Italian Aqua Expert, Silvia Senati, has been a leading force in the transformation of aquatic fitness over the past 15 years with her electrifying energy and fierce combat programming. Filmed in 2012, Aqua Combat vs. Aqua Aerobics, showcases her mastery of instructional break down, deck performance and visual cueing.
Fitmotivation.com is celebrating international aquatic fitness in the month of May (and June!), in honor of the International Aquatic Fitness Conference (IAFC), which was held this month in Florida. IAFC offers a smorgasbord of global aquatics with presenters and attendees from over 30 different countries. Many of the IAFC presenters speak little to no English and instead lead their classes with expert visual cueing skills. The art of visual cueing is one of the biggest takeaways from IAFC. If you missed the conference, the next best thing is watching Silvia Senati in a video. She is in my opinion the queen of body language and visual cueing skills.
Visual cueing refers to leading participants through a workout with gestures, body language, facial expressions and more. This style of cueing requires an energetic deck performance and that is exactly what viewers will get in Aqua Combat vs Aqua Aerobics. Personality, energy and deck presence are traits that are near impossible to educate or train in an instructor. Instead, they are traits that are best absorbed by watching instructors like Silvia. And they are skills that instructors become better at by attending conferences and workshops.
One of the biggest takeaways from this video is HOW Silvia weaves a workout together by using add-on instruction. Many instructors eschew choreography because either they claim their students don’t like it or they themselves don’t care for it. However, I challenge any instructor to watch this video and not marvel in the fun, excitement and engagement of Silvia’s add-on style as she builds combinations one move at a time. Anyone can be successful at following choreography when it is taught in this fashion. As per my warning in the notes that come with this video, please do not attempt to teach the combinations in their final form. The workout is NOT the choreography; instead it is the breakdown and build-up of the combinations. This workout in this video extends to 45 minutes and yet Silvia teaches just FOUR segments of movement.
Aqua Combat vs. Aqua Aerobics - At a Glance
Equipment: The equipment used in this video is the Aqquatix Combat Gloves.
There is no USA distributor and this equipment is not for sale in the USA.
Please substitute webbed gloves or consider using NO equipment.
Segment 1 – Aqua Choreography: This segment doubles as a warm-up as simple moves are introduced and then added one at a time to build a combination that includes layers of more intricate options.
Segment 2 – Aqua Combat: Silvia’s energy and instructional mastery comes alive as various punches and kicks are added on one at a time to build an epic combat combination.
Segment 3 – Aqua Choreography: Once again, simple moves are added on one at a time and then transformed with intricate options. The end result is a fun, functional and fluid block of choreography.
Segment 4 – Aqua Combat: Silvia ends the routine with a knockout punch combination that is performed several times for optimal movement retention and form & alignment.
Cool Down: Okay…I dare you to watch this and tell me that she is NOT the queen of visual cueing. This segment portrays a passionate instructor totally in their element and loving what they do.
Fitmotivation.com extends a BIG thank you to Silvia for sharing Aqua Combat vs Aqua Aerobics with video viewers. Her passion, her fierce combat style and her contribution to the aquatic fitness industry have won her legions of fans. Bravo!
We hope to see more of her on Fitmotivation.com!