Get ready to bring a different kind of pool noodle challenge to your aqua classes. Short Long Strong with Claire Barker Hemings alternates the use of a half noodle and a full noodle for a water fitness circuit that alternates high intensity with the short noodles and recovery with the long noodles.
Most instructors have by now figured out that pool noodles are simply the most affordable and versatile equipment you can have on hand for your classes. Claire takes this versatility to an all-new level by including the use of a half noodle in this class format. Inspired by a colleague’s suggestion, she began playing around with the cut up half noodles and discovered that they provide a completely different outcome from the longer, full noodles.
Half Noodle Versatility
Consider cutting well-used pool noodles in your facility in half or purchase inexpensive noodles at the Dollar Store and cut them in half. By reducing the length of the pool noodle, your class members will experience a different outcome when exercising with the half noodles. The shorter noodles can be used with more power without the length of a regular pool noodle. This power enhances both upper body resistance and the speed with which the noodle can be used, resulting is a more intense cardio and muscular endurance experience.
Full Noodle Versatility
Fitmotivation subscribers are by now aware of all the ways they can be used in a class. In fact, we have an entire category dedicated to pool noodles that includes over 60 videos. A full pool noodle can be used in your aquatic fitness classes for upper body resistance with pushing and pulling exercises. Noodles can be stepped upon with one or both legs for lower body training. Stepping on the noodle with one or both legs is also a good way to help your class members train core stability and balance. The longer noodles can also be used for ab work in a modified supine position, or they can be used in prone plank position for core, as well as upper and lower body. Full noodles can also be sat on, kneeled on and straddled. Instructors will not find a more affordable or versatile fitness tool for their classes.
Below, Claire provides more insights into Short Long Strong and then read on for a summary of the class.
Class Summary
This class format includes a warm-up and six exercise segments that alternate between the half noodle and the full noodle. The action concludes with a stretch using the full noodle. Alternating between the two noodle sizes creates a circuit/interval style class, with the shorter noodle used for higher intensity exercise, and the longer noodle used for lower intensity with core training, lower body resistance and balance exercises.
There is no need to order specialized noodles for this class. Dollar Store noodles are perfectly fine. The full pink noodle depicted in this video is a solid core noodle that what purchased online. But it is not necessary to use a solid core noodle.
Fitmotivation extends a big thank you to Claire for sharing one of her favorite classes with subscribers. Check out Claire’s full Fitmotivation video library and stay tuned for two more of her videos posting later this summer and fall.
