs for advanced participants) Push-Off w/ High-Knee Run or Tuck-Swim Stationary Work: High Knee Run w/Hooks Tuck w strong Shoot Out Power Jacks Getting men to take the classes can seem difficult because it is, so focus on what you have control over which is good communication as well as knowing how to ramp up your class’s workout when needed. Make it challenging and know ways to intensify moves and give level options. Finding the best way to intensify your workouts will give you the best chances at keeping men in your classes. Need some additional ideas to bring in the dudes? Check out Chris LaCour in DUDE MOVES DEEP, available here. ABOUT THE WRITER: Christopher Lacour is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, AEA Certified Trainer, ACE Group Fitness Instructor, Aquastrength Master Trainer, and a S’WET™ MASTER TRAINER teaching aquatic fitness in NYC. Chris was first introduced to water workouts after a snowboarding injury and subsequent spinal surgery. He saw first hand the benefits of aquatic fitness – improving his strength, cardio and overall recovery. Chris incorporates swimming, boxing and mixed martial arts into his S’WET™ classes to give his students an incredibly intense workout with little to no impact on the joints. Contact Chris: Chris@JenniLynnFitness.com

Guest Blogger: Louis van Amstel My name is Louis van Amstel, creator of LaBlast Splash Aqua Fitness. My company has both land and pool formats based on Ballroom partner-free dancing. No surprise here when I tell you I have been a ballroom dancer since the age of 10 and have done ten seasons on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ as a pro dancer. However, I am not here to talk about me, but rather about the aqua and dance fitness industries, and how we can come out of this pandemic better and stronger. For one, I truly believe when working together as aquatic fitness professionals or brands the entire industry benefits. Learning with and from each other is key for the overall success of aqua fitness and the fitness industry as a whole. All brands can live next to one another and compliment each other on the weekly pool/gym schedule. Secondly, I believe in order for the aquatic fitness industry to grow and welcome a wider, more diverse audience we need to take a look inside first. As group-X instructors, we must ask ourselves, do we really have the know-how and continued education to provide a high quality pool class? Do we actually use what we have learned in our certifications? In my years of presenting aqua sessions at conventions nationwide I have noticed that very few actually use the proper aquatic principles. Are you one of them? If so, I am sorry to say, you are part of the problem. Many land group-X instructors won’t teach aqua, some because of the stigma that "aquatic fitness is not really a workout" or is mostly "for old people." The other reason for land instructors not teaching aqua fitness is because only two brands in the world cross over from land to the pool within their own company. This means only these two companies have built a bridge between land and aqua fitness. I am proud to say that LaBlast Fitness is one of the two companies. Zumba is the other, and we are both dance fitness brands. It is proven through surveys that of all formats offered, most of the members of gyms and community centers love dance fitness, whether on land or in the pool. There is no surprise why. Let me explain and take you back. Growing up as a social dancer first before becoming a dance competitor, I realized early on how dance is therapeutic and includes the whole body: physically, mentally, and emotionally. You learn the skill and technique mentally, you physically execute, and emotionally experience the movement. When I joined the fitness industry with LaBlast Fitness in 2012, this became my company’s motto. Move your body, your whole body, and nothing but your body, so help you…… you can fill in the last word! The fact that dance fitness on land or in the pool is more focused on emotional health, is in my opinion, the very reason why dance fitness is the heartbeat of fitness facilities and should be treasured and protected. The decision makers who frown upon land or aqua fitness need to be convinced by you about how important dance fitness truly is. Not only with conversations, but more so with the delivery of an amazing class that members just can’t stop talking about to management. It is the emotional self we work out most while doing dance fitness, which even most group-X instructors don’t know or know how to explain. Many just feel good during their dance fitness classes, but it is time to understand consciously that when members get involved with the music and jump into the emotions of the dances, they affect the results of the physical self more than just doing it physically. Think about this: The more you feel good about yourself, the more you are willing to push your physical self. Not the other way around. What can you do to convince your decision maker to add more aqua classes for all members? I will say it again, it starts with you. Create workouts with variations for every fitness ability and age. Be able to lead by example, and let the members leave your class exhausted, yet begging you for more. This can all happen with a great music playlist, using your fitness principles, and let’s not forget: An intense workout can still be great fun! If you are a dance fitness instructor you are in the right place within the fitness industry and if you join forces with the right people in your community who believe in the future of dance fitness on land in the pool, you are representing the most important part of the fitness facilities. A great dance fitness world would be when LaBlast, Zumba, and other dance fitness instructors would actually work together. There WILL be enough work and opportunities for well qualified group-X instructors. Diversity is key and the more formats there are, the more choices the members have. We are all in this together. Let’s do this! ABOUT THE WRITER: Louis van Amstel Contact Louis Online @louisvanamstel @officiallablast https://www.facebook.com/LaBlastFitness https://www.facebook.com/louisvanamstel NEW CITIES ADDED EVERY MONTH! Join the S'WET SQUAD by becoming a licensed S'WET instructor.

by Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour As an AEA Aquatic Training Specialist and creator of S’WET™ I would 100% say that proper structure is fundamental to our aquatic fitness classes! But why? Whether you’re a brand-new instructor, a life-saving substitute or veteran teacher, there should be a format (translation: structure) that a class is arranged and that is designed around a multitude of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the needs and ability of the class, size and shape of the pool, equipment available, purpose of the session, and water temperature. Even though I’m speaking from a water perspective, land-based classes also follow a structure so that classes are safe, effective and attainable for the participants attending. If you’re already trained as an aquatic fitness or a land group fitness instructor, you know the components of a basic fitness class: Warm up, Conditioning & Cool Down. There is a WIDE range of formats to play with when it comes to plugging in your conditioning phase, but even with a proper warm up and cool down, what happens in between is crucial for the participant. As trained fitness professionals, we take on quite a bit when it comes to helping our participants achieve their fitness goals, while also keeping them safe during their workouts. So educating ourselves in properly building and structuring our classes is an important role in our careers. Here are AEA's Recommendations for Program Design: No class can start without a warmup and end without a cool down, so it’s important to take both of these components seriously when designing your classes. Many of the top fitness education manuals and books will explain how starting classes slowly (without equipment) and with short lever movements (i.e., jogging, marching and/or traveling) is going to get all the body’s joints, tendons and ligaments ready for increased impact and heavier resistance as you lead into more strenuous movements. My philosophy is that a lengthened muscle is a strengthened muscle; however, most people do not take the time to stretch, but the beauty of water (combined with an educated instructor) is using the buoyancy to naturally assist the body in lengthening while strengthening from the viscosity and resistance of the water. I tend to take my warmup component into 10-15 minutes because I want to work the small and important joints (hands, wrists, ankles, feet, hips, shoulders and spine) before really getting the waves rolling with longer levers (i.e., jumping jacks and Cross Country SKI) exercises. Referring back to the chart though, you can see from the duration range in the conditioning phase, there is quite a bit of time to work with here, and this is where I like to share my WHY for how I structure my classes. S’WET™ stands for Structured Water Exercise Training and the reason Structure is so important is to make sure we as aquatic professionals, provide an effective yet safe aquatic workout for all of our members, regardless of their fitness level and/or capabilities. Giving students an adequate warm up to get the blood flowing creates the ideal environment to then proceed to block in the appropriate components for your conditioning format to give a total body aqua workout that will leave all of your students feeling accomplished and wanting to return for more. What keeps them coming back? RESULTS! But how do we ensure results are made? Structure ☺ This is why I always incorporate cardiovascular stamina, strength & equipment exercises and plyometric power moves to keep students making waves, having fun, but getting the most resistance possible from the water that they can. An example of how I may block a 45-60 minute class: Even with a structured class plan, the water is the best equalizer to ensure we can offer every BODY an option (or modification) to work at their peak performance. This also allows us to regress and progress a lot of movements to suit each person’s abilities and ensure they feel successful after every class. Structure for me started with ‘blocking’ my classes in a way that when we completed the warm up, everyone had a quick break to grab water or head over to the wall to start the wall section. After the wall we could easily grab equipment and hydrate before strength, and then another break to recoup oxygen levels and move onto Interval Training or another Cardiovascular stamina component before ending it all with a cool down. The breaks between the blocks of movement allowed me to gather myself, but also for students to hydrate (#1) and get ready for the next blocked component of the class. Replenishing oxygen levels is imperative if we’re trying to maximize muscle contractions as well as push participants to reach their maximum levels of performance, so using this block method not only helped me structure a well-rounded and safe class, but gave my students the ability to max out their water workouts! The conditioning phase of your workout is where you as an instructor really have to think about the purpose of the class, the people attending and your space/access to equipment. It's also the time for you to add your own flare to the exercises and patterns you're repeating. The sample bootcamp class provided above splits the 30-45 min Conditioning phase into Wall Work, Equipment Intervals and Strength/Cardio stationed work. THIS is where the S’WET™ formula really takes shape, as I have spent years documenting and detailing how I structure each one of my classes, specifically during the conditioning phase, and have broken them up into the necessary blocks to ensure I'm providing a full-body, balanced, effective and safe workout for everyone in the pool. However you choose to build out your workouts, it's imperative you revert back to the considerations discussed above, and detailed further in the AEA chart. What is the purpose of this class? Who are your students? What are their capabilities and limitations? What depth of pool do you have to work with and what's the water temperature? How much and what kind of equipment do you have access to? If you show up to class every week with a memorized routine incapable of change, it may be time to rethink how you structure your workouts. Professional instructors should be able to adjust on the fly based on these varying conditions, but always coming back to the basic building blocks - aka STRUCTURE - of the workout. Are you ready to learn the S’WET™ STRUCTURE? Get certified today!

