Aquafitness BRE207

A comprehensive course in water fitness! This course isperfect for anyone interested in water fitness and safety as well as teaching some of the essential elements such as aquafitness equipment and facilities, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic principles, and program design and facilitating.

Here\'s what one of our students said about this course: I learnt a lot about the whole aqua fitness industry, not just one area e.g. learn to swim or aerobics. Alison

Course Content

There are seven lessons in this module, as follows:1. Introduction

Definition of aqua fitness and therapy and how it differs from other fitness activities. Encompasses the different stages of a fitness session and the management of an aquatic center

2. Equipment and Facilities

The aim of this lesson is to gain the skills and knowledge which will aid in the selection, use and management and facilities required for aqua fitness activities. Includes pool position, design and depth, equipment required for aqua fitness activities, music and first aid requirements.

3. Types of Exercises

This lessons gives an understanding of the wide range of different aerobic and anaerobic movements that can be used in aqua aerobic programs. Lesson content includes stretching, aerobic and anaerobic principles and exercises in both shallow and deep water.

4. Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamic Principles

The aim of this lesson is to develop an understanding of the principles underlying the design of an appropriate aqua fitness program. Includes definitions of pressure, weight and body alignment in water, warming up, recovery and cool down.

5. Safety and Health

This lesson gives an understanding of the aqua fitness training requirements of special needs groups. Includes pregnancy, safety and health requirements, pre-exercise screening checklists, liability and legislation.

6. Program Design

This lesson provides skills in the design and delivery of appropriate aqua based programs to improve and maintain aerobic fitness. Includes program aims, warm up, the exercise body, recovery and cool down examples, as well as intensity levels.

7. Leading a Program

This lesson gives an understanding of skills to provide better leadership qualities during an aqua fitness session. Covers leadership concepts, teaching, communication, body language and student numbers.

Extract from course materials:

Warm Up Stage

A person is more susceptible to the following injuries if they exercise without warming up first:

• Torn muscle tissue
• Damage to joints
• Cardiac problem

Warming up does the following:

• It gets the muscles moving and in doing so begins to lubricate the joints

• It gently stretches the muscles conditioning them for more vigorous movements to follow.

• It increases the heart rate and respiration slowly which is safer than a rapid increase.

• Increases the capacity to take in and utilise oxygen

• Blood flow is increased

• Undertaking a warm up will also help the transmission of impulses through the nerves.

• The hormone system is alerted.

• Energy sources become activated.

• Activity in the Central Nervous System is increased which leads to faster reaction times.

• It may psychologically prepare class members for more vigorous exercise.

This warm up can be achieved by any gentle movement such as walking, either in or out of water, gradually increasing the intensity or effort, and ensuring that a wide variety of muscles in all parts of the body are moving.

There are five aspects to the warm up:

1. The overall body temperature is increased by overall general movement such as running or jumping. The heart rate should be increased gradually and sustained at a raised level for perhaps 5 minutes. The intensity and duration of this part of the exercise will depend upon the individual\'s level of fitness and the environmental conditions It can take longer to warm up if exercising in colder water

2. Major muscle groups should be utilised first then smaller groups.

3. Blood flow to specific areas may need to be increased during warm up. The muscles are then targeted, and the importance of this will depend on the condition of the individual and the purpose of the exercise session. If exercise is being undertaken for therapy of an injury in the arms, then prescribed arm exercises might be important during this warm up stage.

4. The muscles which are to be involved in the exercise session should be stretched gradually. The range of exercises prescribed in this warm up stage should ideally encompass comfortable stretches each for at least 20 seconds duration.

5. The joints which are to be involved in the exercise session should be moved gently at first. Extend intensity and range of movement gradually.

Aims

• an understanding of how aquafitness activities differ from other fitness activities.
• skills and knowledge which will aid in the selection, use and management of equipment and facilities required for aquafitness activities.
• an understanding of a wide range of different aerobic and anaerobic movements that can be used in aquafitness programs.
• an understanding of the principles underlying the design of an appropriate aquafitness program.
• an understanding of the aquafitness training requirements of special needs groups.
• skills in the design and delivery of appropriate aqua based programs to improve/maintain aerobic fitness.
• an understanding of skills that will enable better leadership of an aqua fitness session.

What you will do in this Course:

• What would typical responses to exercising in water be, for each of the following:
• A middle aged man who had done little exercise for the past ten years.
• A young female adult who has been active in sport through high school and after school years.
• an elderly lady who has had hip surgery in the previous few years.

Either visualise someone running or go and see someone in action (either on a track or on a treadmill in a gym). Explain the different forces on the runner as compared to someone in the water doing a similar exercise. Areas to consider include:

• gravity pressure
• sidewards pressure
• joint pressure
• speed.
• In a manner similar to the way you answered question 2 of this lesson, compare the differences that occur between weight training and aqua training.
• Go to an aquafitness location/provider and enquire from the managers or staff on how they select equipment. Do they select according to need, trend, function or price? Why do they select the equipment they have? What is the range of equipment they have available?
• At the same location, ask about maintenance of other facilities. How often are they in need of cleaning, who does it, what equipment is used, etc?
• Investigate any other equipment that can be used by aquafitness instructors that are not mentioned in this text. Where can they be purchased from? How much are they? What use have they? Try to obtain brochures.
• Perform a range of aqua-exercises (eg. warm up, aerobic exercises and resistance) and a number of stretches covering all major body parts. Record your performance of these on VHS video. Submit the video to the school. The tape should be about 1 hour in length.
• Observe an aquafitness session. Ideally you should obtain permission to visit a health club or gymnasium and observe a class. If held in a public pool, you might be able to make these observations without obtaining formal permission.
• If a pregnant women came to your class right at the beginning and wanted to join in what would you say and do? Take for granted that she is relatively new to the centre.
• List 10 important factors you need to consider when working with a group of children.

List 10 important factors you need to consider when working with a group of older adults who have not exercised for many years.

Aqua Fitness activities might be defined as any fitness activities undertaken when the body is submerged or partially submerged in water. This can include Swimming, Diving (high board or scuba), Snorkeling, Aqua Aerobics, Hydrostatic Stretching, Deep Water Running, or even more structured activities such as Water Volleyball or Water Polo.

This course is perfect for anyone interested in water fitness and safety as well as teaching some of the essential elements such as aquafitness equipment and facilities, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic principles, and program design and facilitating. The course is written by John Mason, author of the best selling book, Aquafitness, published by Kangaroo Press.