AQUA INSPIRATION
By thinking outside the box and using the edge of the pool as a training
tool, you can deliver an awesome and original aqua workout.
WORDS: DEBI GODFREY
ow many times have you turned
up to instruct your aqua class
with a class plan in mind, only to
be told that ‘due to restrictions in the pool
today, you only have one lane available’?
Well, it’s time for Plan B to look like a wellpolished Plan A.
One constant that we have in the pool is
an edge. So, the edge of the pool/wall/barre
is where we should focus our exercises. For
an entire 45 minutes? Yes, why not?
The wall of the pool offers some fantastic
advantages:
• It is the perfect place to hold on to, lean
against, aim for, and hang off.
• It is the perfect place to provide an
amazing amount of turbulence. As you
push water towards the wall it pushes it
right back at you.
• Participants cannot talk to each other
easily, so it cuts out the chit-chat.
• As instructor, you have a great vantage
point to check participants’ technique.
H
Upper body
Let’s begin by looking at some simple moves
for the upper body that use the wall as a
training aid.
With participants facing the wall, keep
them at arm’s length from the wall for a
move that I refer to as ‘hand taps’. By using
this term, as opposed to ‘hit’ or ‘punch’,
participants will only touch the wall lightly.
This movement requires your participants to
engage their stabilising muscles. Variations
on this exercise can be alternating taps,
cross taps, single arm taps, unison taps,
and diagonal tap with a triceps kickback.
Another favourite is the reverse
breaststroke arm movement. This is very
effective, as it forces the water into the wall
and therefore causes a great amount of
turbulence as the water pushes back to the
participant. Variations on this movement are
both arms in unison, alternating arms and
infinity arms.
Lower body
Moving to the lower half of the body, the
options are limitless.
Keep your participants at leg’s length
from the wall for the movement I call ‘foot
The 30-second article
• The edge of the pool can serve as
an anchor point for participants to
hold onto, and can also enable
high levels of turbulence to be
created
• The wall enables effective upper
body exercises such as numerous
variations of ‘hand taps’ and the
reverse breaststroke, as well as
lower body ‘foot tap’ variations
• Changing participants’ direction so
they are facing sideways or with
back against the wall enables
additional challenge to be created
• Even if you never have to deliver a
class against the wall, you can add
variety and interest to workouts by
including one or two wall
combinations in your classes.
NETWORK SUMMER 2016 | 51