By Katy Coffey Stop us when you've heard this before... ...Studio A is filled with a Pilates class. Students are half way through breathing the torturous V-Sit Crunches when another member walks into the studio, his music blaring so loud you can clearly hear the lyrics through his earbuds. He walks over to where all the free weights are stacked and begins to set up for his own workout. Shortly after, the floor staff manager enters and asks an entire row of Pilates students to pick up their mats and scoot over...You know, because the gym has "a policy" there is always open space available. "Sorry, but the Pilates class will just have to adjust and make room..." ...Over in Studio B, a choreographed strength training class has about 15 minutes left of their workout. In walks a preschool class who sits in the back of the room in a circle, and begins a delightful game of duck, duck goose. Their giggles (and screams) are contagious and most of the members in the back of the class have to stop their deadlift sets and just watch. Do either of these scenarios seem WRONG to you? If your eyebrow raised at this odd behavior, you are not alone! These types of "accommodations" would never fly at any reputable fitness center. A group exercise studio needs to run like a well oiled machine. You need quality equipment that is clean and not falling apart. If there is limited equipment because of space, they employ a reservation system. Once the class begins, the free space is closed and the space caters only to the specific group fitness. Stereo and microphones are in working order. And most of all, you need quality, certified and trained instructors who auditioned and proved they are capable of teaching the format in which they are licensed. Land-based classes would never tolerate members doing their own workouts in a reserved space, or accept the concept of "sharing" that space with preschool programming. Yet when we look at how aquatic fitness classes are treated all over the country, those rules fly right out the window. This is because when most gym members and facility managers look at their pool, they are not thinking that an aquatic fitness class is truly a LIQUID FITNESS STUDIO. I have been managing aquatic centers for over 15 years now. Small 4-lane pools, massive aquatic centers with 4 pools, including a 10 lane lap pool and EVERYTHING in between. I understand 100% the challenge of balancing a pool both chemically and programmatically. I also know that every time I walked into a new facility I see the exact same thing when it comes to aquatic fitness classes: Guaranteed lap lanes available from open to close always catering to the swimmers (no matter the popularity or size of the aqua fitness class). No sound equipment (mic or stereo), or full expectations of the instructor to invest in their own equipment. Dry, rotted or child-bitten equipment shared with children’s lessons. Popular aquatic fitness classes running during the same time as swim team, lessons or family swim. And the most terrifying but not entirely shocking, is meeting staff with 0 certifications or licenses. If this is not acceptable in our land-based classes, then why is it tolerated for our aquatic members? I have 5 key suggestions to help transform the way your facility approaches aquatic fitness. We encourage you to share this information with your facility and help us change the perception of water-based workouts. Certification Matters! You would have a lawsuit waiting to happen if you allowed just anyone off the street to help teach a TRX class. Now mix in the drowning potential and you can see why we put such emphasis on education. Just because they are qualified to teach a general land group fitness class does not mean they are educated to teach in water. Please do not miss how important it is. Equipment Matters! Treat your aquatic equipment like you would your studio equipment. Equipment should be organized, rinsed with fresh water (like we would spray down studio equipment) and most importantly kept separate from any other programs. Equipment should be budgeted to be replaced yearly and never left to be dry rotted, lack of padding in the handles or chunks missing. Sound Matters in the pool environment. Some key things to remember are: A stereo system with at least 100W of sound. Providing a mic for instructors who teach on deck. Being aware of acoustics and working with your facilities director on creative ways to buffer echo in concrete facilities. Smart Dual Programing - Spoiler Alert: Aquatic fitness never mixes well with swim lessons. Take a look at your pool schedule and see if there are opportunities to carve out “studio time” -- 1-2 hours a day, that the majority of the pool is catered to the aquatic fitness class. Prime time swim lessons should most definitely cater to families, but popular time blocks of aquatic fitness should also be considered. If your aquatic fitness class takes the entire shallow end, you can allow your deep end to be utilized by ADULT open swim, or water jogging. Maximizing the time to allow as many people as possible. DO THE MATH! As your class popularity grows, let the space to host those members grow too. I am not saying that 10 people in a class should get all 6 lanes of the pool. But I have seen aquatic fitness classes grow to 40+ members and pool managers continue to ask us to move over so we can accommodate 1-2 lap swimmers. Catering to the 40 will have a better ROI for ONE HOUR then catering to 1-2 lap swimmers who have access to the pool all day. There are no set rules on spacing, as every pool is different in depth, slope and