All Instructors Are Not Created Equally: Your Coach Can Make or Break Your Water Fitness Experience (Part 3 of 4)
Experienced, qualified, and passionate water fitness instructors are sometimes hard to find. In part 3 of this series, “Not Created Equally,” I dive into the differences between a good instructor & an amazing instructor and outline the attributes that I find most important in a water fitness coach.
Most anyone can lead a water fitness class, but it doesn’t mean that they should. Just as in any profession, there are terrible instructors, good instructors, and excellent instructors – and your coach can truly make or break your water fitness experience.
When considering the attributes that are most important when teaching a water fitness class, I find there are several that stand out – education/training, experience, an investment in the students, and passion - and a combination of all of these factors is a must. Think about it: the experienced instructor with no actual training? The passionate instructor with no experience? The educated, experienced instructor who is burned out and feels no connection to her participants? The best instructor is enthusiastic, creative, and well-rounded.
Of course, it is truly up to each aquatic center to hire high caliber instructors. All too often, unqualified instructors are recruited to teach “water aerobics,” leading to injuries or a lack of results and fueling the misconception that water fitness isn’t as good as land-based fitness. If you’ve taken a class and doubted the power of the pool, it might be time to find a new instructor!
Let’s dive into my four must-haves in a water fitness instructor!
CREDENTIALS/EDUCATION. First and foremost, an instructor should have training in exercise science, anatomy, kinesiology, and the properties of water (buoyancy, viscosity, surface tension, etc). In order to write an effective class plan and to cue correct movement, these concepts are a must. Having a basic understanding of medical conditions, like arthritis and rotator cuff tears, or neurological diagnosis like Parkinson’s and MS, can be very helpful, too, especially if coaching older clients.
Frequently, water fitness instructors are simply lifeguards, aquatic therapy aides, or even class participants without any true training other than what they’ve received on the job or experienced in their own workouts. Trust me, I worked with dozens of unqualified instructors for close to a decade, as the therapy clinic used PT aides to teach classes, too. I still vividly recall an interview with a potential aide who confidently spoke about teaching water fitness at a nearby college. When asked what training she had, she replied: “The other lifeguard showed me a routine to follow.” She held no certifications (other than being a lifeguard herself) and didn’t know the biceps from the triceps, and yet she had been paid to lead classes at a major university.
So… maybe it doesn’t matter? Oh – but it does, if you’re actually looking for results and want to avoid getting hurt. If your instructor doesn’t know what muscles you’re using, he can’t cue you to ensure you’re “feeling” it in the correct muscle group. He’s also not using exercise physiology concepts to structure your workout. Would it be acceptable if your land-based personal trainer randomly gave you a bunch of exercises to do but didn’t know the purpose, muscles utilized, safe progressions, or proper form? It shouldn’t be acceptable in the pool either.
Of course, all certifications are not created equally. Facebook groups often have posts from instructors: “Help, I need a certification for my new job at ABC Pool. Which is the cheapest and easiest one for me to get online?” The AEA Aquatic Fitness Professional certification is considered the gold standard in our industry; however, I’d argue that this, alone, is truly not enough. Look for instructors who also hold land-based credentials: Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists, Certified Personal Trainers, or Physical Therapists (like me!) and/or instructors who have invested time into completing coursework in reputable class formats, like S’WET and Aqua Zumba.
EXPERIENCE. Education and specialized water fitness training may give instructors the knowledge needed to teach a good class, but experience is what brings that same class to a new level. Travis and I each teach approximately 500 classes/year, in addition to spending about 1000 hours/year in the pool working with clients privately or in small groups. We work with young children and centenarians, high level athletes and individuals with chronic pain, and individuals with water phobia. We know how to modify exercises for your [shoulder/knee/hip/back] ailments, and we have learned what cues work best to ensure proper form. (We even know what to look for in a swimsuit (polyester!) and how to minimize the effects of chlorine exposure!)
Experience brings confidence – not overconfidence (like my interviewee) - but a well deserved self-assurance. I know that the intervals and equipment I’ve chosen will be effective. I also know that if something should go astray (as it often does!), I’ll be ready and can adapt on the spot. Half the class decides to skip out early and we don’t have enough people for full pool basketball? Let’s do relays instead!
INVESTMENT IN YOU! One of the perks of working at a small pool is that I know all of my clients - not just their names, but their needs, their goals, and their preferences. Who uses a water horse and who prefers the Aquajogger belt? Who needs the small hand buoys or the large blue Hydrorevolution bells? Who recently had shoulder surgery and may need modifications for our upper body strength set? Let’s face it, I even know who’s having a colonoscopy, who’s on vacation (and where), and the name (and current weight) of Carolyn’s new grandson.
Necessary? Not exactly. But I truly care about my clients. WE care (I know I can speak for Travis, too!). As a service-based industry that’s invested in the health and wellness of our local community, we have created a business because we care about our clients … not because of the paycheck. Hopefully your instructor is invested in you, too – not just teaching class because their PT employer told them it’s a job requirement.
ENTHUSIASM & PASSION. Lastly, a loud, bold, outgoing personality may be helpful when teaching classes, but Travis and I are proof that even introverts have a place in this industry. (We joke that our dog is the only extrovert in the family…) A microphone certainly helps, too.
A great instructor is friendly, enthusiastic, energetic, AND passionate about their work. They have a thirst for knowledge – taking extra continuing education (because they can, not because they have to), watching videos online, reviewing anatomy, and learning to teach new class formats. They get in the pool to try new things – expHEREerimenting with exercises and equipment to see what works (and what doesn’t!).
A high caliber instructor is educated, experienced, passionate, and invested in his or her students. If you’re in a hiring position, look for candidates that have a combination of these attributes… or be ready to invest time and money into bringing a “good” instructor to the next level. If you’re a class participant who finds their water fitness experiences to be lacking, a new instructor might make a big difference!
Did you miss last week’s blog? There’s no “one size fits all” approach to water fitness classes; read it HERE.
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