The above video is a preview for Fitness Friends: Aqua Favorites, posted 9/23/15
For the past two months I have been telling you there would be a surprise video in September…well, maybe sort of…if I could pull it off. SURPRISE! Get ready for eight of my ‘Fitness Friends’ sharing one of their favorite things to do in an aquatic fitness class.
The vision I had was for a compilation video featuring various fitness leaders and Fitmotivation subscribers sharing one of their aqua favorites – whether demonstrating themselves or demonstrating with students. Having the submissions filmed on iPhone videos doesn’t exactly provide the best of video quality but it does unite the Aqua Nation by allowing instructors to share ideas and favorites in a simplistic fashion. And I am super excited because I myself took away some ideas for my classes thanks to my fitness friends.
These were my main takeaways from this video compilation:
Noodle & Core: Superb ideas from Stephanie Thielen for structuring core programming using a three-fold approach – stabilization, strength & function. And bonus – she filmed a noodle segment. Subscribers have been asking for more noodle ideas.
Drills/Intervals: I am always looking for ideas for intense drills or cardio segments for my classes. My fitness friends did not disappoint. Danita Watkins shared some of her Creative Boot Camp exercises. Jackie Lebeau offered up a high energy, yet functional kick segment and Jenni Lynn Patterson unleashed a challenging one-minute drill featuring several exercises.
Pyramid: I love instructing with the pyramid method and so do my fitness friends. Miff Hendriksen demonstrated a pyramid using variations of one move and Jessica Pinkowski used the pyramid approach to teach various exercises at different impact levels.
Choreography: Having choreographed fitness routines for nearly 20 years to the beat and phrase of the music, it occurred to me that I have never taught combinations to the composition of the individual song – instrumental, verse & chorus. Fitmotivation subscriber, Ashley Bishop, does a fantastic job of simplifying movement & music the ‘Zumba Way’ with a fun Latin inspired routine broken down into instrumental, verse and chorus segments. .
Stretching: Okay, I confess – I almost always do the same stretch at the end of my classes. Boring! And so THANK YOU Tara Palmer for giving me some ideas for adding flair, finesse and function to my post-stretch routine.
BONUS: Okay...so call me a "Screen Hog"...I just can't stay out of the videos. I filmed my Favorite 4 Arm Drills to do in a class.
Dear subscribers: If you like this video and would like to see more compilation videos in the future, please let me know by commenting through the blog, email, Facebook or the new Suggestion feature. If the video is well received I will produce more compilation videos. And if so, please let me know if you are interested in submitting one of your aqua favorites for a compilation video.
Thank you to my Fitness Friends for participating in this video. Below I have provided a brief mention of each friend and contact information if provided. And stay tuned - Stephanie Thielen and Jackie Lebeau will be filming for AEA later this fall. Did you know that AEA Members can now watch FULL-LENGTH videos in the Members Only area of the AEA website? These videos can be viewed from anywhere in the world and AEA Membership costs as low as $4.00 a month. Become an AEA Member
FITNESS FRIENDS
Stephanie Thielen is an AEA Training Specialist, NETA Trainer based in Omaha, NE and she works with additional fitness companies such as BOSU and ACE. Look for Stephanie this fall in the AEA Regional Events in Roscoe, IL and San Diego, CA. Contact her through her website – Stephanie Thielen Fitness
Jenni Lynn Patterson is now familiar to Fitmotivation subscribers because her video, S’WET Boot Camp was just posted on the site. Stay tuned for S’WET Deep next month. Jenni Lynn is the founder of Jenni Lynn Fitness in New York City and the creator of S’WET.
Contact her through her website – Jenni Lynn Fitness
Jessica Pinkowski is the group fitness supervisor for On Top of World Communities in Ocala, FL. She specializes in curriculum development for older adults and is an experienced educator for both land and aqua classes. Jessica has presented at numerous fitness conventions and is a WATERinMOTION master trainer.
Danita Watkins is an AEA Continuing Education Provider and an AFAA Primary Certification Specialist. She teaches classes in the St. Louis, MO area and is teaching aqua workshops in Nashville n October. Contact her through her website – Watkins Aquatic Fitness Solutions
Ashley Bishop is a Fitmotivation subscriber whom I met recently while teaching the AEA Certification at the Zumba International Convention. She has an extensive dance background and currently teaches Zumba, group fitness and dance classes in the San Francisco East Bay Area. Contact her through her Zumba web page – Ashley Bishop
Jackie Lebeau is an AEA Training Specialist and a continuing education provider for AEA, AFAA and ACE. She currently works and teaches in Baltimore, MD. Look for Jackie this fall in the AEA Regional Event in Midlothian, VA and other AEA events. Contact her through her website – Jla Fitness
Miff Hendriksen is a Fitmotivation subscriber and an AEA and AFAA certified instructor and teaches classes in Venice, FL. She is a former AEA employee and many may recognize her from her staffing role at previous IAFC conferences.
Tara Palmer is an AEA Training Specialist and a continuing education instructor for Fitmotivation courses. She teaches land & aqua classes in Rochester, NY.
THANKS AGAIN FITNESS FRIENDS!