see Mark's previous Archived Motivator Articles

Every aquatic fitness professional possesses the capacity to make a difference. However, some instructors go above and beyond the call of duty. Whether their actions impact one person or several people – their good deeds inspire others. Inspirational stories from the pool serve as testimony to the potential we all have for spreading health, joy and kindness through our profession.

At IAFC 2007 in Orlando, I will be presenting a session that features a compilation of inspirational stories that will highlight instructors who have made a difference and the students or causes that they benefited. The session will be titled Making a Difference.
Wanted: Stories for this session!

Please consider inspiring your fellow instructors by sharing stories that spotlight acts of kindness and compassion. Details for sharing are at the end of article.

Whether big or small, there are countless ways that aquatic fitness professionals positively influence their students. Instructors spend their own money on equipment, DVDs, workshops and music simply because they want to motivate their students with new stuff. They spend countless hours learning new formats and re-inventing old ones.
Pundits would argue that this is all part of the job responsibility. This may be true, but we all know instructors who would argue otherwise. Therefore, the ones who actually shoulder these responsibilities should be applauded for their efforts.

What would happen if we put a job description for an aqua aerobics instructor in the paper? What would it say?

Wanted: Aquatic Fitness Instructor - Applicants must own a car because they will most likely have to drive halfway across town to teach a one-hour class. Ideal candidates must have experience pushing their bodies to the cusp of organ failure in sweltering hot conditions and also possess the ability to smile and entertain others when their own life is erupting in flames. No other experience is necessary but if you don’t teach like the previous instructor the students will probably rake you over the coals. There are no benefits, the salary is laughable and you should be prepared to plunge yourself into credit card debt for the sake of your students. Please apply in person so we can judge your appearance before the students do!

Okay, that was a sarcastic exaggeration, but sometimes we ask ourselves why we do it? Most instructors simply reply that they want to help others. For some, the desire to feel purposeful compels them to serve and is the likely reason why so many people are attracted to service sector jobs despite low pay and abysmal working conditions.

Many instructors deal with situations that they would normally never tolerate if not for the dedication and devotion of their students. Peggy Harr and Linda Scott, co-owners of Aquatic Fitness & Health in Pennsylvania and well known as the Pink Flamingo Ladies at IAFC conferences, recently left a facility after hanging on for years despite what they describe as broken promises and lies on the part of the facility owners. Why did they stay so long? “Our responsibility and commitment to our professionalism and our clients, most of whom were special needs, is what kept us there,” says Scott. “We experienced, first-hand, what it means to value people more than our purse,” she added.
Wanted: Stories about instructors who endure less than ideal working conditions for the sake of their students

Seasoned instructors understand that the job description extends way beyond teaching fitness. When teaching workshops, I often joke with participants that the main job responsibility of an instructor is to spread sunshine and add “cherry flavor” to the class. Here’s the logic: If exercise is fun the students will keep coming and if they keep coming we can make a difference. Carla-Jarvis-Johnson, owner of Water Wellness Workouts.Com and an AEA member, spends a lot of time concocting themes for her classes in Arkansas. A recent article by Carla and Debby Gifford on the AEA website reveals holiday themes such as, Musical Pumpkins, The Turkey Trot and the Snowman Shuffle, all designed to add the cherry flavor and keep the workouts fun.
Wanted: Stories about instructors who make exercise fun

Fitness instructors are keenly aware that many students participate in classes as a social outlet. As much as we would prefer them to zip it during class – socializing is part of the aquatic experience. It is simply human nature to need to bond with others and to feel like you matter to someone.

Occasionally, instructors go above and beyond the call of duty to insure the continuation of that bond. In 1998, a group of students in Fairfax County, Virginia rallied together when it was announced their pool would be closing for a month due to maintenance. One of the students, Cynthia Neu, convinced her instructor, Jim Seeley, to keep the classes going by joining her and 21 other students on a cruise! The experience was memorable for all involved and Cynthia and Jim went on to form the Fun & Fitness Travel Club which now has nearly 3000 members. 

Over 50 AEA certified instructors have hosted their own students on cruises all over the world. The passionate testimonials, joyful photos and heartfelt tributes from these cruises attest to the physical and emotional benefits of combining fitness with social activities.
Wanted: Stories about instructors who have provided fitness and social opportunities for their students

The art of making students feel special - remembering names and birthdays; acknowledging absences and letting students know they were missed; respecting depression and grief when a student experiences adversity or the death of a loved one; these are all things that a thoughtful and compassionate instructor does very well.
Wanted: Stories of thoughtful and compassionate instructors who make students feel special

Life can turn upside down rather quickly with a cancer diagnosis. The fitness industry offers many inspirational stories of instructors who have overcome adversity and gone on to inspire others with similar challenges. After surviving breast cancer and other health complications, Dianne West, a certified AEA instructor, founded Cancer COMFORT Ministry in Edmonds, Washington. Recalling the physical and emotional healing that water therapy had brought her, West re-invented her approach to aquatic fitness and now offers private sessions to cancer patients and hopes to further her education in rehab techniques. “My dream is to build a cancer support center in a spa-like setting that would include a beautiful warm water pool,” says West.
Wanted: Stories of instructors who have inspired and helped others through their own experiences

Instructors often make a difference by raising awareness for a cause or volunteering their time for charity. Diana Duda, an AEA certified instructor, dedicated her efforts to securing grant funding for an aquatic multiple sclerosis (MS) class at her facility in the Chicago area. The class has made a huge impact on the participants and they now schedule lunches after class to provide kinship and support for each other. Michael and Helen Gauthier, of Aquatics for Life in Portland, Maine, volunteered their time to organize swim lessons and water aerobic classes for the children and adult family members of military personnel serving abroad. IAFC attendees would recognize Michael as the man in mouse ears!

On one day - November 30, 2005, events were held at over 40 locations across the United States to raise money for the American Red Cross disaster assistance for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The AEA global family came together to raise over $10,000 – including Nancy Arnold from Wisconsin who raised $1020 and Gina Merricle from New Jersey who raised $755.
Wanted: Stories of instructors who have embraced causes or donate their time to charitable services

Witnessing an act of kindness has been proven to foster similar acts of kindness by the people who witnessed the original act. Similarly, if we as fitness professionals bear witness to the ways in which other instructors inspire their students, would we not feel more empowered to inspire our own students in remarkable ways?

A story is only inspirational if it is shared with others. Please share yours! Whether it is about your own class or about another instructor – pass it along and let it inspire others!

Please submit stories via e-mail or mail to:
Mark Grevelding
619 Fairmount Ave
Rochester, NY 14626
E-mail: markgrev@aol.com 
Phone: 585.865.2609

back to top