Does it drive you crazy when the students start chattering as they head to the pool wall to retrieve their noodles or hand buoys? Don’t get mad - get even. Whip up some wall sorcery and learn how to make the trip to the wall a productive and quiet one. Beware the Wicked Wall.
Equipment such as noodles and hand buoys are popular in aquatic fitness in classes. The problem with using equipment is that the hands really need a rest from gripping and thus hand-held equipment is best used in interval training where segments are alternated with and without equipment. Alternating segments means that you will have to send the students to the wall to get their equipment. Invariably this wall trek turns into a major production, as the students start gabbing and lollygagging while precious minutes tick away. Sound familiar? The next time this happens you can say, “Since you have made it to the wall…I have an IDEA!”
WICKED IDEAS – S’WET TEASER INTRO
The Wicked Wall features S’WET by Jenni Lynn Fitness founder, Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour and some of her favorite wall exercises. Fitmotivation video viewers loved S’WET Boot Camp when it posted in August 2015, and they especially liked the intense, creative wall drills. And so I asked Jenni Lynn if she could come back with a few more wall moves.
WICKED WALL: VIDEO-AT-A-GLANCE
This shorter (16-minute) video is part of the new Fitmotivation Express Video Series designed to minimize viewing time and double content format. Two shorter videos will take the place of one full-length video.
Wicked Wall Segment 1 – Simple Wall Circuit
This circuit features four moves and is one of Jenni Lynn’s current go-to drills that she uses when the students retrieve equipment from the wall.
Wicked Wall Segment 2 – Progressed Wall Circuit
The circuit of four moves gets progressed with hand buoys and then replayed with even more progressions. The circuit then gets progressed in imaginary deep water by suspending all of the moves.
Wicked Wall Segment 3 – Favorite Wall moves
Jenni Lynn shares a few more of her wicked wall moves.
PEACE & QUIET AT LAST
Whether you string together a large wall segment for your classes, or simply parse out a couple of moves for transition purposes, the wall can make class instruction a lot more fun and a lot more quieter. “Once I started incorporating the wall between segments to make equipment retrieval a more efficient use of time, I discovered that not only did my students love the wall work, but there were also some added bonuses in doing so,” says Jenni Lynn. “Using the wall as a circuit transition cut down on the talking because of all the waves and energy that was moving through the water during the wall segments made it impossible to chat.” Realizing that she had a hit on her hands, Jenni Lynn started researching and practicing other wall formats and now S’WET by Jenni Lynn Fitness is one of the leading resources for vigorous and creative wall programming.
NOT ALL POOLS ARE CREATED EQUAL
Wall work can be a great addition to an aquatic fitness class as long as you have the wall space to work with. Unfortunately, many instructors teach in pools where lap lanes are configured to allot class space. This typically limits the amount of wall space available. “Most of the pools I teach at in NYC are not your standard 25 meter length, but smaller in shape and I am allowed to use the entire pool, which creates ample wall space,” says Jenni Lynn. In situations where wall space is an issue, Jenni Lynn suggests that half the class could perform moves in the center of the pool while the other half is at the wall. “Or you can always do the work facing partners to give it an extra splash of fun!,” suggests Jenni Lynn.
And if Wicked Wall moves aren't enough to quiet the chatter and create a fitness challenge, throw some Dude Moves at them. Wicked Wall and Dude Moves, featuring Chris LaCour, were paired together as an October Express Video feature. Fitmotivation extends BIG thanks to Jenni Lynn Patterson-LaCour for returning to Florida and filming. Check out other Fitmotivation videos featuring Jenni Lynn and the S’WET brand – including S’WET Boot Camp, S’WET Deep, S’WET Challenge and Wave Warrior. Jenni Lynn will also be posting 4 new videos in the coming months. Interested in hosting or attending S'WET workshops? Visit the S'WET website or connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter.