Australian Fitness Network Author of the Year
CEC
ARTICLE
hoosing the exercises and tunes for your upcoming
class is not the only preparation you need to do for
your aqua class. Your mental preparation will also
have a huge impact on its success or failure.
Have you ever been preparing for your aqua fitness class
and found the following thoughts drifting into your head?
• I can’t be bothered
• I don’t have enough energy
• It will be too hot on pool deck
• It shouldn’t be my job to set up and pack up the equipment
• I’m over teaching aqua.
C
THE POOL DECK
THE POWER OF PREP
And, interestingly enough, your prediction turned out to be
true?
Your thoughts become reality
Entering a situation with negativity only creates more negativity.
Preparation for an aqua fitness class involves more than just selecting the right music and moves.
Luckily, we are free to choose how we feel and react to
situations. In this situation you can use your free will to create
a more positive experience for yourself and your participants.
WORDS: truly
JENNIFER
When an instructor
enjoys SCHEMBRI-PORTELLI
teaching, their participants will
benefit and feel enthused by their passion.
hoosing the exercises and tunes is not the only
Affirmationspreparation
are an effective
self- aqua
you need way
to doof
for improving
your upcoming
confidence, positivity
and
general
mental
wellbeing.
Can
you
class. Your mental preparation will also have
a huge
remember
choseortofailure.
become an aqua instructor in
impact why
on itsyou
success
the firstHave
place?
yourself
thatforparticipants
choose
to and
youRemind
ever been
preparing
your aqua fitness
class
attend
the
class
and
embrace
what
you
have
to
offer,
so
you
found the following thoughts drifting into your head?
are making
a positive
difference to their lives. Begin the class
• I can’t
be bothered
focusing
on the
outcomes
have positive fitness, wellness
• I don’t
have
enoughthat
energy
and •
social
effects.
Have
a
genuine
It will be too hot on pool deckbelief that you are doing
something
that notbe
only
participants
who
the
• It shouldn’t
mybenefits
job to set
up and pack
up attend
the equipment
class,
but
also
yourself,
and
the
class
will
ooze
excellence.
• I’m over teaching aqua.
C
And, interestingly enough, your prediction turned out to be true?
Transform
GiveYour
your thoughts
mind and become
body a refresher
reality by
participating in
someone
else’s
aqua class.
Perhaps only
experiencing
all those
Entering
a situation
with negativity
creates more
negativity.
wonderful
soothing,
therapeutic
qualities
we
love
about
Luckily, we are free to choose how we feel and the
react to
water
from the perspective
of participant
will reignite
your
situations.
In this situation
you can use
your free
willaqua
to create
instructing
your creativity!
a morepassion
positiveand
experience
for yourself and your participants.
As
much
regular truly
repetition
the same
move
allows will
When
an as
instructor
enjoysofteaching,
their
participants
participants
to
become
proficient,
evidence
demonstrates
benefit and feel enthused by their passion.
that change
is also important
the mind
andofbody.
A fresh selfAffirmations
are an for
effective
way
improving
stimulus
challenges
the
body
and
promotes
the
development
confidence, positivity and general mental wellbeing. Can you
of strength,
coordination,
balance,
posture an
andaqua
general
fitness.in the
remember
why you chose
to become
instructor
Get first
in the
water,
get
inspired
and
incorporate
your
new
place? Remind yourself that participants chooseideas
to attend
into the
plan
your
next class.
the classfor
and
embrace
what you have to offer, so you are making
As much as regular repetition of the same move allows
participants to become proficient, evidence demonstrates
that change is also important for the mind and body. A fresh
stimulus challenges the body and promotes the development
of strength, coordination, balance, posture and general fitness.
Get in the water, get inspired and incorporate your new ideas
into the plan for your next class.
Steps to making it happen
Challenge yourself to create one or two (or eight!) new aqua
moves you’ve never used before, maybe grabbing a piece of
equipment and seeing what you can come up with. Practise the
new moves until you’re confident enough to implement them in
your next class.
Demonstrate with technical skill, but also recognise your
own personality, passion, flair and commitment; doing so is an
important part of class preparation that will shine through to
your participants, taking you from being a good to a great aqua
instructor.
Jennifer Schembri-Portelli, aka ‘JSP’, is a skilled fitness and aqua
professional with over 25 years experience. She also founded Water
Exercise Training Service (WETS), an education provider whose aqua fitness
qualifications are now delivered in partnership with AUSTSWIM. In 2015 JSP
was named Australian Fitness Network’s Author of the Year. wets.com.au
a positive difference to their lives. Begin the class focu sing on
Steps
makingthat
it happen
the to
outcomes
have positive fitness, wellness and social
Challenge
yourself
create one
or that
two you
(or eight!)
new something
aqua
benefits.
Have to
a genuine
belief
are doing
moves
never
usedparticipants
before, maybe
piecebut
of also
thatyou’ve
not only
benefits
who grabbing
attend theaclass,
equipment
and
seeing
what
you
can
come
up
with.
Practice
the
yourself, and the class will ooze excellence.
new moves until you’re confident enough to implement them in
your next class.
Demonstrate
with
technical
skills, but
recognise
Give your mind
and
body a refresher
byalso
participating
in your
someone
own else’s
personality,
passion,
flair
and
commitment;
doing
so
is an
aqua class. Perhaps experiencing all those wonderful
important
parttherapeutic
of class preparation
thatlove
will about
shine through
to from
soothing,
qualities we
the water
yourthe
participants,
taking
you
from
being
a
good
to
a
great
aqua
perspective of participant will reignite your aqua instructing
instructor.
passion and your creativity!
Transform
46 | NETWORK WINTER 2015
Remind yourself that participants choose
to attend the class and embrace what you
have to offer, so you are making a positive
difference to their lives.