Education for the rising Aqua Fitness Sector

Education for the rising aqua fi tness sector

Julie Stevens introduces the new qualifi cation for the rising aqua fi tness sector

With increasing awareness of the benefits of low impact exercise for strength building, fitness and injury recovery, 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.

As AUSactive General Manager, Chris Alexander explains “the new streamlined skill set aims to meet the growth in industry demand for Aqua Exercise Instructors.

“These professional instructors contribute significantly to our vision of activating everybody, every way, every day. AUSactive is encouraged by the engagement and proactive work of Active Training to support the aqua exercise sector.”

The skill set comprises six units and includes units in first aid, WHS and water rescue skills. The remaining three units capture relevant information to enable aqua fitness instructors to deliver programs to a diverse range of participants successfully.

It includes the following units:

SISFFIT038 Plan group water-based exercise sessions

SISFFIT039 Instruct group water-based exercise sessions

SISFFIT048 Use anatomy and physiology knowledge to support safe and effective water-based exercise

SISCAQU002 Perform basic water rescues

HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

Allowing for the more obvious of the six units - first aid, workplace health and safety and water rescues, the remaining three units capture a wealth of information that will set up budding aqua fitness instructors for success.

Looking at each of these three units in a little more detail:

Use anatomy and physiology knowledge to support safe and effective water-based exercise This unit of competence looks at the role that anatomy and physiology plays in aqua fitness instruction. It covers the following participant types - female adults; participants aged 55 and over; sedentary participants and active participants.

It analyses the following body systems in direct relation to water-based exercise - cardiovascular; respiratory; muscular and skeletal.

It delivers an overview of both the physiological and biomechanical differences between aquatic and land-based exercises.

The unit also explores the properties of water, the forces that act on the body in water at varying depths, the basics of thermoregulation and its application to exercise in water and finally common injuries and exercise related causes.

Most importantly, this unit develops the instructor’s ability to apply their knowledge of anatomy and physiology when delivering water-based exercise sessions.

Plan group water-based exercise sessions This unit focuses on planning a group water-based exercise session. It teaches the instructor to identify the needs and expectations of diverse groups e.g., female adults; a mixed gender group and groups of participants aged 55+.

It requires the course participant to develop and document six group water-based exercise sessions (minimum duration 30 minutes each) that incorporate the following - anchored and weighted movements; suspended movements in deep or shallow water; interval training; exercises with and without equipment; active, rebound and energetic movements; propulsion or turbulent movements and formations.

Finally, this unit looks at reviewing and modifying future sessions.

Instruct group water-based exercise sessions This unit focuses on instructing a group water-based exercise session. It teaches the instructor to prepare sessions, brief participants on safety issues and deliver advice on contraindications, deliver and evaluate group sessions.

It requires the instructor to deliver three predesigned group water-based sessions demonstrating techniques including optimal instructor positioning, clear verbal communication, verbal and visual cueing.

The unit also explores dealing with situations that arise from pre-session screenings that require modifications, as well as responding to individuals who show signs of over exertion or difficulty.

With Aqua Fitness proliferating in popularity across the country and instructor shortage a significant issue, the development of quality and qualified Aqua Instructors is more critical than ever.

There are several overlapping factors that play into this problem:

Irregular hours Often Aqua classes have been ‘squeezed’ into programs wherever there’s a spare 45-minutes. An instructor then must travel to and from the facility for a single 45-minute class - for many it simply isn’t worth it! It’s important that Facility Managers carefully consider their programming to address this issue.

Multi-skilling staff is another way to better manage instructor shortage. Having swimming instructors or pool lifeguards that can also instruct Aqua Classes is a great solution - they are often already on-site and so it is a win-win for employee and facility. If a facility can either cover the cost or perhaps subsidise a portion of the training costs to up-skill an existing employee, this might also encourage staff to consider adding this string to their bow.

Inadequate pay Aqua Fitness Instructors are fitness professionals and should be paid accordingly. A quality instructor will see participant numbers rise and be retained. Let’s not be mistaken…the instructor is the number one reason that people continue to attend and then also market your classes (telling their friends). The amount paid to the instructor reflects what value you place on them.

Image courtesy Aquapole

Perception Aqua fitness has over the years been perceived as being for the oldies! With the introduction of innovative equipment choices and athletes recognising and sharing on social media the value of aquatic cross-training, instructors now have a greater variety of class-types that they can teach - Aqua Strength and Acquapole to name a few.

Facilities also need to be innovative with their aqua fitness program - this will not only attract a broader demographic of user but will also attract a broader demographic of instructor. Julie Stevens is Chief Executive of Active Training. For further information go to the Active Training website - www.activetraining.net.au