This continuing education program is sponsored by Aqua Sphere, the premier swimming equipment manufacturer for swim training, fitness swimming and triathlon events.  Aqua Sphere has been extending their influence beyond the horizontal realm of swimming and into the vertical world of aquatic fitness with an ever expanding line of water exercise equipment.  Aqua Sphere currently sells hand held buoyant equipment, webbed gloves, deep water belts, kickboards and more, with plans for debuting new and innovative equipment prototypes in the near future.

Aqua Sphere’s expansion into aquatic fitness programming reflects the rapid growth of water exercise, largely due to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and the obesity epidemic.  Aquatic fitness has evolved from older adult exercise into a more diverse blend of fitness programming that includes water cycling, group strength, kickboxing, boot camp, mind/body and more.  Aqua Sphere is dedicated to supplying the aquatic fitness industry with not only equipment, but also programming ideas that appeal to a new generation of water fitness participants.

The goal of the Aqua Sphere Circuit Challenge (ASCC) is to provide an athletic, equipment based program for the pool at an affordable cost.  The ASCC program showcases an aggressive a circuit/boot camp style format that features four pieces of Aqua Sphere equipment, all being utilized simultaneously in four exercise stations.  The featured exercises for each equipment station are timed for one minute and include options for increasing or decreasing intensity.  This type of timed, athletic, equipment based workout creates a fun, fast-paced gym class in the pool.

Aqua Sphere understands that for an equipment based program to be attainable, it must fit within the budget limits of an aquatic facility.  The circuit/station format of this program drastically cuts down on equipment expenditures.  Instead of purchasing 40 pieces of each kind of equipment, you only need to purchase 6 or 12 pieces of each kind of equipment.  The Aqua Sphere Circuit Challenge can be implemented by purchasing a program package of equipment – (6 each) to meet the needs of 24 participants, or (12 each) to meet the needs of 48 participants.

The affordability and marketability of the Aqua Sphere Circuit Challenge program provides a facility with exciting potential.  This popular boot camp format can be utilized in group fitness, small group (fee based) programming and for personal training.  Showcasing a fun, athletic aquatic workout is no doubt a coveted membership incentive for any facility that has a pool.

Ten-hut!  Revive your pool programming with an exciting aqua boot camp class!

Check out the FitMotivation store for pricing details on the Aqua Sphere Circuit Challenge

For information on hosting the two hour Aqua Sphere Circuit Challenge workshop, please contact Mark Grevelding
Email:  markgrev@gmail.com

Maximizing Pool Space By Teaching Deep & Shallow Simultaneously

By Mark Grevelding

Not all pools are created equal.  Some facilities have an enormous aquatic center with multiple pools, while others depend on just one, shared-use pool.  If available class times are at a premium at your facility due to shared use, maximizing pool space in an aquatic fitness class is often necessary.  Creating a class where people can participate in both depths is a solution to maximizing pool space when there is usable deep and shallow space available.

It is NOT a combo class.  Offering a simultaneous deep and shallow class is different than a deep/shallow combo class.  In the traditional combo class, half of the class is performed in deep and half is performed in shallow, with different movements for each.  Students are pretty much left to fend for themselves in modifying movement if they choose to stay in one depth the entire time.  In a simultaneous deep/shallow class, the same moves are taught with some participating from the deep end and others following along in shallow water.

All are welcome.  Wouldn’t it be nice to put in a class description the following, “All are welcome, whether you prefer participating in the deep end or following along in shallow water…”   Clearly, offering a simultaneous deep/shallow class will not only maximize pool space, but it will also provide non swimmers a safety net in the shallow end and those with joint impact issues a comfort zone in the deep end.  Sounds good so far, but offering this type of simultaneous class presents its own set of challenges.

High Maintenance Instruction.  First of all, teaching the same movements to people in shallow and deep is not as easy as it sounds.  I’ll be honest with you, when I teach a deep water class at the local YMCA, I have some people who participate in the shallow end and I do not offer modifications to them.  Why?  Because the class is listed on the schedule as a deep water class and therefore I do not feel it is incumbent upon me to have to explain and modify everything to the people in the shallow end.  Quite frankly, that’s a lot of work.  In other words, they fend for themselves but I always make them aware that I am leading movements for deep water and that they will have to do their best to modify for shallow if they want to try to follow along.

Not all moves are created equal.  If you are advertising a class that people can participate from either the deep or shallow ends, then the instructor leading this class will have to carefully plan movement that can be executed safely and effectively in both depths.  Yup, say buh bye to rocking horses, pendulums, Level I-III, grounded, bounded, flutter kicks, hurdles and more.  Some moves simply will not be able to be taught in both depths.

Not all transitions are created equal.  Transitional considerations will also need to be analyzed.  When unsure if two moves go together in the shallow end, a bounce center is used as the transition.  There won’t be any bouncing center in the deep, but you can cue a return to neutral or center position which provides the same transitional purpose as a bounce center.  Frequent changes in travel direction often utilized in shallow programming will have to be limited for those in the deep, perhaps padding in holding moves before direction is reversed.  Music tempo and cadence will also need to be slowed down for those in the deep.  Instead of playing a 135 bpm music CD for the cardio workout, you may have to compromise and select a music CD with a 132 or 130 bpm.

Other considerations.  Where and how you position yourself to teach may also have to be changed in order for students in both depths to see you.  Equipment considerations will have to be carefully thought out.  Maybe that noodle routine you love works great in the shallow end but not so much in the deep.  The abs you do in the deep with belts on in modified supine position will sink like a lead balloon for those people in the shallow end without belts.

Angie’s Dilemma.  So yeah, it’s not all that easy to teach simultaneous deep and shallow programming.  But help is on the way!  AEA’s Executive Director, Angie Proctor, has her own pool space issues for the International Aquatic Fitness Conference (IAFC), particularly this year with the 25th anniversary and sessions expected to sell out quickly.  Therefore, one of Angie’s solutions was to add several simultaneous deep/shallow master classes that would open up space in the entire pool.  These master classes will be jam packed with cool choreography and concepts for teaching simultaneous deep and shallow classes.

Back to the lab.  At IAFC 2012, I will be co-teaching, Aqua 2 for 1, with Tara Palmer Schaeffer and we have been busy creating simultaneous choreography.  I am excited about testing this new routine out with my students at the YMCA.  Aqua 2 for 1 is also a NEW FitMotivation Workshop and is being offered this spring in Albany, NY and Dublin, OH.
Check out the Event Calendar.

Who knows?  Maybe this will start a new trend.  The concept and the desired outcome make perfect sense.  Maximize class space by opening up both shallow and deep = more participants.  More options for these participants = happier participants.  Lots of happy participants = greater cost effectiveness and profits which certainly makes the bean counters and bosses happy.

Mark Grevelding teaches at the East Area YMCA in Syracuse, NY and is a trainer and consultant for AEA.  He is an international presenter and a continuing education provider for AEA, AFAA & ACE.  Mark is the founder of Fit Motivation, a business that provides education resources for fitness professionals.  He has produced several DVDs, authored numerous articles and was the recipient of AEA’s 2011 Global Award for Aquatic Fitness Professional.  Check out Mark at www.fitmotivation.com.

I have not released a shallow water DVD since 2009 and therefore I am excited to release these two new DVDs.  I am confident that instructors will take away a treasure chest of fun new ideas to add into their shallow water classes!

