Education for the rising aqua fitness sector Julie Stevens introduces the new qualification for the rising aqua fitness sector ith increasing awareness of the benefits of low impact exercise for strength building, fitness and injury recovery, W water-based fitness programs are in high demand. The sector is attracting young and old, with many top athletes incorporating water training and new tools such as aqua pole, spin bikes and drag resistance equipment alongside their traditional training programs. To cater for this new legion of participants, aqua fitness now has a new instructor training program. Three and a half years in the making, the program - released last November - was developed in consultation with AUSactive, SkillsIQ and a range of industry input, spearheaded by Claire Barker-Hemings, Dominic Gili, Aqua fitness Online, Annette Chatterton and myself. Providing a structured skill set program to ensure instructors have appropriate professional qualifications to meet the increasing demand and ensure the safety of participants in the water, the new instructor units carefully consider creating a training program that reflects the industry’s commitment to professionalism. With the establishment of this program, AUSActive has implemented a membership category specifically for holders of the Aqua Exercise Instructor skill set. 44 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 149
Image courtesy Aquapole