program focus. A fair rule to stand by is every participant should be able to stand on one leg and swing that leg 360 degrees around them and never touch the next person. Managing aquatic fitness classes and maximizing your pool’s programming potential is no easy task. Keep chiseling away at designing this time as a liquid studio. Consider the member’s point of view and begin to ask questions about what would you prefer if this was a class you were taking. I promise you, with a little time and the right investment, the aquatic fitness program will grow, and your facility will begin to attract even more in popularity. About the Author: Katy Coffey is a S’WET™ MASTER TRAINER teaching aquatic fitness in Boston, Massachusetts. She's been working in aquatics since 2002 and currently holds Instructor Training certifications for the American Red Cross, ASHI and YUSA. She is also an AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor, an AEA Aquatic Training Specialist, Master Trainer with Aqua Body Strong and holds a collective of 15 additional fitness certifications for both land and aquatic fitness training. Contact Katy here: Katy@JenniLynnFitness.com

Guest Blogger: Megan Cooperman I recently received an email from a company selling its service to fitness instructors and personal trainers. It said, “learn how to become indispensable in 90 minutes.” While I am sure this company has valuable tips, I am confident my advice offered here may also help you become vital in the fitness industry, especially with group fitness. And while it may take you just 5-10 minutes of your time, my advice is free, unlike the email campaign I received. So here it is...My advice to you: Teach aqua fitness! Get trained to teach aqua fitness. Open the door to aqua fitness training, and it in turn will open many doors for you. Opening Doors Like many others who teach aqua fitness, my invite to the industry came from the demand for instructors. Twenty-five years ago, I taught land-based group fitness at the University of Maryland and took aqua fitness classes. They lost their aqua instructor and asked me to step in and teach. They handed me a list of water exercises, provided a 30-minute training with the group fitness director, and off I went. Like many aqua instructors, I figured it out as I went. When I agreed to teach my first aqua class, I didn't realize how valuable teaching aqua would be. Throughout my fitness career, aqua has opened doors for me again and again. When I moved to New Jersey and then back to Maryland, being an experienced aquatic fitness instructor got me in the door at both my jobs. In 2013 after auditioning to teach at a facility, a group fitness director told me, I don't need you to teach Zumba. I have many people who can teach Zumba. However, I do need you to teach aqua fitness...If you teach that, I will give you a Zumba class too. Again and again, aqua opened doors for me. I secured extensive group fitness teaching jobs at various sites, a group fitness supervisor job, an assistant director for group fitness, and a fitness manager role -- all because aqua fitness instruction was on my resume. And all of that help me secure my present job managing a fitness center, pool, and programs at a senior retirement community in Washington, DC. I was appealing to them because they no longer needed to find subcontractors to teach aqua or manage their pool programs for them. In my various roles, I also supervised group fitness programs and hired instructors for ten years. Seeing aqua fitness on someone's resume was a golden ticket. 99% of the time, if someone had aqua and knew how to teach it (and teach it well), they were hired. Those instructors who could also teach various other formats were a huge win-win. They could cover a variety of classes and formats; not only are these instructors more desirable, but they also make more money being able to teach more and sub more class options often in demand. In 2016, I became a master trainer for a dance-based fitness program called LaBlast. At this time, LaBlast was developing a new aqua-based program called LaBlast Splash. Again, aqua opened the door. I was lucky to help create this program and eventually traveled to Holland and Belgium with LaBlast creator Louis Van Amstel to teach it to other instructors. As a master trainer, I stressed the value of having an aqua fitness certification. I encouraged it because of the opportunities teaching aqua fitness gave me and how I saw aqua, many times, help others get employed and have opportunities come their way. Learning the Hard Way Instructors who have taught group fitness, any type, for a long time will tell you that instructors develop a "go-to style" and preferences. They fill up their teaching bucket and toolbox with multiple ideas and tips they picked up in educational trainings, classes, certifications, and at conferences. The more you gain and learn in both land and aqua fitness, the better an instructor you become. Education is optimal, and it doesn't stop as you get older. Like any field of work or study, being up to date helps you do your job well. When I first started teaching aqua fitness, I gained the skills and training I thought were beneficial. Oddly enough, no one ever suggested I get AEA certified until ten years into my aqua teaching career. As an instructor who always strived to teach high-energy and safe aqua classes, I forgot to take care of my safety while teaching. After I injured my neck, I finally decided to secure the gold standard of aqua certs, the AEA certification. Taking the AEA certification was an eye-opener for