In Aquatic Pyramids, you will learn how to slice it and dice moves for for maximal cardio intensity.  This fast paced shallow water class features pyramid choreography.  When teaching with pyramid choreography, the amount of repetitions are either increased or decreased depending on the desired outcome.

The desired outcome here is to create a high energy cardio workout in the water.  This new DVD showcases repetition reduction as a means of increasing intensity in an aqua aerobic class.  Repetition reduction is a gold medal industry standard of fitness instruction for both land and water.  Reducing repetitions in the water is especially effective due to the Law of Inertia.  Inertia represents change and pyramid choreography is the epitome of systematic change.  As you reduce repetitions on a series of selected movements; changes in limb patterns become more frequent.  This results in greater demands on the major muscles groups as they work against the viscosity of the water.  These greater demands necessitate an increased upload of oxygen to the working muscles and thus a vigorous cardio workout is born!

Pyramid choreography is one of the most popular styles of instruction because it is a rather simplistic way to teach movement.  Here is an example.  Select four base moves.  Start with 32 of each, then 16, then 8, then 4, then 2 and then maybe 1 of each depending on the moves you choose and the fitness level of the class.

Aquatic Pyramids features base moves but the outcome feels anything but basic.  This is an important concept that I refer to all the time in my workshops.  We teach base moves because they have been proven to be effective in the aquatic environment.  We all teach jacks, skis, kicks, jogs, leg curls, pendulum, rocking horse and more.  These moves represent a wide spectrum of major muscle recruitment which is why they are favored.  New instructors often feel pressured to invent moves never before seen in the word of aquatic fitness.  Seasoned instructors know better!  They understand that the body only moves in so many ways and that all purposeful moves have likely been discovered.

Therefore, the challenge is learning how to either reinvent or instruct base moves with a fresh approach.  The focus in this DVD is on the teaching method.  The menu of moves taught here is a menu shared by every aquatic fitness instructor.  There is absolutely nothing original in the moves.  The originality lies in the cascading effect of repetitions being reduced systematically until they cued to the bare bone, changing at a rapid fire pace.  The end result is a heart pounding fitness roller coaster that thrills and engages students with challenging yet doable choreography.

Instead of feeling pressured to invent new moves, focus your attention on breathing new life, new power and new purpose into your curriculum by focusing on HOW you teach base moves.  Aquatic Pyramids showcases ONE teaching style and ONE way of transforming simple movement into a gut busting whitewater workout!

Aquatic Endings is essentially a compilation of my favorite ways to end a class.  In traditional aquatic fitness classes, we tend to teach 30-40 minutes of cardio and then we save the last 20-30 minutes of class for optional activities that include strength, core, stretching and more.  This DVD features 9 combinations of different optional activities, including kickboxing, upper body, core, noodle work, balance and mind/body.
Ending #1  Kickboxing -  My students love to do kickboxing/punch combinations in the water.  And yes, I teach morning classes at a YMCA to older adults. Why do they like kickboxing?  Because it provides PLANNED opportunities for arm patterning.  Students love to work their upper body and the kickboxing routine in this DVD provides an invigorating workout for the arms.
Ending #2 Core – Students can’t get enough of ab/core work.  You don’t always have to reposition your body with a noodle or belt to get a good core workout.  The core routine in this DVD is performed vertical with feet touching (with some suspended options) – enabling almost all students to participate.
Ending #3 Upper Body – In my classes, I have a stock arm pattern that includes 8 arm movements that essentially work all of the major muscle groups of the upper body.  This arm pattern can be paired with different lower body base moves to provide endless variations and challenges.
Ending # 4 Noodle Resistance – Looking for a strength combination to FRY your triceps?  Look no further.  This combination features 4 moves strung together with repetition reduction – moves that will leave the back of your arms in flames, particularly if you have dense noodles to work with.
Ending #5 Horizontal Noodle Abs – I like to choreograph my noodle ab routines to make them more engaging and interesting.  In this DVD, three combinations are performed in modified supine position on the noodle – and if f lowed together they create an almost Esther Williams- like tapestry of twisting, turning, rolling aqua moves!
Ending #6 Vertical Noodle Abs – Re-positioning the noodle while in modified supine position so that it now runs the length of the spine provides a much greater  balance challenge.  In this DVD, the vertical noodle routine is Pilates inspired and features moves that demand focus and bracing for a killer core workout.
Ending #7 Planking Noodle – I love performing movement in the plank position in the water.  Why?  Planking not only provides more from the core, but it also positions the body for optimal workloads in the vertical buoyancy vector when using buoyant equipment.   This DVD features movement in both the front and side planking position.
Ending #8 Balance – I teach classes in Syracuse, NY and everyone knows what the climate is like here.  Last winter we had 178 inches of snow!  My student have to walk on snow and ice for up to 6-7 months of the year and it is imperative that they have good balance skills.  In this DVD, I mix up upper & lower body patterns that create balance variety & challenges.
Ending #9 – Pi-Yo-Chi – Originally developed by Dr. Mary Wykle, this program combines aqua adapted movement from yoga, Pilates and Ai Chi.  I am a big fan of Pi-Yo-Chi and I love the creativity & flow that these movements provide for endless cool down and flexibility segments.

As you can see, the Aquatic Endings DVD is guaranteed to stock you up on a boatload of ideas for upper body, core, noodle work, mind/body and more!

Music is the fuel that feeds the fitness industry. It provides the motivation to move and the inspiration to train harder. Fitness music is evolving and downloading is becoming more prominent, as are music systems sans CD players. Are you ready for the coming changes?

Well, alert the media! Mark Grevelding downloaded his first music CD! Yes, this was a monumental moment for me. For the past couple years it seems as though all my peers have been plugging into iTunes and downloading new and previously purchased CDs to burn onto disc or sync with there iPods. When I would tell them that I still hadn’t gone there because I really didn’t know how, they would just give me “the look” – the kind of look reserved for simpletons.

Tired of getting “the look,” I resolved to overcome my tech phobia and download a CD. Even if my efforts caused my computer to erupt into sparks and toxic smoke, I didn’t care any more; I needed to prove that I was a hip instructor! So I sat down at my desk bravely going where I have never gone before – ordering my very first music CD as a download. As I navigated the downloading tutorial, sweat trickled down my temples and my fingers hesitated over the keyboard on each directive – like if I pushed the wrong button I might accidently launch a nuclear strike against China.

Within minutes it was over. The CD miraculously appeared in my iTunes library and my computer didn’t flash scary messages or experience a catastrophic failure. I paced around my house for an hour in shock that it actually worked and then had to lay down for awhile just to absorb the moment. The next day I felt emboldened enough to try downloading previously purchased CDs into my iTunes library. And then I did the unthinkable -I created my first play list. Yup, I was now a hip instructor.

If you hadn’t noticed, the music industry is evolving and downloads are becoming a prominent alternative to music CDs. If you have been teaching for more than ten years you may recall The Great Cassette Conversion of the late 90’s and the trauma inflicted on those who simply couldn’t part with their cassettes. Now, no one is predicting the demise of CDs just yet, but as technology grows it is very possible that some facilities may start purchasing sound systems that feature iPod/MP3 compatibility only. In other words, USB ports only, no CD slots. The fact is whether you purchase CDs as downloads or simply download purchased CDs, the technology makes sense for instructors and it may be wise to start familiarizing yourself with the process.

