Aquafitness

LEARN MORE ABOUT AQUAFITNESS

Working in the water is a dream job for some, and has great benefits for themselves and those who they work with. There is great scope within the fitness sector to introduce people to the water due to the health benefits involved. 

Are you looking to:

• develop your skills as a health, fitness or sports professional
• understand how aquafitness can be used for rehabilitation after an injury or illness
• learn how to control the environment for a safer method of aerobic and strength training 
• improve performance

Then read one, this course has been designed for you! It 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.

This course is ideal if you are working in the fitness industry and seeking to specialise or upgrade your skill set. It is also essential for those with responsibilities for program design, water fitness and safety. This could be anyone who: 

• has a general interest in water fitness 
• is responsible for the safety of activities around water and facilities
• teaches or facilitates aqua fitness to classes or groups 
• uses the water based fitness equipment 
• wants to learn about hydrostatic and hydrodynamic principles
• is involved in fitness program design 

Sign up today, develop your skills and join the world of aquafitness!

Lesson Structure

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Scope and Nature of Aqua Exercise
   • Characteristics of Water; Buoyancy, Cooling, Decreased compression forces, Hydrostatic Pressure, Increased Resistance, etc
   • Respiratory Fitness
   • Aquatherapy; for flexibility, strength, muscle re-education, balance, muscle spasms, etc
   • Physiology of an Aqua Exercise Session; stages 1, 2 and 3
   • What Affects Fitness
   • Managing Aqua Facilities
2. Equipment and Facilities
   • Pool Conditions
   • Pool Design
   • Clientele
   • Atmosphere
   • Financial Constraints
   • Overall Arrangement of Pool Facilities
   • Type of Pool
   • Reception and Office
   • Pool Tank Design and depth
   • Swim Jets, Rails, Rings
   • Pool Renovation
   • Toilet and Locker Room Facilities
   • Water Quality
   • Managing Aquatic Facilities
   • Equipment; kick boards, float belts, goggles, neck supports, flippers, face masks, ear plugs, balls, paddles, floatation bar bells, webbed gloves, stretch chords, weights, mats, aqua lungs
   • Clothing and Sun Protection
   • Hats, Caps, Sunglasses, Heart monitors, Stop Watches, etc
   • Appropriate Student Numbers
   • Music
   • Safety in the Pool
   • Public Pools
   • First Aid
   • Teaching Swimming
   • Life Guards
3. Types of Exercises
   • Stretching
   • Calf muscles
   • Pectoral girdle
   • Hip flexor
   • Triceps
   • Hamstrings
   • Biceps
   • Quadriceps
   • Lower and upper back
   • Types of Exercises
   • Aerobic Exercise
   • Anaerobic Exercise
   • Exercises for Shallow Water
   • Exercises for Deep Water
   • Deep Water Running
   • Intensity Variables; speed, power, range of movement, elevation
   • Teaching Deep Water Running
   • When You Get in the Water
4. Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamic Principles
   • General Principles of Aquafitness
   • Specific Gravity, Pressure, Flow, Energy, Momentum
   • Buoyancy in the Water
   • Warm Up
   • Recovery
   • Winding Up an Exercise Session
   • Cool Down Stage
   • Muscle Conditioning
   • Weight in Water
   • Body Alignment in Water
   • Knee Safety
   • Training Heart Rate
5. Safety & Health
   • Exercises for Special Groups
   • Health Disorders
   • Aged People
   • Overweight People
   • Arthritis, Asthma and Diabetes Sufferers
   • Pregnant Women
   • Fibromyalgia Sufferers
   • Safety and Health
   • Pre Exercise Screening Checklist
   • Legal Liability
   • Insurance
   • Contributory Negligence
   • Occupational Health and Safety
6. Program Design
   • Requirements to Deliver Appropriate Aqua Based Programs
   • Process for Program Design
   • Improving Cardio Respiratory Fitness
   • Building Strength
   • Improving Flexibility
   • Duration of Sessions
   • Examples of Types of Programs
   • Stages of a Program; Introduction, Warm Up, Main Body, Intensity Levels, Recovery
   • Concluding a Session and Cool Down
   • Writing a Program Plan
7. Leading a Program
   • Leading a Class
   • When you Teach from the Pool
   • Teaching out of the Pool
   • Teaching both In and Out of the Pool
   • Introducing New People to an Aqua Class
   • Leadership Concepts
   • Leader Communication
   • Common Communication Barriers
   • Appropriate Numbers in a Class
   • Preparing for a Class
   • Tips for Running a Class

LEARN TO ALWAYS WARM UP FIRST

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

• Muscle tissue tears
• Damage to joints
• Cardiac problems

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.

WHY STUDY WITH ACS?

There are lots of reasons why you should sign up to do this course with us, including:

• The information is comprehensive and will give you excellent depth to your knowledge to help you develop your specialism
• Within each lesson you have the opportunity to apply your learning to activities in order to extend your knowledge and research specific areas of interest, enhancing your understanding
• Knowledge of the areas studied in this course will enable you to stand out from others and give you greater confidence
• Understanding about designing and teaching classes can take you in to many different industries and sectors, giving you flexibility now and in the future with the opportunities you seek
• Our subject specialist tutors will be there to support you throughout your course, they are only too happy to share their industry knowledge and experience with you
• When studying with us you set your own deadlines, meaning you study at your own pace enabling it to fit around other commitments

TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND ENROL NOW!

You can enrol on the course now, but if you have any questions about the content of the course or studying with ACS, then please get in touch with us today - use our FREE COURSE COUNSELLING SERVICE to get in touch with our expert tutors. They will be pleased to help you!