Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
SAVE THE DATE - 22nd September 2024
We have our convention at Aspire Leisure Centre, Stanmore. We will be bringing a day of learning in the pool with 6 masterclasses taught by 6 amazing presenters in 6 hours (giving you 3 CIMSPA points/ CEC points)
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I want to talk and stress how important your footwear teaching on poolside is!
I regularly see posts by people asking about trainers used when teaching on poolside, often the responses on a particular pair of Skechers, Addidas, Nike, etc. But those who have experienced a poolside specific pair of trainers like Ryka, Swim and Sweat and Speedo will rarely go back to a standard trainer.
Here is just 1 small example, this blue pair of Ryka's vs. my new black and pink pair. The writing states the sole have impact foam designed for us landing our moves on a concrete poolside, they also have a specific grip on the sole for poolside too. My old pair are 2 years old and only worn to teach in, and you can see the compression impact on the heel of the trainer.
You need to consider this impact load on the body and specifically the spine. I want to keep everyone as injury free as possible and it starts with your feet.
How old are your trainers? Are they specific for poolside? & Are you suffering from any ankle, knee, or back pain?
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A week full of fun, education and friendship, with like-minded passionate people at IAFTC in Fort Myers!
Our masterclass was DUAL CONCEPTS, team teaching with Lynda Keane (aka mum) which was a great hit. I had a few hours with baby before joining Lynda for her Workshop AGEING FASCIAL SYSTEM.
It was a fantastic way to end the day, releasing all the tissue tension and understanding how this changes as we age!
I then presented PELVIC & MENOPAUSE MATTERS: DISPELLING THE MYTHS
I brought along party blowers for us to use as a visual of breath and pelvic floor connection, I'm just gutted these one's didn't toot!
I β€οΈ this workshop with the workout giving you moves and pelvic floor activities to include in your class. As well as a lecture that compliments it where you understand the hormonal rollercoaster and discussing the facts from the fiction. Menopause is something every woman needs to consider after the age of 35!
Have a look at some of the photos!
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We recently flew home leaving IAFTC early, however I did manage to attend and watch a few session. With the fabulous Mushi Harush @harushmushi & Javier's session being a great one to watch (as pictured).
I was at the awards breakfast and want to shout out the amazing people who won an award but a huge congratulations to S'WET Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour for winning presenter of the year
As i had my mini me with me, I also had a bit of time at the beach. She's had an awesome time meeting everyone, coming home with new words like Hola but a big thank you to Megan Kwitkin for her hugs and help this week π₯°
We hope everyone had a fabulous time at Aquatic Exercise Association 40th birthday party last night and great fun at sessions today to finish off the conference πβ€οΈπ©΅πβ€οΈπ©΅πβ€οΈπ©΅
#iaftc2024 #iaftc #aeafamily #aquaisnotjustfornannas
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Come and join us on Monday 24th July for a workout π You can watch and take notes or have your tablet on poolside and join in with the workout π©΅
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Happy International Women's Day π«Ά
This sunday is our VIRTUAL Aqua Fitness and Therapy Convention. The week leading up to it is making sure we have all our ducks in a row, ready for 8:30am on sunday π
We always have equal fitness lectures with therapy lectures, with international and UK presenters. Offering the most up-to-date research and information for you to take back to your classes.
This year the presenters we have are the amazing @Lori sherlock @Mindy Pierce @Julia Meno Dolores Whelan Lynda Keane and myself.
You can book onto the whole day or 2 sessions at aquaticacademy.co.uk/.../aqua-fitness-and.../
Learn from the best from the comfort of your own home π & come see why Lynda Keane is holding a net type thing infront of the camera π
Aquatic Rehabilitation Exercise Academy
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Happy Wednesday π
#throwback This photo was taken around 2007/2008 when I worked for @HydroActif and we represented Speedo. I was trying to find any photo's of me teacher when I was younger than I am in the photo but sadly couldn't find anything. So I am roughly 25 here but at this stage i had already been teaching for 7 years, I had worked abroad teaching internationally and had helped out (crew/staff/volunteer) at many fitness conventions (land and water based).
Following on from last weeks post I chatted about being a young 18 year old when I qualified as an instructor and some of my leisure centres loved that to draw in the younger generation. Some even specifically employed me for that reason as well as cover all the regular older population classes.
To this day I still hear us all talk about getting the younger generation into the pool and attending classes. With the fact that we know how beneficial it is but how we want to change their perception that it is just for old people!!
I think I now classify as OLD to the younger generation π€£π
My classes allow the age of attendees to start at 14, some centres say 16, some 18 but I have had kids classes in the past, that then became kids and parent. You centres may not allow you to have young attendees due to their insurance and policies. I think 13/14 year olds are great to have in the class as they try hard, stay focused, and don't chat as much as some of our adults who attend.