me. It was the first aqua fitness training I took where safety for instructors was addressed in-depth. Group and aqua fitness instructing can be a long-term career if instructors learn how to protect themselves and their students. Injuries like my own sometimes are preventable; with proper education, I took steps to learn the tricks and tips on teaching exciting and entertaining classes that do not hurt my body in the process. Getting AEA certified provided high-quality training focused on safety and also introduced me to fantastic aqua trainers like Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour and Katy Coffey. I first met and saw Jenni teach at an AEA conference in 2019. I was immediately impressed with her teaching and followed her on social media. The more I learned about Jenni's skills and programs, I was sold. Jenni has successfully built aqua programs and taught effective, safe, thorough, and marketable classes to all people. Open Doors, The Future During the past year, the fitness industry and group fitness instructors have faced unprecedented challenges. Many of us lost teaching jobs, connections, and income. If you already are an aqua instructor, you know it was tough when there was no physical way to teach people virtually without the pool. It challenged all of us to reevaluate what we do and what we like. In some cases, instructors learned to teach new fitness formats or spent time educating themselves, finding new opportunities, opting to move on or patiently wait it out. Now with things turning around and opportunities coming back, fitness centers and gyms that made it through the pandemic and had to let go of most of their teaching teams are refilling positions, slowly adding classes and staff back. Pools are opening up, and once again, group fitness instructors are in demand, especially experienced aqua instructors. As we all know, aqua will always be in person unless you own a pool, and for many, that is not the case. Look through Indeed, LinkedIn, or other job websites. I can guarantee you will find postings for group fitness instructors, specifically aqua instructors. If you are not aqua trained, now is the time to learn, teach and build up your resume specifically with high-quality aqua programs. If you are already an aqua fitness instructor, focus on securing more education in quality programs like S’WET™ that will expand your teaching toolbox, give you advanced skills, and help you have a long-term aqua fitness career. Become indispensable! Open the door for yourself now, and many more doors in the future will open! ABOUT THE WRITER: Megan Cooperman, from Maryland, is a seasoned fitness pro with 25 years of experience in the fitness and health industry, from instructor to group fitness manager. A Maryland Distinguished Scholar In the Arts (in dance), she has taught various forms of dance and fitness ranging from toning, barre, aqua, aqua spin, Zumba, mat Pilates, arthritis, TRX, and more! Megan is presently the Fitness Manager at Ingleside Rock Creek, has a master’s degree in counseling, is securing a 2nd master's in industrial-organizational psychology, is certified by the Aerobics & Fitness Association of American (AFAA), American Council on Exercise (ACE), and Aquatics Exercise Association (AEA). In her free time, she works as a master trainer with Louis Van Amstel, World Ballroom Champion from the TV show Dancing with the Stars, training instructors on how to teach ballroom dance fitness. Contact Megan: megcooperman@gmail.com

by Katy Coffey A recent survey by The New Consumer and Coefficient Capital asked 3,500 Americans if they had tried working out from home during the pandemic. 76% of people said yes. More importantly 66% stated they preferred it! And among millennials, 82% answered yes to working out at home with 81% claiming the switch is more preferable than the gym. So in the age of booming at-home fitness programs like Peloton, Daily Burn and Beachbody On Demand, one has to ask the question, is there anything a gym can do to draw back their fleeing membership? The answer to that question: THE POOL. But only if managers look beyond offering the basics of lap swim & lessons. Let’s first look at the specifics of why in a post-pandemic world facilities should focus on aquatic programming. Since March 2020, the CDC has not changed its stance on the safety of a properly run pool stating, the “CDC is not aware of any scientific reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, water playgrounds, or other treated aquatic venues.” Let’s repeat that. No reports of COVID-19 spreading to people through pool water. An April 2021 study in the UK published by Swimming.org states the “virus does not survive” in pool water. In fact, their results found that the pool actually “inactivates COVID-19 virus in 30 seconds.” The research established that 1.5mg per litre of free chlorine with a pH between 7-7.2 reduced the infectivity of the virus by more than 1000 fold within 30 seconds. Additional testing of different free chlorine and pH ranges confirmed that chlorine in swimming pool water was more effective with a lower pH – which is in line with current guidance for swimming pool operations. Essentially patrons are bathing in proper sanitation. Most countries also have strict air quality standards in their indoor pool facilities so with proper ventilation, any possible virus transmission will either pull up and out of the facility, or would drop back into the water to be neutralized. Outdoor pools, of course, have plenty of ventilation, but also the UV rays of the sun to help combat the virus. So there