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I have recently become hooked on water aerobics and was wondering how to get certified as an instructor? Sharon, Chappaqua, NY The Aquatic Exercise Association offers the AEA Fitness Instructor Certification, the Aquatic Programming & Leadership Certification, and the Aquatic Personal Training Certification. As a Trainer for AEA I present these workshops throughout the country. Check the Workshops page to see if an event is scheduled in your area. If I am not presenting in your area, AEA may have one scheduled with a different trainer. You can contact AEA directly at: Where can I purchase the Noodles that you use in your videos? Jill, Madison, WI The Noodles that are used in the Noodle Workout Video are the “Funnoodle” brand that are available in K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and most discount stores during the Spring and Summer. It is very difficult to find them in the fall and winter. You can purchase them year round from: Why are shoes important in a water workout? Kim, Seattle, WA I’m still amazed that so many participants are exercising on the hardest possible surface (cement or tile) without the protection and cushioning of athletic shoes. Shoes not only provide cushioning but also lateral and arch support. Those with orthodics (shoe inserts) can use them in aqua shoes for the needed support recommended by their podiatrist. Although the support, cushioning and safety are important reasons to wear shoes for your water workout, the added ability to perform exercises is also important and will allow you to increase the intensity of your workout. Shoes allow you to “grip” the bottom of the pool and enable you to push off and control movements. The added surface area add resistance which in turn increases the intensity of your workout - more calories burned and more overload to the muscles. The Avia Aqua Trainer 660s are by far my favorite aqua shoes as they are comfortable, easy to get on and off, and the unique design allows water to flow through the shoes. I’ve noticed that once an aqua enthusiast tries specifically designed aqua shoes, they’ll never exercise without them. I’m 60 pounds over weight and my doctor recommends that I exercise in the water to lose weight. Which video would be best for me? Ruth, Ivins, UT The Cardio with Intense Resistance video is specifically designed to provide a cardiovascular workout without the jumping, running and other high impact exercises. Persons carrying extra weight are more susceptible to injuries to the knees, hips, and ankles associated with bounding type exercises. Cardio with Intense Resistance provides a great Cardio Workout, (fast fat-burning) and includes striding, lunging, powerful kicks and pushing the limbs against the water’s resistance. These powerful movements are also very effective for toning and firming the muscles. The Strengthening with Intense Resistance is also great for those who are overweight as each exercise is specifically designed to tone and strengthen without the hi-impact moves. I’m a very fit 67 year old women and I exercise regularly with a group of other senior citizens in our pool. Which video would be best for us? Jane, Fort Myers, FL I wished I had titled Senior Splash something different. I really enjoyed filming this workout as it included aerobics, toning and stretching - a total workout. Most persons assume because of its title the workout will be a very easy program that will neglect to challenge them. I guarantee that this video will give you a workout! I designed the Senior Splash Workout for the fit and active 50 - 70 year old. The beauty of this workout, and with most water workouts, is that the water allows you to monitor your workout to fit your personal fitness level. In the Senior Splash Workout I give many options to make the workout more intense, or easier, depending on the option you choose. Thus, each time you do the workout, you can add options to make the exercises more difficult. Persons over 70 or those with injuries or chronic conditions preventing them from working out at a high level of intensity can choose the easier option to make this workout appropriate for their level of fitness. I have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and my doctor says that I should be exercising in the water. Which video do you recommend? -Amy LeGrand, Kingstree, SC The Senior Splash Workout is perfect for persons with fibromyalgia. The workout includes gentle, yet invigorating aerobic exercises, effective toning and firming, and a wonderful stretching segment. Two other workouts that would also be effective are Strengthening with Intense Resistance and Cardio with Intense Resistance. Persons with fibromyalgis should avoid high impact activities and these three videos are low impact and soothing to achy muscles and joints. I am 58 and exercise in a pool with a group of others ladies ranging in age from 48 to 79. We like to workout to an audio tape with vocal cueing as we do not have an instructor. Do you have audio tapes that talk you through the exercises? Because we have had so many requests for audio-only workouts we have just released three new cassettes and CDs (see descriptions below) that have precise vocal cuing and can be used without the companion video. However, we highly recommend buying the package (video & audio) as it is important to see the correct alignment, technique, range of motion, and exact execution of each movement to get better results and to prevent injury. We recommend watching the video a few times and then taking the cassette or CD to the pool to remind you of the exercises learned on the video. The other videos also have companion cassettes but have limited vocal instructions and must be purchased with the companion video. Once the video has been viewed a few times then the audio instructions are easy to follow. |