If you have ever purchased a $25 music CD and then promptly lost that CD, dropped it in the water or lent it out and never saw it again, you know how painful that is. Or how about having an entire CD case of 30 $25 CDs stolen? Downloading a CD to a music storage system such as iTunes simply protects your investment by providing a back-up should it get damaged, stolen or lost. Some instructors think that downloading legally licensed fitness music CDs is only for people who are using iPods or MP3 players, but the reality is that you can burn to disc your downloaded music and still use CDs. The exact legality of this is suspect, but the reality is that everyone does it.

For me, the process was a bit simpler as I already had an iTunes account because I have been using an iPod Shuffle for my own personal workouts for the past couple of years. Having an iTunes account for music downloading is almost a must as most of the fitness music companies provide directives that ultimately store the download to an iTunes account as a playlist. The iTunes software allows your downloaded playlist to be individually tracked and played without gaps between songs, provided that you select the correct settings. You can create your own free iTunes account by visiting www.apple.com/iTunes. This merely involves entering contact information and creating a user name and password, similar to any other online accounts.

Because so many people are still skittish about iPods, MP3s, iTunes, downloads, playlists, syncing and more, the fitness music companies are making extraordinary efforts to make the experience less intimidating and user friendly.

Dynamix Music has developed an in-depth website tutorial that provides explicit directives as well as a listing of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that are specific to downloading. “Most people feel very comfortable following the tutorial, however if they are concerned or confused all they have to do is call during regular business hours and someone can walk them through on the phone,” says Rich Hart, music producer for Dynamix Music. For those already downloading, Hart says that Dynamix is launching a pre-paid download card for people so that they can purchase downloads at a discounted price at events and conferences where Dynamix Music is being sold. “The card allows them to either download immediately or at a later date,” adds Hart.

Yes! Fitness Music has two ways that you can download music. They offer a complete website tutorial that instructs you how to download the “zipped” music file to your computer, extract or unzip the file and then manually move it to your iTunes software. They also offer a faster way to get new music for your classes with their new E-Z Downloader software. According to Mike Pipitone, music producer for Yes Fitness Music, “For the first time ever, you can purchase your music, walk away from your computer and return to the non-stop playlist in your iTunes software ready to burn a disc or sync with your iPod.” They also offer a free CD download on their website homepage, which makes for a great way to practice downloading. In the special December/January issue of AEA’s AKWA Magazine, Mike will be writing an in-depth article about downloading music, highlighting common mistakes people make when trying to download, including mistakes that lead to gaps in between songs.

Muscle Mixes Music provides customers with a detailed FAQ section on their website devoted strictly to music downloading that includes system requirements and trouble shooting advice. Muscle Mixes Music President and Founder, Denise Imbesi, says her company’s sole focus for 22 years has been on customer service. “We will go out of our way to assist anyone who is concerned or confused about the downloading process, but if you absolutely must have a CD, we will ship it to you no problem,” says Imbesi.

Trust me – I did think about calling and requesting that someone stay on the phone with me while downloading my first CD purchase. And that would have been about as much fun for that person as talking me thru performing an open heart surgery. I tend to get a bit panicked and hyper when dealing with tech support on the phone. After I purchased my first computer in the mid 90’s, AOL stopped taking my calls after a couple of months.

However, I didn’t call anyone; instead I was a big boy and I read the downloading tutorial on my own and followed it exactly, step by step with a successful mission completion. Kudos to the fitness music companies for reaching out to tech challenged instructors and for recognizing that for all their tutorials and bobo proof downloading systems, there will still be people who need to have their hand held as they take this next giant step for mankind.

And when CD slots disappear, leaving only USB ports in their wake, some of us will need to be dragged kicking and screaming into a world of thumb drives and iPods. The industry will likely witness a collective meltdown from CD separation anxiety, similar to the Great Cassette Conversion of the 90’s. I have always joked that if I were to ever die an untimely death, the world would discover that I WAS the Imelda Marcos of fitness music CDs. I have several of those CD towers that could easily form a really big and really expensive CD megalopolis. We won’t talk about the cassettes I have hoarded in the basement!

By Mark Grevelding

IAFC 2009 attendees returned home from Orlando with a new mantra for their classes. Shake it! Beto Perez and his energetic Zumba ® Team descended on the Wyndham resort for the world-exclusive debut of Aqua Zumba. The IAFC schedule featured several Aqua Zumba master classes which created waves of excitement in the pools, while Zumba Basic, Zumba Gold and Zumba Toning provided indoor opportunities for attendees to shake it.

What exactly is Zumba? Well, toss together some Salsa, Cha Cha, Samba, Merengue, Hip Hop, Cumbia, Belly Dancing and other dance styles. Then stir it up, shake it, drizzle with some sizzle and enjoy. If you can’t shake it, then you fake it. The philosophy of Zumba is “Ditch the workout and join the party.” Zumba is all about achieving the perfect blend of music, mood and moves. It is a Latin dance workout guaranteed to burn calories while rhythmically working the muscles. The sacred doctrine of Zumba is as follows: If they like it they will keep coming back. If they keep coming back then the objective of a fitness class to improve health and wellness will be achieved.

The world must be getting healthier because it is estimated that there are currently well over 4 million Zumba enthusiasts across the globe. The fact that Zumba is packing studios & gymnasiums has led to a huge demand for instructors. According to Zumba’s website the organization has a rapidly growing community of over 30,000 trained instructors in over 35 countries. As Zumba prepares to expand to the pool the demand for instructors will significantly rise.

The Zumba Experience seems to have turned the fitness industry upside down. The proverbial pendulum of fitness trends had been stuck for awhile on athletic inspired programming such as boot camp, mind & body, spinning and group strength. Now we are witnessing the pendulum make another big swing back to a trend not seen since the days of Jane Fonda and leg warmers. Zumba is likely to spawn off a whole genre of other dance inspired workouts.

How did this all get started and who is responsible? The creative spotlight shines on one man. However, a team of marketing experts is responsible for the explosion of Zumba and the resulting fitness empire. Beto Perez, Zumba’s creator, is the man in the spotlight. He is 39 and currently living in Miami, FL. He created it quite by accident in his native country of Colombia (South America) where he was working as a choreographer and fitness instructor in the mid 1990’s. The story is now a Hollywood style legend. One day, Beto forgot to bring his aerobic CDs to class, which is every fitness instructor’s nightmare. His only recourse was to grab whatever he had in his car. According to the Zumba website, the tapes in Beto’s car were comprised of the songs that he loved, the traditional Latin salsa and merengue music with which he had been raised. As you can imagine, it was a challenge to improvise a whole class on the spot using non-traditional aerobics music. Well, Beto did just that and from his last-minute improvisation the revolutionary Zumba was born.

In 1999, Beto brought the Zumba program to the United States where he was approached by a couple of U.S. entrepreneurs who helped him build the program into a company that marketed fitness videos/ DVDs with successful infomercials. This in turn led to rapid global expansion and numerous corporate partnerships. In 2005, the demand for instructors across the nation and abroad spurred the creation of Zumba’s Educational Division. Long time industry leaders, Petra Robinson and Koh Herlong were recruited to ensure quality education and the integrity of industry standards.