is no doubt that the pool is by far the safest place for your members to work out. Yet most managers still look at their pools as a money pit, and oftentimes this may be true. Therein lies the problem. The pools have been run the same way for years. Here is where aquatics could change the outcome of your facility. Right now we need to pivot away from only catering to 1 lap swimmer or 1 swim class at a time, and instead consider how many more members can be served safely within an aquatic fitness class. Depending on your pool depth, 3 lanes can serve up to 15 members with proper social distancing in a shallow water class. And this number can be doubled if offering a dual depth circuit class. You can learn more about how circuits might help your facility in my article on the AEA Website. The pool should be the center point of your fitness schedule. These classes can safely host quality group fitness, servicing a variety of abilities and intensity levels. And with seasoned certified aquatic fitness instructors at the helm, your facility should be able to replicate what is missing on land and bring those at-home members back to your pool. To do this make sure your pool is following some key advice: Certification & Education is key. A group exercise class coordinator would never hire a TRX instructor to teach a spin class, or a yoga instructor to sub Hiit Boot Camp. So why do we keep doing this for aquatic fitness classes? It is essential that licensed and properly trained fitness instructors are safely teaching the format offered. The same goes for the pool. Your 16 year old lifeguard cannot and should not be your group aquatic fitness instructor, nor should your favorite personal trainer sub a Stand Up Paddle Board fitness class. (True Story: I once attended a subbed class where the trainer actually warmed us up using burpees!!!) There are an abundance of certifications & training programs out there! Check out the AEA Alliance page for just a quick snapshot of options available for your instructors. And if you’re looking to find an experienced instructor in your area check out Swim & Sweat’s People 2 Pool Instructor Finder Tool! Can’t find a qualified instructor who will draw in the people? Consider hosting a specialized instructor training at your facility! Hosting a public event is often free to the facility. The host site simply needs to carve out a few hours in the pool during an 8 hour training, as the remainder of the time trainers will be working with instructors in a classroom setting. As an added bonus, host sites typically get 1-2 instructors trained for free! Need a recommendation of companies worth hosting? Here are just a few of my favorite I have personally hosted: S’WET™ Aqua Zumba La Blast Splash Aqua Body Strong AEA Invest in your pool’s tools and programming. I know I know, there is literally no money right now, hence the reason we need people to come back to our facilities!!! If you are trying to introduce new programming to ensure safety, handing out pool noodles with bite marks and dry rotting hand buoys is not a message of safety & sanitation. With a little investment in new aquatic equipment, you may just see some dramatic results. Check out AEA Aquatic Training Specialist Craig Yaniglos’s podcast interview where Craig offers some creative tips for aquatic fitness facilities struggling with their budgets to help raise money and awareness for their communities. He also discusses how investing in specialized programming and equipment can draw new participants and memberships to a facility. Encourage your staff to attend fitness conferences. Companies such as SCW Fitness, Fitness Fest & IAFC can inspire and change not only your staff, but even your members. I personally love attending these events, and every year I invite my students to attend as well. I have seen them fall in love with the new wave of aquatic fitness and have even inspired a few to become instructors as well. Get into the pool and try it yourself. No really. I am floored by the number of managers who have never stepped foot into the pool and actually sampled the workouts offered by their own instructors at their facilities. Better yet, take my previous recommendation and go to a fitness festival or workshop yourself. Educate yourself under a master trainer. Feel how the water can transform your workout. Touch the products they are demonstrating and see how their shelf life is much longer than the dollar store noodles purchased each year for your members. Over the past 12 years I have personally followed each of the steps above at 6 different locations and each facility had the same outcome: maximum number of enrollment for individual fitness classes, measurable growth in membership as the community grew in popularity through these classes, and most importantly fostering the heart of giving back to the community. Added Bonus: once they saw their needs were being met, the aquatic fitness members were the first to give back during donation season! The pool doubles as both a fitness center and a community center. It can give freedom of movement to the injured, push the limits of the elite athlete and protect the mama to be. The pool self cleans all your equipment - more than 7 times stronger in sanitation than required to dismember the virus - and if properly set up, can also be the total body gym your members need. So yeah, the pool might just be what saves your gym. Are you ready to use it? Katy Coffey is the Sr. Director of Aquatics for the YMCA of Greater Boston. She is a S’WET™ Master Trainer and an Aquatic Training Specialist Trainee with the AEA.

by Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour Now that I’ve stopped counting how many days have passed without teaching, I realize just how focused I’ve become on the anticipation of actually ‘having’ to go back to it! I am THRILLED to announce that starting May 3rd, S’WET™ is returning to TMPL GYM - Monday thru Thursdays at 6:00 PM. It may be New York City’s time to partially resume indoor group fitness classes, but before I take the first step back into a gym in over a year, I am reflecting on how much myself and the S’WET™ Squad have accomplished over the last twelve months during this pandemic... ...from a morning routine that truly helps me start my day on my terms, to working on developing life and work habits that aid me towards a work/life flow balance, knowing when to ask for help...and when to walk away and breathe. (Thank you Amy Landino, Lavendaire & Ashley Bishop). These are all things I never would have had time to consider until the pandemic, and although it will always sound odd to say it, I am thankful for this time of trial and uncertainty. Going towards the unknown and uncomfortable is what pushes us to discover things about ourselves we didn’t know we had or were capable of. It also puts a large mirror in front of your face and strongly encourages you to wake up and get moving! *To put it politely* I didn’t like the reflection I saw three years ago, but I recently celebrated my THIRD YEAR of sobriety, and I know that my journey has been as amazing as it has because I have been present for it. Clear minded and eyes open to what I wanted while listening to my heart and not the bottle. Along with celebrating three years of sobriety, I recently filmed the official S’WET™ Instructor Training Master Class with my growing S’WET™ Squad (Chris LaCour, AJ Meyers & Katy Coffey) for the official launch of my first certificate program. While on set, I also found out my 7 year wait for the legal trademark to S’WET™ became official!!! ALL 3 major goals happened within the same week of each other and it busted my soul wide open! I am one of ‘those people’ who tend to focus on the negative and get stuck on the ‘hamster wheel’ of self doubt, so when I allowed myself to fully take in ALL that was happening, along with all that has happened -- and IS STILL happening -- I find myself truly thankful for this time. This time to change and lean into the unknown, and begin to discover what I was capable of in this lifetime. I hope you are doing the same. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. - Christopher Robin (Winnie The Pooh)

By Katy Coffey Swim Lessons - Check Lifeguard Training - Check Chemicals in Balance - Check Budget & Payroll - Check Subbing for Aqua Aerobics…“You want me to do what now!!!???” This was my exact reaction, when taking over the reigns for my first year as an Aquatics Director. I had already worked in Aquatics for over 10 years, but now I was in charge of the entire pool and I knew NOTHING about Aquatic Fitness. Enter into my life Marlee, our faithful weekday opening lifeguard, who happened to also be a USWFA Master Trainer. Marlee would not only show me these ladies were not just a bunch “Nannas with Noodles” but would also be the spark to change the trajectory of my aquatics career. Fast forward 6 years and I am in the middle of hosting a massive AEA training Weekend. I now was the lead Aquatic Fitness Professional for 13 aquatic venues, in addition to being a Master Trainer for Aqua Body Strong, and certified in all the formats (both land & sea) that I could get my flippers on. Our AEA Aquatic Training Specialist walks in to start our workshop and I notice her sporting a backpack, water bottle and tank top all with I <3 S’WET on it. Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour was her name and changing the name of aquatic fitness was her game! This lady was speaking my aquatic love language. I agreed with every word of her workshop. The question still remained, “ She could talk the talk but could she ehh ...Swim the swim?” It was on our 3rd wall blast off in the master class that she and I locked eyes and smiled! “THIS WOMAN IS INCREDIBLE” I thought, and come to find out, Jenni Lynn was thinking the exact same thing about me! What started as a training acquaintance, turned into mentorship, which morphed into friendship & accountability. It is with the greatest honor that I accepted to join the ranks of the S’WET™ Squad and help launch this game changing certification. SO WHO IS KATY? Katy currently serves as a Sr. Director of Aquatics in Boston. She is also a Master Trainer for Aqua Body Strong, AFAA Group Exercise Certified, holds AEA/AFAP/Hydro Revolution Aquatic Certifications and is an AEA Aquatic Training Specialist Trainee. Katy also is an Aqua Zumba & Lablast Splash Instructor, Faculty YSLv6, Lifeguard Instructor Trainer for both American Red Cross & YUSA as well as an Instructor Trainer for ASHI! Oh, and she's wicked SMATT (read in your best Boston accent)! Contact Katy at : katy@jennilynnfitness.com If you missed Katy's episode on The Aquaholics Bootcamp - Episode 4, go back and catch up now! And stay tuned...Season 2 is in production and we look forward to bringing you all the inside details on our favorite Programming, Education & Equipment! Listen & Read Episode Transcript Here: https://www.jennilynnfitness.com/single-post/stop-calling-us-aerobics-instructors

by Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour So when I wrote my journal entry this morning and wrote the date, time and number of days without water (teaching), I was a bit taken back to see #300...as I was when it was #200. Keeping track of how many days it’s been since I last taught my aquatic fitness classes has been a challenging and rewarding habit. One would anticipate an injury or sudden accident to prevent you from physically teaching a class, but being kept away from water due to a global pandemic has been a true practice of patience and gratitude for me. I have to admit watching friends and colleagues around the world continuing to teach under safe guidelines can be heart wrenching at times, but it’s also gratifying to see everyone continuing to thrive and help their community make waves and stay healthy. I’ll admit I’m SO impressed to see those having to teach with masks on, and even the face shield seems so wild! I’m sure I’ll have these to deal with all that in due time (come on NYC!), but watching everyone now is “preparing” me mentally for what’s to come. Even though the envy exists, I can say that when I am reunited with my mermaids and mermen, I will have a newfound appreciation for them and my role in their lives. I have always loved my job, but as most, I had lots of little annoyances that I would gripe about. However, now without those experiences, my entire perspective has changed in how I view those little “annoyances.” I cannot wait to see ALL of my students, even the talkers! OH MY!! Though seeing the #300 day in the journal was difficult because it shows how much time has passed, it can also be reassuring to know I’ll be that much more excited to see everyone and be fully present in every moment of teaching, because I was without water for all those precious days.

