You may not know this but I have been a water exercise instructor for over 30 year and in fact… I began in this business as an Aqua teacher. As such, I can relate to all of the challenging aspects of teaching in the pool – from the freezing water to the over chlorinated Natatoriums, and yes, the challenges of teaching on the deck while maintaining balance and trying NOT to slip and fall! Our industry has done a pretty good job of addressing the latter with aqua shoes and mats that assist in keeping us surefooted atop the deck. But how can we train and work on improving the upright balance we need while demonstrating our moves on deck, while shifting weight from one foot to the other, maneuvering around puddles, kickboards, boom boxes and other things that create an obstacle course poolside? In other words, what activities can we do “off deck” to improve our ability to teach “on deck?’ Well, to address this and improve our teaching skills as well as reduce the likelihood of slipping, tripping and falling, we need to heighten our sense of awareness, balance, peripheral vision and overall proprioceptive ability.
An innovative balance and sensory development program is now available that will assist you and enhance your own fitness as well teaching ability, specifically addressing the needs of aquatic fitness professionals. Beamfit™ is the company (www.beamfit.com) and Beaming™ is the activity Recently, veteran instructor, Laura Ribbons, joined me for a Beaming™ session and was quite surprised at how much FUN it was and yet how challenging and, most importantly, Laura saw the relationship to those issues associated with teaching aquatic fitness. Laura told me, “David, this type of training is just what we need as Aqua instructors - Beaming™ can really aid us with our ability to teach on the deck, providing us with improved balance, which will help us to demonstrate moves more accurately and therefore give us more opportunity to think about being creative and less about slipping and falling.” She is so right on! So let me share with you what she was so excited about and why I think you will be too!!
This is a new approach to exercise that goes beyond total body training, It is a “whole body”, mentally invigorating, core-based activity experience rather than just another workout. This simply means that it’s fun, easy to participate in and trains your body as well as your self-awareness while improving core strength, balance and spatial awareness. Beaming™ is performed on a low, grounded beam that gives slightly as you work on it,that feels like as we teach atop the pool deck. Training in this way will bring more awareness to your own body alignment and help you to translate body awareness to your students in the pool as you teach. Beaming™ trains your physical body: tones muscles, strengthens the core and improves balance, flexibility, posture, overall stature and appearance. But the beauty of this training is that it will leave you feeling refreshed, renewed and inspired…beaming from within. cushioning your joints while adding just enough instability to create a dynamic, reactive challenge. This instability helps you to “right” yourself when you are off balance; we all know what
By working in this “mindful way”, training your sensory awareness as well as your physical fitness, you will be brought to a new level of self-awareness, both physically and emotionally. And it is that level of awareness that can really assist and support all of us when teaching on the deck.
B.E.A.M. is an acronym that stands for:
- Balance your body,
- Engage your core,
- Align your spine, and
- Move…in our case, Move with grounded control, precision and fluidity, across the pool deck.
So I ask you this question, Why not try a program that is new, fun, exciting and challenging that can assist with your own fitness as well as with your teaching ability? Do something for yourself; add Beaming™ to your own personal workout regimen and your students will ultimately benefit. Perhaps even consider teaching Beaming™ so that your students can obtain the benefits right along with you. Beaming™ is the wave of the future and, as Aqua instructors, I know you love to ride a good wave!
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