The education division now features the Zumba Academy which offers the Zumba Basics program, as well as Basics II (more advanced), Zumba Gold (older adults) and Zumba Toning (incorporates the rhythm sticks). Aqua Zumba is slated to be added to the academy in September 2009, along with Zumba Kids. The first Aqua Zumba training will be at Zumba’s conference in Orlando, September 3-6, 2009.

Taking Zumba to the water posed numerous challenges and the IAFC master classes provided Zumba with the opportunity to test the programming on some of the world’s leading aqua experts as well as the most qualified critics. The feedback was necessary for the development of sound programming. The Zumba team also needed a seasoned aqua fitness professional to act as a water consultant, someone who could help find a balance in the land vs. water style of programming. The team chose Mimi Adami, an AEA Training Specialist formerly from the U.S. and currently living in Italy. Other key team members involved in the aqua adaptation include Joy Prouty, Maria Browning and Tony Witt, as well as numerous others who helped develop the water version of Zumba.

At IAFC, I had an opportunity to sit down with Beto Perez and ask him a few questions about the Zumba program, the challenges of transitioning Zumba to the water and his overall impression of our aqua family and the IAFC experience.

Grevelding: What has been your initial reaction to IAFC?

Perez: This is different from what I am used to. I am excited because this is all new. The presenters have very different styles and the courses are varied and unique. The attendees are also very different and include people of all ages, sizes, nationalities and fitness levels. It is kind of like a little Woodstock.

Grevelding: What has been the initial reaction of IAFC participants to the Aqua Zumba master classes thus far?

Perez: They have been very serious and quite at first, but then they start to smile and when that happens it seems like there is a big shift in how I react and how they respond. My favorite thing so far was when one of the classes got rained out and we had to do the workout on land. Here they got to see me in my element and I got to expose them to my world. They started getting really into it and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves despite the disappointment of the weather.

Grevelding: How do you respond when someone asks you what Zumba is?

Perez: I always say that it’s a fun way to exercise. It’s a good workout disguised as a dance party and everyone can do it. People don’t realize that while they’re socializing and having fun they are toning, burning calories and losing weight.

Grevelding: What does the word Zumba mean?

Perez: Zumba is Colombian slang and it means to move fast. Fast like the wind.

Grevelding: Why do you think Zumba is so popular?

Perez: One thing is that With Zumba we try to reach people’s emotions. We try to get them to have fun and be happy. People see their Zumba classes as therapy to get away from the stress of everyday life, their escape. When you reach people’s emotions, you hit it big.

Grevelding: You often talk about the importance of the music. Why?

Perez: The music is the lifeblood of Zumba. Seventy percent of the class is made up of the powerful, dance songs that change every five minutes so that no one gets bored. I strongly believe that having good music makes all the difference when exercising. It drives the overall energy and moves everyone in the class.

Grevelding: What is your favorite Zumba student success story?

Perez: Well, there are a ton of stories on how Zumba has positively changes people’s lives. But the one that stands out is the story of volleyball player who injured herself and was told she would never walk again. The young lady endured a hard fall and was in a coma. When she finally awoke, she could only move her eyes and blink. She was able to go home and slowly started talking again. While watching TV one day, she saw the infomercials for Zumba and asked her mom to buy her the DVDs. When she got the DVDs, she started doing the Zumba exercises and little by little began moving her shoulders and legs and eventually walked again. She used Zumba as part of her therapy and she is now alive and well and a certified Zumba instructor.

Grevelding: Why did you decide to take Zumba to the water?

Perez: I love water, I live near the water and I thought we were missing something fun to do in the water. I think Aqua Zumba is a way to work with people who might not be able to do regular Zumba. Many people use water exercises as therapy and we wanted them to experience the magic of Zumba as well.

Grevelding: Describe your overall impression of getting in the water and performing the Zumba movements?

Perez: It’s a new world. I feel like a specialist in Latin dance that now has to learn to tap dance. Honestly, I felt a bit stupid at first. I had my land students switch from the studio to the pool so I could practice. My students gave me great feedback. Although it’s something new, it’s still related. Obviously, I also had to jump in the water and get involved with other instructors and connect with the elements around me. It was essential for me to learn the different aspects that go into teaching fitness routines in the water.

Grevelding: What challenges have you faced with transitioning Zumba to water?

Perez: I think the biggest challenge is having to restrict myself from creating super fast movements because I need to think about what my students can do and not what I want them to do. I have to think about the conditions and ages of people who will be participating in the class, and create a program appropriate for them. I’m very careful when I design exercises for certain groups. I realize it takes some holding back on my part, but in the end it’s all done with the students’ best interests at heart.

Grevelding: What requirements are necessary to actually teach Aqua Zumba? The only requirements necessary to learn to teach Aqua Zumba is to have an open mind and to welcome a new routine with different beats. We are offering instructors another way for them to have fun while teaching water exercises to new music. NOTE: To find out more about Aqua Zumba trainings this Fall and to obtain details for these trainings, please visit the Zumba website: http://www.zumba.com

Grevelding: Why did you recommend that Aqua Zumba instructors be AEA certified?

Perez: It is vital that every program has credibility and is supported by an agency. It’s extremely important that for every program I design the instructors are able to provide their students with the right information. By having the Aqua Zumba instructors be AEA certified, we know that they have the correct information and instruction on conducting water programs.

Grevelding: Any last words?

Perez: I think Aqua Zumba is the right program for the right moment and I am very excited about it.

Aqua Zumba will certainly bring a new level of excitement to an already exciting time in the aquatic fitness industry. As Beto said, it is the right program for the right time. A new generation is heading to the pool and they are looking for fresh, energetic workouts in the water. Zumba’s success on land and the development of the Zumba Gold program has proven that older adults want to shake it too! Therefore, Aqua Zumba might just prove to be the perfect program for bringing old & new generations together in the water.

AEA is excited by our affiliation and friendship with the Zumba Team. We will keep you posted on the progress of Aqua Zumba via our own website and through e-mail. However, please note for any information on becoming an Aqua Zumba instructor, you will want to contact Zumba directly and the best way of doing that is to visit their website. http://www.zumba.com

In the meantime, let’s get our students ready for the Aqua Zumba invasion by adding some sizzle to our late summer classes. It’s pretty simple. Just say SHAKE IT! And remember, if they can’t shake it – FAKE IT!

This is a three part series based on Mark’s original 2002 article, Reinventing Yourself. Mark has written a 2009 update that includes a wide range of tips and ideas for recreating excitement in your classes and renewing passion in your instruction.

Part 1: Includes an excerpt from the original article, as well as Mark’s own journey of reinvention and the introduction of his 2009 Guide to Reinventing Yourself with a look at choreography websites.

Part 2: Includes tips for reinventing your classes and your approach to instruction with choreography DVDs, equipment usage, documenting routines and attending other instructor’s classes.

Part 3: Concludes with more tips for renewing your passion, including attending workshops & conferences, learning new formats and exploring new career dimensions.