Earlier this year, Jenni Lynn's SURF & S’WET™ class was featured on New York City's PIX11 Morning News! Are You On Board? by Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour One of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered over a decade of teaching aquatic fitness is getting devoted land exercise participants to consider jumping into one of my water-based classes. Most "land goers" are very loyal, just like our aquatic fitness enthusiasts. However, they will make numerous excuses as to why the water just isn’t for them, or isn’t as effective as “weight bearing”, or they don’t want to carry around a wet swimsuit, or in my opinion, they just don’t want to get their hair wet! Whatever their reason, convincing them otherwise has proven difficult. Until…I created Surf & S’WET™. Thankfully, I was presented with the opportunity to teach on floating mats at one of the facilities where I work. This was beyond exciting because I had patiently waited for about a year for a slot to open. I had taught small group training with the boards for additional member fees, but this opportunity was a permanent class that members could register for on a weekly basis and make continuous progress. Finally, the chance to promote an aquatic fitness class that would incorporate weight bearing exercises, balance and core stability work, all on top of and in the water. Most aquatic instructors can attest that there are many misconceptions about the benefits of aquatic fitness demonstrated by the demographics we have filling up most of our classes. Though the industry has been making waves and starting to create awareness, through growing interest within gyms and online content, there’s still a big factor keeping all types of participants from showing up to our pools. I believe this is because they cannot see what we’re doing! To an untrained eye looking through the pool windows at an aquatic fitness class, you see some waves and bobbing heads at the surface of the water. Visually this cannot be that appealing to those who have absolutely no idea what is actually taking place below the surface. Now, using the floating boards, onlookers will be able to visually take in what a water class looks like. Most previous participants had done yoga and Pilates-based classes on the boards, but everything stayed on the board (unless they lost balance and fell in). The participants were so adamant about not getting wet, they were willing to risk their safety to jump from the pool deck onto the board. Of course, I did not allow this to happen, but several would attempt just to prevent getting wet. I have to be honest, I am sneaky with my class. I start in the water – not on top of the board – with high knee jogs and pumping arms. Just like a traditional aquatic fitness class, we warm up, short levers and all, while going through base moves (jumping jacks, cross-country skis, tucks, kicks and hops) while in the water between the boards. Once I can tell their muscles are prepared and breathing rates increased, we use the board itself as a piece of equipment. (I know some pools perform the floating board classes in deep water, so this could all be done with a flotation belt incorporating deep-water based moves). Similar to when pulling out of the pool, plant the hands on the floating mat and use the legs and arms to push up and onto the board. I like to call these pull ups. From here, participants lie prone on the board with legs in the water for a 30-second flutter kick sprint. After the legs are burning, it is time to stand up. Oh yeah, the best part ... balance! Now it becomes mind over matter. We know we are in water, which is softer than land, but the idea of “falling” is still intimidating. When trying to stand up, or even just kneel, on the board, our sense of balance is thrown completely off, and our legs begin to shake uncontrollably. This is where your teaching skills have to kick in; cue participants to breathe, focus their eyes on a non-moving object, and relax. Yes, easier said than done. Once we’re all up, it is time to move again. So, we rock the boards side-to side, creating some serious waves in the pool. After 30 seconds of waves, we continue with burpees, one-minute planks (forearms or extended), bridges, push ups and core teasers. This series of moves takes about 15 minutes and then it is back in the water for more plyometric work using floatation and drag equipment. Plus, we still incorporate the board for kicking and pull ups. Ultimately my goal is to get every participant to experience an intense workout both on top of the water and in the water. These boards provide that opportunity for the "land goers" I was attracting to Surf & S’WET™. Soon I had several men and women asking me what other classes I taught at the gym, and of course my response was always, “Please come join the aquatic fitness classes I offer several times a week here!” So, they did. In a matter of a month of teaching Surf & S’WET™, my aquatic fitness classes doubled, and Monday night’s class tripled. I was thrilled! An added bonus: since I had started the floating board classes in the water covering base moves and getting the newcomers familiar with the exercises, they were experienced in most of the moves we were doing in our more traditional aquatic classes. This increased their confidence and kept them coming back for more! 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 in the Oct/Nov 2020 Issue of AKWA Magazine.