In order to design effective programs, an aquatic trainer must be a master of the water environment and possess many tools to specifically target the components of fitness in the water. These programs are designed based on each individual’s health needs, interests and desired goals. These are NOT generic programs or canned routines, but programs designed to reach specific goals developed from physical assessments, lifestyle questionnaires, program preferences and personalities. A program may be suitable for any of the following themes: weight management, strength & endurance training, flexibility, relaxation, mind & body, cardiorespiratory improvement, athletic conditioning, martial arts training, programs for special populations or medical conditions, or simply general health and maintenance. Aquatic Personal Trainers may choose to teach in the water and/or on deck depending on their clients abilities and needs. The above video clip shows a sample of how a Personal Trainer will need to break down the exercise to better itemize how to execute the movement properly and purposefully.
Aquatic Personal Trainer will benefit the Client
A personal trainer will work to help the client achieve thier goals, whether the client is a beginner or an athlete. Most successful people are busy and don’t have time to spend on things that don’t work. Personal trainers empower the client with exercise science researched programs that are safe and effective. They use specialized knowledge, top of the line equipment, and are part of the health care continuum.
Research has confirmed that simply dropping land movements into the water will not transfer to the same intensity or results. Using the water and water specific equipment will be key for keeping the programs progressive, interesting and professional looking.
Personal trainers in the water educate the client on how their body works, as well as empowering the client with unique body awareness and balance. The use of progressive techniques to help the client learn and execute movements correctly is paramount for achieving results. This is a cost-effective way to help individuals improve their body and quality of life.
Group Class Challenges Differ from Personal Training One of the most challenging tasks in group-teaching is trying to train every participant to perform correct technique and achieve their goals simultaneously. In a group class, an instructor finds that the group is comprised of athletes and beginners of all ages and levels of fitness skills. Although everyone is cued to go at their own pace and perform the exercises that feel good how can a client change and modify the exercise if they do not know joint action or progression?
Sometimes the participant is suitable for the level of the class, but more often they are not. An instructor cannot watch all of the participants all the time. Even with the best quality teaching, imperfections develop leading to poor technique and body alignment. It is easy for a participant to get lost in a large group and never realize they are being offered corrections.
Potential clients may come from a group class situation, so the personal trainer must sell a specific service that group exercise does not offer. This service is specificity of training, or training for purpose, to get results.
WaterART Fitness recommends that Aqua Fitness Personal Trainers take the following full Certification programs ( Shallow & Deep water Instructor or Senior H2O Instructor program) to fully prepare for Certification or just check out the CEC workshop program first to give you a good overview of training. A Personal Trainer is well served by having more exercise inventory to better program both non swimmers and swimmers, as well as the many fitness levels and personalities that come to a program. In water, often the client may progress much quicker (due to the protective properties of water) if the trainer offers progressive exercise inventory. Check out WatarART Fitness comprehensive home study educational programs.