Mark’s 2009 Guide to Re-inventing Yourself

Workshops

Certified fitness professionals must accrue continuing education credits (CECs) to maintain their certifications. There are a variety of ways to obtain these CECs, including home study programs, online courses and magazine quizzes. However, I firmly believe that attending workshops is by far the best way to refresh your practical skills and your passion for teaching. After attending my first step workshop two years after getting certified in 1995, I walked away from the experience a completely changed instructor, not to mention a very humbled instructor. That workshop opened my eyes and made me realize how much better my step classes could be. I soon became a workshop junkie. Honestly, attending workshops was the primary factor in the development of my teaching skills. I had zero background in choreography, dance or music and I had to learn everything from the ground up. Attending workshops wasn’t so much about picking up new moves as it was learning new teaching techniques and absorbing the amazing personalities of the presenters that I admired and learned from. Attending workshops is still my main motivator and primary source of fresh programming concepts. Whenever I leave a good workshop, I always feel recharged and excited to revamp my classes with the new ideas I learned.

AEA introduced three new workshops in 2008. The workshops launched a new series called Class Construction and the programs were exclusively designed by AEA’s Education Director Julie See and her team of training specialists. The workshops include the most up to date theory and practical applications and they include, Cardio Programming and Leadership, Successful Senior Strategies and Core Training and Stretch Techniques. Be sure to always check the AEA Weekend Event calendar to see if there are AEA workshops coming to a location near you. To access the calendar, either click on the following link below or paste it in your browser.
http://www.aeawave.com/PublicPages/CALENDARS/WeekendEvents/tabid/191/Default.aspx

New Formats

Attending workshops, buying new music and watching DVDs are great ways to reinvent your classes, but occasionally we need more. Sometimes we need to learn and teach new formats to stave off boredom. I can honestly say that I would not still be teaching fitness if I had not branched out from instructing just step aerobics in the 90′s. At one time, I was teaching 8 step classes a week and was seriously getting burned out, not to mention experiencing painful problems with my lower extremities. The first new format I diversified into was kickboxing, followed by stability ball. Eventually, I was recruited to teach aquatic kickboxing, thus reinventing myself with aqua and a whole new frontier for teaching. Aquatic kickboxing classes led to regular shallow water classes, which led to deep water classes, which led to more specialized aquatic classes including strength, yoga and Pilates. At one point I even got certified to teach water cycling, which lasted all of three weeks when I quickly discovered that there were few choreography options for cycling classes. My water cycling students chased me out of the pool when I tried teaching mambo cha chas with the pedals.

Along the way, learning new formats has kept me passionate and excited about teaching. If you are looking to reinvent yourself with a new format and haven’t crossed over to mind/body yet, I would highly recommend doing so. Teaching yoga, Pilates, Ai Chi and other similar formats has once again provided me with a whole new frontier for learning. The mind & body formats have also provided my body with much needed relief! AEA has been offering Dr. Mary Wykle’s Aqua PiYoChi program at conferences and weekend events this past year and the response has been extremely favorable. The course has been designed to allow you to immediately implement yoga ,Pilates and Ai Chi moves into your regular aqua classes, thus allowing you to reinvent your cool downs, muscle conditioning, ab training and stretch segments. If you can’t attend the program, consider purchasing the Aqua PiYoChi manual or DVD which are both available in the AKWA Shop.

New Career Dimensions

Another strategy that I used over the years for combating burn out and staying fresh was to diversify my talents and job duties. For anyone interested in building a career in fitness and maintaining longevity in the industry, it will become evident rather quickly that you are more marketable if your talents & skills are multi-dimensional. For me, personal training was my main income, however, teaching group fitness opened doors to clubs that I never would have been able to train in if I did not also teach group fitness. Currently, I relish the fact that I get to combine my group fitness talents with writing and marketing skills, providing me with a broad range of daily job duties and challenges. (Yes, I graduated from college with a degree in journalism!)

If you are interested in expanding your fitness career by exploring aquatic one on one or small group training, you will definitely want to check out AEA’s brand new education program, Personal Pool. This day long course was developed by Angie Proctor and is jam packed with everything you need to know to develop and offer successful individual or small group training in the pool. Mixing up your fitness income with personal training clients and group fitness classes is a great way to stay motivated and avoid burnout. To find out more about Personal Pool and all of AEA’s Educational Programs, click on the link below or paste it in your browser.
http://www.aeawave.com/PublicPages/Education/AEAEducation/tabid/112/Default.aspx

Conferences

The ultimate reinvention is the IAFC experience. AEA’s International Aquatic Fitness Conference (IAFC) is held every May and veteran attendees will tell you that the conference can supply you with an entire year’s worth of ideas and class material. Sessions run morning thru evening for five days and you can participate in a mixture of aquatic offerings that include choreography, strength training, deep water, personal training, special populations, alternative programming, as well as select land fitness sessions and informative lectures. IAFC also is the annual showcase for the debut of the latest equipment, research findings and more. Let’s not forget the IAFC Shopping Plaza where you can re-invent yourself with the latest music and some snazzy new outfits!

You definitely do not want to miss out on IAFC 2009. AEA is celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2009 and IAFC is the official birthday celebration! The ultimate birthday pool party features matchless education presented by the world’s best instructors, along with five days of sun drenched socialization and spa-like relaxation at the Wyndham International Resort in Orlando, Florida. Be sure to register early this year as sessions will fill up quickly due to AEA’s 25th birthday celebrations.
> Registration Link for Online IAFC Registration <

Edited Excerpt from the article “Reinventing Yourself”

Clearly, there are many ways to reinvent yourself and bring a fresh and innovative approach to your classes. Personally, I have found the greatest source of renewal to be from my students and my commitment to them. In our industry, it is easy to get carried away with the “performance,” putting too much emphasis on the choreography, the music and our own popularity. Anyone can reinvent a routine, but the real challenge is learning how to renew your passion.

For all the times I felt slighted because my students didn’t clap loud enough or they didn’t seem as impressed with the routine as I was, I prayed for guidance. Given my penchant for ego and competition, I tried to rely on my faith to guide me as an instructor. I learned that I am at my best when I stay focused on my students’ needs, their health and their bodies. I am at my worst when I focus on my talent, my reputation and my popularity.

Our best hope for reinvention is our own passion for teaching and for making a difference. If you really want to reinvent yourself, ask yourself this, “What can I do to improve my students’ fitness level this year?” The actions you take and the changes you make to accomplish this goal will make you the “The Instructor of the Year” in the eyes of your students.

Looking back, I clearly see an instructor who learned from mistakes and matured from less than stellar behavior. In life, many of us open doors that probably should have stayed shut. However, we become more enlightened and colorful people because we dared to open those doors.

It is like that with teaching fitness. You have to make mistakes to get good. You have to have a few Diva tantrums in order to appreciate the beauty of humility. You have to experience the pain of a really small class in order to cherish the value of each individual student. You have to feel unappreciated and annoyed when your students act like zombies in order to appreciate those devoted class members who faithfully show up each week. You have to be disliked by someone in order to get over your fear of being disliked. You have to experience people walking out of your class as a reminder that you can’t please everyone. You have to fail spectacularly in order to make an amazing come back. And you have to burn out if you want to re-ignite.

We can continuously recreate the excitement in our classes with all of the tips mentioned above, but to renew our passion for teaching we must be able to look into the eyes of our students and realize that this is as good as it gets. Right here, right now, the passion is all about being blessed with the honor to serve and the opportunity to inspire others to greater health and a more joyful life.