When I talk to the lifeguards (who in general are more water based people compared to the average teen to mid-twenty) they generally say comments like I hadn't even thought of it, but when they do they think of it being full of old people as that is who they are watching/lifeguarding part take in the class every day. So not being surrounded by old people because they feel odd one out is one factor to consider when attracting younger people to the class.
Another factor to consider is the image of the class and themselves; if these boys are more into football, basketball, tennis etc then mimic the kinds of fitness and skill training they are used to before changing it. For girls if they really don't want to get their hair and make up ruined then they are definitely not going to want to get it wet or ruined. A discussion I once had with a young black lady who said her weave cost too much for her to ruin so was not going to go swimming. The thing is I knew this girl was not a fan of the water so she used her hair as her excuse.
Once the younger generations do come and attend the workout they do enjoy themselves they get how hard it can be and how they need to push themselves but the next hurdle to overcome is to retain them. For them to adhere to the classes they need to really really enjoy it, they need to bond and get a good rapport off of the instructor and they need the praise. Though some may be image body aware of their size or shape (an obviously difficult time in any boy/girls life if they are still developing and changing) so being in a costume may be a big deal whereas for others they may not even be thinking about the size but instead how they look when they exercise.
I have always found Acquapole to be popular with the younger generation, as well as boxing, circuits and cross training (land vs. water styles). I know they love using equipment and they are good with a little friendly competition, especially when they are with their friends or parents. The average aerobic format will only attract a few. The lifeguards we spoke to said "Aqua is good form of fitness, that canβt do HIIT on land" so they understand that they can achieve more in the pool.
With Aqua the environment is "chill and relaxed" with a large focus on it being a "community vibe" and they need a similar aged group to form their own community. They may opt for a drink in the bar after compared to the tea and slice of cake in the cafe.
When we consider that the younger generation are also very interactive on social media platforms we asked them about VIRTUAL aqua, would that attract them more and they completely disagreed!! One said "thatβs absolutely rubbish - any virtual fitness class is bad in my opinion but aqua especially just wouldnβt work"
while another said " It will not have the same effect, you are losing the personal impact / bond".
So I haven't discussed music, that's next week π
We need to look at the title of the class, the age wanting to attract, the variety, style and environment to attract the younger population to our classes.
What do you think of this..... Ask your lifeguards at your next class and let us know their thoughts ππ€©π₯³
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Happy 'not' wednesday everyone π€£
I have clearly lost track of days and totally lost wednesday in the mix of Christmas, new year, bank holiday and maternity leave.
I know some of you have followed me for a while and know me personally but i wanted to do a new year new introduction type post. Especially for those who are new here π
I have been in the fitness industry for over 20 years π² I have seen so many changes, seen trends come and go and seen people start/ leave this crazy enjoyable job. I am here talking about everything Aqua π©΅ππ©΅(but i am also a Level 4 Personal Trainer and owned my own gym for 17 years, i closed it during lockdown π₯)
When i think about when i started as an Aqua Fitness Instructor i was 17 going on 18, at the time i was one of the youngest person to qualify.
I was already a swimming teacher after i accepted that my chance of being an Olympic breaststroke swimmer at the age of 14 was never going to happenπ€£ Joking aside as a teen i had huge knee problems and knowing now that i am hypermobile it was clearly obvious this was the main reason for all my troubles back then. But from age of 11 i had few surgeries, physio and random treatments, years and years of appointments.
So when i started to teach at 18 all my older participants would make comments of how young i was!!! i couldn't understand how they needed water to look after their joints to exercise. Despite my age i was very much able to understand, were their joints were stiff mine were too lax (opposite ends but joint issues that need looking after). Plus all the issues that come from having joint problems/ hypermobility.
I would challenge them when teaching their classes and get them focusing on strength based exercises, they ended up enjoying me covering their classes.
I'll never forget an older lady telling me that she was too old to exercise, especially stopping her exercise in the water. She stood there held up by a walking stick, complaining about her body aches and pains. I wanted to helps people like this lady and offering aqua therapy and fitness means i can keep people from this situation as long as possible. My oldest participant currently in my class is 92 and although he walks in and out with a stick he is able to keep is joints flexible by exercising in the pool.
My younger self would be so happy to hear this π I want to get more people in the pool. So my first 2023 pledge is to get more people in our pools understanding the huge benefits to exercising in the water π§
Are you with me?
I will create posts that you can share, copy and use to spread the word π
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I want to wish you all a Happy New Year π xx
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My latest video for βͺ@fitmotivation-poolfit-videosβ¬ βͺ@poolfit3552β¬ is out - BLOSSOMING BUMPS AQUANATAL
Go check it out and click on the video below :-)
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