| Uniting AEA’s IAFC with ATRI’s Symposium, the International Aquatic Fitness & Therapy Conference allows you to customize the week of training to suit your needs – therapy, fitness, or both. Here is a highlight of one of the fitness-focused sessions being offered at IAFTC 2023 in Orlando, Florida (April 30-May 5) from Aqua Exercise Expert Julie See. |
| Sometimes you just want the moves for new ideas to inspire your future classes or sessions. Sometimes you just want to work out yourself, since we don’t get to do that when we are teaching. Sometimes you just want to be in the pool and enjoy not having to “think” too much – letting someone else take the lead for a while. These are all great reasons to attend Master Classes at IAFTC 2023! Beauty, Brains, or Brawn is an aquatic master class that highlights ways to modify base moves to alter the outcome. Base moves set the stage for exercise design. Base moves can accommodate different abilities through intensity adjustments with the physical laws and properties of water. Base moves can also be adjusted to target different outcomes. Is your focus on power or flexibility, speed or increased range of motion, muscular conditioning or simply a fun-focused activity? All are good reasons to exercise. Let’s consider three ways to adjust base moves, therefore movement patterns, to change how the exercise “feels” and how it will be most effective during a class or session. · Beauty – adjust for a graceful, fluid flow ideal for warm-ups, cool-downs, and recovery. · Brains – challenge cognition with arm patterns, rhythm changes, and movement planes. · Brawn – accentuate drag and add power to muscle up your moves. You probably have favorite moves and combinations. My go-to moves are jacks, skis, and kicks because they are so versatile and easy to adjust for intensity, impact, and intent. Beauty, Brains, or Brawn includes three less-used base moves – rocking horse, pendulum, and leap – for this shallow-water workout. From the warm-up to the cool-down, variations of these three moves will guide us through a well-balanced training session in the pool. Here are a couple examples of how we will put a different spin on moves that you frequently include in your classes with ideas to add beauty, use our brains, or find the power from our brawn. PS – If you attended BAFTC 2022, I will be adding new content in Orlando! ROCKING HORSE – BeautyRock Up-Back-Up & Tree PoseHold tree pose for 4-count; look toward lifted leg with hand behind back and opposite arm outstretched to side PENDULUM – BrainsTraditional pendulum leg pattern with arm pattern. One arm: shoulder flexion & extension / Other arm (starts on count 2): shoulder flexion – transverse abduction – transverse adduction -extension. LEAP – BrawnGrounded Karate Kick F&B + Rebounding LeapPerform 4 sets to one side with alternating lead leg then ½ turn to repeat to opposite side. Arms: alternating push F&B + transverse sweep thumbs up. I challenge my students to try new activities, persevere with difficult skills, and be open to things that might seem uncomfortable at first. I personally took those same challenges to design this format. Are you up for the challenge too? |
| AUTHOR Julie See is one of AEA’s amazing IAFTC 2023 Presenters. Find out more about Julie and the sessions she is offering here. |