There is a New Year ahead, with new goals to set, new lesson plans to create and new students to welcome to the water. Let’s get busy!

Wishing you a healthy and happy New Year filled with exciting classes!

Mark Grevelding is an AEA training specialist and serves as AEA’s Promotions Coordinator. He is a continuing education provider for AEA, AFAA and ACE and is the founder of Fit Motivation, a fitness education company based in Rochester, NY. Mark is the creator of Visual Choreography Notes, choreography DVDs for aquatic fitness professionals. Check out Marks DVDs by visiting the Store

This is a three part series based on Mark’s original 2002 article, Reinventing Yourself. Mark has written a 2009 update that includes a wide range of tips and ideas for recreating excitement in your classes and renewing passion in your instruction.

Part 1: Includes an excerpt from the original article, as well as Mark’s own journey of reinvention and the introduction of his 2009 Guide to Reinventing Yourself with a look at choreography websites.

Part 2: Includes tips for reinventing your classes and your approach to instruction with choreography DVDs, equipment usage, documenting routines and attending other instructor’s classes.

Part 3: Concludes with more tips for renewing your passion, including attending workshops & conferences, learning new formats and exploring new career dimensions.

Mark’s 2009 Guide to Re-inventing Yourself

Choreography DVDs:

If deciphering choreography notes is not your strong point, you may want to consider a more visual approach with a DVD. It doesn’t always have to mean purchasing a new one. I will often search through my collection and pop in an older DVD and then sit down with a note pad and take notes. Usually, I can find ways to recreate previously used moves with a new approach. When I am not feeling too lazy I will even hook up my ancient VCR and haul out my old VHS video tapes in order to study classic choreography with an eye for giving it a fresh new look. In 2005, I started producing my own DVDs as an enhancement to my workshops. My line of DVDs is called Visual Choreography Notes and they are available at www.fitmotivation.com or in the AKWA Shop at www.aeawave.com. I design these DVDs exclusively for instructors, breaking down each move on the written notes with a visual depiction that includes modifications and options for intensity alteration. On my website, I also offer a package price for the DVD and suggested Dynamix music CD, thus creating a virtual “class to go.”

The AKWA Shop is also stocked full of DVDs from other industry leaders. AEA Members who purchase DVDs from the AKWA Shop can always find amazing bargains. I just logged on with my member password and discovered that both of Julie See’s newest DVDs are on sale. That is a savings of $10 for members and you know you will take away tons of new choreography ideas with two of Julie’s DVDs. I also noticed that a bundle of four Quick Clips, a series of mini DVDs created and narrated by Angie Proctor, were on sale for $32. Imagine how much fun you would have retooling your classes with four mini DVDs that include ideas for core conditioning, upper body training, deep water tips and interval training with bound & ground techniques. Best of all, many of these DVDs also provide new ideas for equipment use, which leads to my next topic of reinvention.

Equipment:

If you have been teaching aqua fitness classes for more than five years, there is a good chance that at some point you got so bored of teaching the same moves with noodles and foam hand bars that eventually you stopped rolling the equipment cart out to the deck and hoped the students wouldn’t notice. Many instructors use equipment in the last 15 minutes of class and for some this final quarter feels like something out of the movie Ground Hog Day. The same fifteen minutes keeps repeating itself for weeks and possibly months at a time. While new and different equipment would be a welcome solution, it is often impossible given the strained budgets of most aquatic facilities.

Once again, I urge you to consider a new approach to an old standby. Yes, you can reinvent old strength moves with simple adjustments. If you always perform your ab workout with the noodle horizontal under your should blades, try placing the noodle vertical along the length of your spine. This forces more balance into the equation, thus requiring more from the core. If you are sick of doing the same chest presses and tricep press downs with the foam hand bars, consider executing the movements from plank pose. (AEA Members check out Class Tips – Strength.) A simple change in body placement can create an entirely different outcome on standard exercises. Check out Julie See’s new DVD, Core Creations and discover fun and fitness with balls. Think smaller, somewhat deflated kick balls here, certainly something that can be affordable on a tight budget.

If you do have some money to spend on new equipment, you may want to consider Speedo’s new line of Hydro Resistance Arm and Leg Trainers. The facility where I teach bought the Speedo trainers and I have been using them in my Wednesday evening aqua group strength class. Several of my students now tell me that this is their favorite class. For me, I couldn’t be more thrilled that my student’s are finally realizing that there is life beyond cardio. Group strength on land is packing the studio and there is no reason why we can’t pack the pool with aquatic group strength classes.

To check out Speedo’s new line of equipment, either click on the following link or paste it in your browser. http://www.speedoinstructor.com/home.php?cat=263

Documentation:

Early on in my fitness career, I started creating and storing all my routines on Word documents in the computer. Creating new routines on word documents made my life much easier thanks to the mouse and its ability to move entire combinations when I felt they were a better fit elsewhere. On my Word documents, I was also able to increase font size for easy reading while bouncing around on a hot deck. Given the nature of creating new routines, I was especially grateful for that thing called the DELETE button.

Storing my routines and documenting them with titles that proclaimed the month, year and type of class format, proved to be my most useful tool for reinventing future classes. Older routines became a source of invaluable material for new routines. Whenever I am brain dead and in dire need of something fresh, I search through my old routines for ideas. Essentially, my old routines stored on the computer provide a template to “save as” and then I can just delete, cut and paste a new routine rather than retype a brand new one from scratch. As I became a more seasoned instructor, I was able to look over old moves and give them new life by changing tempo, rhythm, impact options and then giving them new arm patterns and directional travel. If you do not currently document and store your routines on the computer, I would highly encourage you to begin doing so.

Other instructor’s classes

As a new instructor, I “borrowed” plenty of material from other instructors. As my skill levels progressed, I took pride in the fact that other instructors started taking my classes to “borrow” from me. The only downside to attending other classes for ideas is that sometimes you end up in a dud class. Finding myself “trapped” in some pretty uninspiring classes over the years, I eventually hatched a devious exit strategy. Whenever I go to a new class, I tell the instructor that I have to leave early for an appointment. If the class is a snore, I make haste for my fictitious appointment. If the class is good, well that appointment can wait! Attending other instructor’s classes is always valuable because it gives you a broad perspective of styles. It shows you what works, and what doesn’t work! I have modified many of my mannerisms after observing other instructors from the perspective of a student.

Aquatic fitness professionals can also find plenty to “borrow” from in land classes. Obviously, if you borrow from land you will have to spend time getting in the water and practicing the moves to insure an effective adaptation to the aquatic environment.

Land fitness formats have provided me with a great deal of inspiration for my aquatic fitness classes. In my preparation for teaching Aqua PiYoChi, I attended and studied land mind & body classes. I even hired a land fitness yoga teacher to come into the pool with me and help me with my aqua yoga postures.

Recently, I have observed and attended kickboxing, rebounding and Zumba classes in the studio. I also viewed a You Tube clip that featured a Drums Alive class. The ideas from these various formats were the inspiration for my 2009 IAFC session, Urban Aqua. My new workshop will feature updated kickboxing, creative rebounding drills, Latin inspired core moves and a blistering arm workout designed to mimic drumming.

AEA is excited to premiere a sneak peak of Aqua Zumba at IAFC 2009. Zumba, the Latin dance workout, is hands down the most popular class on everyone’s schedule right now. Taking this format to the water will surely be a recipe for packing the pool!

