FILEX PRESENTER
WATER FITNESS
ALL AGES,
ALL ABILITIES, ALL WELCOME
Delivering a water exercise class to a group of mixed ages and abilities needn’t be a
constant tug-of-war between opposing options, writes aqua instructor Marlee King.
rom increasing muscle strength to alleviating pressure on the
joints, the health benefits of aquatic exercise have long been
known: it’s the quintessential ‘all-rounder’. It’s not surprising,
therefore, that when it comes to group exercise, the pool is a
suitable environment for people of all abilities and all ages. However, as
a certified aquatics instructor, I am often presented with the challenge of
creating a class plan that suits, and appeals to, all ages.
When preparing a class plan, instructors can easily get caught in
a game of tug-of-war – being pulled between opposing options; ‘How
do I make my class gentle yet challenging, trendy yet classic, new yet
familiar?’ No one option is the clear winner, but there are several factors
that you can consider when creating a class plan that’s suitable for all
ages.
F
1. Implementing fitness variations and modifications
One of the core principles we learn when training to become instructors
is to offer fitness variations or modifications. In aquatic fitness, it would
be surprising to find a certified instructor that is not familiar with the
hand variations (i.e. slice, fist, scoop, flat palm). There are a plethora
of articles offering advice on fitness modifications, so rather than
elaborate on those here, let’s reiterate some
useful advice:
• Implement
progressions.
Instruct
different levels of the same exercise to
accommodate participants with different
fitness levels. You may introduce the
progressions over the course of the
song/routine or over multiple classes.
• A simple routine doesn’t mean an easy
routine. It’s helpful to include a couple of
simple routines that encourage muscle
load. This is a nice compromise between
those who like things simple and those
who want a good workout.
• Learn to read your participants’ faces.
Look for signs of boredom, overexertion,
confusion and, of course, excitement.
This will keep you on your toes and will
tell you when you need to mix things up.
NETWORK AUTUMN 2019 | 23