Renew your passion for teaching by attending workshops & conferences, learning new formats and by expanding your career dimensions.

Mark Grevelding is an AEA training specialist and serves as AEA’s Promotions Coordinator. He is a continuing education provider for AEA, AFAA and ACE and is the founder of Fit Motivation, a fitness education company based in Rochester, NY. Mark is the creator of Visual Choreography Notes, choreography DVDs for aquatic fitness professionals. Check out Marks DVDs by visiting the Store

This is a three part series based on Mark’s original 2002 article, Reinventing Yourself. Mark has written a 2009 update that includes a wide range of tips and ideas for recreating excitement in your classes and renewing passion in your instruction.

Part 1: Includes an excerpt from the original article, as well as Mark’s own journey of reinvention and the introduction of his 2009 Guide to Reinventing Yourself with a look at choreography websites.

Part 2: Includes tips for reinventing your classes and your approach to instruction with choreography DVDs, equipment usage, documenting routines and attending other instructor’s classes.

Part 3: Concludes with more tips for renewing your passion, including attending workshops & conferences, learning new formats and exploring new career dimensions.

January, 2002

Edited Excerpt from the article “Reinventing Yourself”

There is obviously something about the New Year that creates a desire for a fresh start. For fitness instructors, this fresh start may translate into, “Please dear God help me think of a new routine before I get booed out of class.”

I’ve been an instructor for seven years and I’ve reinvented myself more times than Madonna, from the clothes, the music, the routines and to my very demeanor. I’ve evolved through various stages as an instructor, some impressive and some shameful.

I’ve killed step classes with complex choreography and then brought them back to life with a whistle and boot camp theatrics. I’ve chased women out of the pool with Mike Tyson style boxing drills and then lured them back with Carmen Miranda inspired “kick, jab, and shimmy” routines.

As an instructor, I have learned to manufacture change with the help of DVDs, choreography websites, workshops and more. The efforts always seem to arrive just in time to rescue me and my classes from the brink of lethal boredom.

Some instructors resist change because they are unwilling to devote time outside of class to work on material. Others resist change because it invites criticism and instead they stick with tried and true routines that wear thin over time. It has been my observation that students are much more forgiving of instructors who screw up for the sake of change, as opposed to instructors who leave them uninspired with stale routines.

As instructors, we want to excite, we want to motivate and we certainly don’t want the dubious honor of having the smallest class in the club! (Refer to my April 2001 article, “Small Class Phobia.”) I have always feared boring my students and I have exhausted and explored just about everything I can to prevent this from happening. Naturally, I feel compelled to share my trade secrets, the good, the bad and the weird.

Anyone who has ever read any of my articles, promo materials or class descriptions is probably sick of my use of the word “reinvent.” Truthfully, I just can’t think of a better word to describe the shared experience of all seasoned instructors in their quest to renew their passion for teaching and there never ending efforts to recreate excitement in their classes. In 2004, I even presented a workshop at IAFC entitled “Reinventing Yourself.”

My first use of the word “reinvent” occurred in 2002 when I wrote the above article, Reinventing Yourself, for the AEA website. The article included tips for reinventing yourself and your classes by utilizing DVDs, choreography websites, workshops, new formats and much more. At the time, I was authoring a series of articles for the AEA website under a column called “Light Hearted Leadership.” This article appeared in the series, along with other memorable titles including, Confessions of a Choreography Monster, Small Class Phobia, My Most Embarrassing Moment in Class, Music Freak, Relapse of a Choreography Addict and Mean Students.

AEA’s Executive Director, Angie Proctor, stumbled across the Reinventing Yourself article recently and asked me to update it for 2009. According to Angie, I “owed” her some articles. How could I say no?

Rereading this article for the first time in seven years, I was struck by how brutally honest I was in my assessment of the industry and of my own trials & tribulations of teaching. Back in 2002, I was still going strong on land and had only recently crossed over to aquatic fitness in 2000. The 2002 Reinventing article, along with other articles that I wrote back then clearly demonstrate a studio diva that at one time had crossed over to the dark side and was self-declared guilty & convicted for teaching impossibly complex choreography. Even worse, I was a repeat offender. The articles I was writing back then seemed to reflect a certain amount of repentance, along with a more sober approach to fitness instruction.

At the time, personal training was my main source of income and I was teaching a mixture of kickboxing, step, stability ball and aqua classes. Flash forward seven years to 2009. The little club where my fitness career started and my personal training business flourished finally locked the doors in 2007, a casualty of the larger fitness chains moving in. My career as a personal trainer ended the day the club closed. I tried teaching step and other land classes at one of the big chains but it just didn’t work for me and I quit four months after starting. The unthinkable had finally happened. I was officially retired from the step! However, the legacy of the step and my rock star antics on the bench live on in the enormous boot I wear to bed every night thanks to my friend Plantar Faciitis.

When I wrote the Reinventing article in 2002 I had been teaching group fitness for seven years. In 2009, I will celebrate 14 years in the fitness industry and I am proud to say that I have wholeheartedly embraced aquatic fitness as my primary fitness passion. In 2002, I became a continuing education provider and taught my first workshop, Kickboxing Waves. In 2005, I became an AEA trainer and in 2007 I joined AEA administration as their Promotions Coordinator.

Yes, I owe this article to Angie, but I also owe Angie, Julie and the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA) a great deal more than an article. Aside from my own personal gratitude in the trust they have placed in me, I discovered an interesting revelation while I was penning this rewrite. While reworking the tips for reinventing yourself, it occurred to me that almost every transformation that I have experienced professionally since 2002 has been facilitated by an AEA program or service. In 2003, I transitioned from shallow to deep courtesy of AEA’s in-depth deep water program along with many excellent deep water workshops at IAFC. Now, deep water is my favorite class to teach.

Attending IAFC every year, as well as local AEA events, I was exposed to the latest equipment and learned lots of body conditioning ideas to take to my classes. On Wednesday nights, I now teach a full hour aqua group strength class and the format is quickly gaining popularity in my club. Thanks to AEA, I have even transformed myself from Cardio Boy to Zen Boy! After being trained in AEA’s affiliate program, Aqua PiYoChi, I expanded my horizons and got certified in Pilates and embraced the practice of yoga. The mind & body training allowed me to reinvent my class cool downs, body conditioning and stretching routines with challenging Pilates, yoga and Ai Chi movements.

All of the above are prime examples of reinventing yourself. Honestly, I could not maintain my passion for teaching if I did not continuously expand the scope of my training and education. AEA is a not-for-profit association dedicated to advancing aquatic fitness worldwide. An AEA membership and certification is your opportunity to advance aquatic fitness in your own community. The association and all of the programs and tools it offers has everything you need to continuously reinvent your passion and approach to teaching aquatic fitness. Whether you are teaching aquatic fitness classes, conducting personal training sessions in the pool or looking to expand your horizons in the fitness industry, AEA has the resources to take your aquatic fitness career to the next level.
Therefore, it is with a grateful heart that I present my updated 2009 tips for reinventing yourself.

Mark’s 2009 Guide to Re-inventing Yourself

Choreography Websites:

When the first article was written, I was still teaching a lot of land fitness classes, including step, kickboxing, Resist-a-Ball and body conditioning, along with some aqua fitness classes. At the time, Turnstep.com was my best friend. The Turnstep website features choreography and teaching tips shared and submitted by hundreds of fitness professionals. The site includes separate pages for aqua, cycling, step, body conditioning and more. The only downside to the site is that some instructors who submit material use their own lingo when describing moves. Trying to decipher the moves can be a lesson in frustration, thus one more argument for establishing a universal language within the fitness industry. To visit the aquatic section of Turnstep.com, either click on the link below or paste it into your browser.
http://www.turnstep.com/Patterns/Aquatic/index.html

Closer to home, AEA also has a section on their own website devoted to sharing class tips. This area is exclusively available to AEA Members and if you haven’t visited it yet, you need to! After logging onto the website with your member user name and password word, simply click on Class Tips in the tool bar. In conjunction with this article, I have posted some of my own favorite class tips for cardio, strength and flexibility. Be sure to check them out!

Next up, reinvent your classes with choreography DVDs, equipment usage, computer documentation and “borrowed” ideas from other instructor’s classes.

Mark Grevelding is an AEA training specialist and serves as AEA’s Promotions Coordinator. He is a continuing education provider for AEA, AFAA and ACE and is the founder of Fit Motivation, a fitness education company based in Rochester, NY. Mark is the creator of Visual Choreography Notes, choreography DVDs for aquatic fitness professionals. Check out Marks DVDs by visiting the store

It can be fair to say that not all aqua fitness participants exercise to their full potential. While some students churn up white water with their efforts, others barely make a ripple. The slackers are often unaware of their lackluster performance, believing instead that they are working admirably. Consequently, that leaves it up to the instructor to make these students aware of their vast opportunities for improvement.

As instructors, we rely on our motivational cueing skills to jump start sluggish students. On my journey as an instructor, I have picked up a few strategies for stimulating lackadaisical students. Allow me to share some tips for inspiring the uninspired, encouraging the listless and resurrecting the lifeless.

According to the AEA Aquatic Fitness Professional manual, motivational cues should encourage students to act in a positive manner, both physically and mentally. Students should feel positive about their bodies’ capabilities and feel empowered and inspired to challenge themselves within safe boundaries and without the stress of competition.

Motivational cues typically will involve directives for increasing intensity, as well as elements of providing feedback and educational awareness. Developing strong motivational cueing skills requires practice and patience just like any other aspect of teaching fitness. Yes, the student needs to own their fair share of the effort, but a good instructor can inspire class participants to work harder.

When I teach workshops, I often joke around and tell instructors that I am giving them a homework assignment. The assignment is to write the word FORCE on a piece of paper. Force is the one word that best defines the Law of Acceleration, which involves applying maximal effort against submerged resistance in all directions. Aqua lovers refer to this as “working the water.” Under the word FORCE, I tell the instructors that they need to write down 20 words, phrases or adjectives that best describe effort. In my classes, I am constantly exhorting my students with an array of forceful words. Some of my favorites include: push it, pull it, work it, move it, rock it, use it – dig in and give it energy, enthusiasm, effort, muscle, grit, pride, life, liberty and justice – make waves, white water, foam, froth, bubbles, turbulence, tsunamis…and so on! Having an arsenal of empowering words at your command keeps your students motivated and working hard.

Positive feedback is also a wonderful catalyst for eliciting optimal performance from your students. However, the feedback should be somewhat specific, such as “Great job at pushing and pulling the water with your arms,” as opposed to just “Great job.” Feedback also works very well when specifically directed to an individual student. Everyone likes to be complimented. The person receiving the compliment always perks up when you direct positive feedback their way and everyone else comes alive and starts working harder because they want to be complimented too!

Motivation equals education. Students perform movement more effectively when they are aware of the reason behind the movement. Educating students on muscle/joint actions provides more of a mind & body connection. For instance, if you are performing a movement that involves elbow flexion and extension and you hold up your arm and point to your tricep, you will see everyone’s eyes light up because they better understand the purpose and they can very much appreciate the purpose!

Aside from strictly using cueing skills to inspire students to pump it up, there are other techniques that I have also found useful over the years. Programming selections and presentation techniques can also make a big difference in energy output. An interval style class is one way to help students identify what it is like to work hard. This type of formatting typically features work and recovery cycles. For instance, you might work at steady-state aerobic levels for a period of three minutes and then work with all-out effort for one minute.

A more loosely defined style of interval programming might involve mixing choreographed combinations with intensity drills. This is my favorite style of teaching. The choreographed combinations usually feature a more steady-state energy output and the drills or free style segments provide an opportunity to switch to a more intense burst of activity.

The key to making the work cycle or intensity drill effective is to time it or count it down. If a student knows there is an end to their suffering, they will push themselves to the bitter end. If you don’t let them know the end is coming, they will conserve their energy to meet the needs of a prolonged assault. Get them to work at all out effort for 30 seconds and they will develop a better awareness of what hard work really feels like. Over time, this awareness will eventually lead to better overall performance during the entire length of the class.

Another tactic I use for encouraging maximal effort is to execute a lot of movements at Impact Level II or neutral position. In neutral position, there is minimal, if any impact on joints which allows for more aggressive power moves, leading once again to enhanced performance.

Speaking of enhanced performance, an instructor’s performance or lack there of can also affect the effort your students put into the workout. This is particularly true if you teach on deck. Obviously, if you are on deck it is impossible to perform the same workout you are teaching your students in the water. This would be exhausting and dangerous. However, even if we are doing low or non-impact demonstration on deck, we still need to show the effort required to work in the viscosity of water. We refer to this as exaggerated performance; demonstrating arm and leg patterns that reflect resistive movement and exhibiting facial expressions that convey effort and determination.

Students will mimic almost anything you do and therefore it is important to demonstrate the movements as they would feel in water with resistance in all directions. If you don’t show resistance, it is likely they won’t use resistive force. The only way to adequately convey this resistance is to practice in the water. Study the movement and analyze how it feels while you are in the water and then convey that experience with exaggerated performance on deck.

Facial expressions can also be used to show resistance. If you are trying to convey hard work, select a facial expression that reflects this. When I am teaching, I usually have an arsenal of facial expressions, each with a different meaning. I unleash my determined look, focused look, confident look and my ready-to-drop-dead from all out force look. When I convey my tired and sleepy look, this is a warning to my students that I am not happy with their effort and that they will pay dearly for it.

Yes, teaching is a performance. During my first few years as an instructor, I used to get annoyed with the students when they would act like zombies in class. It never occurred to me that it was my job to raise the living dead too. I thought I was supposed to just get them in shape, but if they are not motivated to work hard then they probably won’t see results. If they don’t see results, they’ll stop coming to class and if they stop coming to class they’ll never get in shape.

We do get better at motivating the masses with practice and experience. Motivational cueing skills improve as you get more comfortable with your students. Trial and error helps us to develop strategies that produce more effective workouts. Continuing education exposes us to new ways to create fresh challenges for our classes. The journey is ongoing and there is always more to learn about motivating your students to work harder.

Stay motivated and stay tuned for AEA’s new day long program being offered in Fall 2008, The Art of Cueing, which focuses on practical applications to develop & enhance cueing techniques, motivational strategies and deck instruction skills of the seasoned aquatic professional.