The Future of Aquatic Fitness
Why Personal Trainers Need to Add Aqua
Aquatic Fitness Takes Center Stage!
Seed Oils: Healthy or Harmful
Berry Recovery Smoothie
Job Board

The Future of Aquatic Fitness: Exciting New Research That’s Making Waves

By Sara Kooperman, JD

Aquatic exercise continues to evolve, and the latest research is shedding light on how water-based workouts can transform health, fitness, and rehabilitation. As aquatic fitness professionals, staying updated on groundbreaking studies can inspire new program ideas and help you better serve your participants. Here’s a comprehensive look at some of the most exciting new findings making waves in the world of aquatic exercise.

1. High-Intensity Aquatic Training for Chronic Conditions
A recent study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine found that aquatic high-intensity interval training (AHIIT) significantly improves exercise capacity in adults with chronic conditions like back pain, arthritis, chronic lung disease, type 2 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. The study highlights that AHIIT offers benefits comparable to land-based HIIT but with the added advantage of being joint-friendly and accessible for those with physical limitations.

Key Takeaway: Incorporating AHIIT into your classes could be a game-changer for participants with chronic health conditions. Short bursts of high-intensity activity, followed by recovery, can boost endurance and fitness without added strain.

 Read the study: High-intensity interval training improves exercise capacity in adults with long-term health conditions


2. Strength and Mobility for Postmenopausal Women
A 2023 study in Frontiers in Public Health explored the effects of aquatic exercise on postmenopausal women. Results showed significant improvements in lower and upper limb strength, agility, flexibility, and overall quality of life. The researchers recommend prioritizing resistance-based aquatic programs to counteract the muscle and mobility loss associated with aging.

Key Takeaway: Create classes specifically targeting postmenopausal women with exercises that enhance resistance and improve flexibility. Highlight these benefits in your marketing materials to attract this demographic.

 Read the study: Aquatic exercise improves physical fitness and quality of life in postmenopausal women

3. Boosting Cognitive Health in Older Adults
A controlled clinical trial conducted in 2023 found that aquatic exercise programs incorporating motor-cognitive tasks significantly enhanced cognitive functions, such as problem-solving and abstract reasoning, in older adults. This type of training promotes independence and a higher quality of life by stimulating both the body and the brain.

Key Takeaway: Add cognitive challenges to your water workouts. Activities like following sequences, solving puzzles while moving, or synchronized group exercises can engage participants’ minds while improving their fitness.

 Read the study: Effects of aquatic exercise on cognitive functions in community-dwelling older adults

4. Aquatic Exercise for Weight Management and Overall Well-Being
A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Clinical Research and Reports highlights the potential of aquatic exercise in managing obesity and improving overall well-being. This research underscores the effectiveness of water-based workouts for weight loss, muscle strength, and cardiovascular health. The study also emphasizes the psychological benefits of aquatic fitness, which provides a stress-free environment for participants.

Key Takeaway: Incorporate programs focused on weight management by leveraging the unique advantages of aquatic exercise, such as low-impact movement and enhanced calorie burning.

Read the study: The Potential Effect of Aquatic Exercises on Weight Management and Overall Well-Being

5. Aquatic Exercise for Low Back Pain Relief
A 2024 article published by Pain Relief Care highlights the significant benefits of aquatic exercise for individuals suffering from chronic low back pain. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on the spine, allowing participants to move freely without exacerbating discomfort. This creates an ideal environment for strengthening core muscles, improving posture, and reducing pain. The article also emphasizes that water’s resistance encourages full-body engagement, which is critical for long-term back health and functional fitness.

Key Takeaway: Develop aquatic programs targeting individuals with low back pain by incorporating gentle core-strengthening exercises and flexibility movements. Marketing these benefits to those experiencing chronic pain can position your classes as a valuable, therapeutic solution.

 Read the article: Aquatic Exercise for Low Back Pain

Why This Research Matters for Aquatic Professionals
These studies and articles highlight the growing recognition of aquatic exercise as a powerful tool for improving both physical and mental health. As fitness professionals, these findings offer inspiration for:

  • Designing classes that cater to specific populations, such as individuals with chronic conditions, older adults, or those managing weight.
  • Incorporating innovative techniques like AHIIT, resistance training, and cognitive-motor tasks to keep participants engaged.
  • Marketing your programs with science-backed benefits, showing how aquatic fitness can make a lasting impact.

Make a Splash with New Ideas
Use this cutting-edge research to revitalize your aquatic fitness programs and inspire your participants. Whether you’re leading AHIIT sessions, helping participants achieve weight-loss goals, or engaging older adults with cognitive-motor tasks, you’re not just teaching a class—you’re transforming lives.

Dive in and explore how these research findings can shape the future of your programs. The water isn’t just a place for fitness; it’s a space for transformation, connection, and growth.

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About the Author: Sara Kooperman, JD 
Sara Kooperman, JD, CEO of SCW Fitness Education, WATERinMOTION®, and S.E.A.T. Fitness , Founder of the MANIA® Convention, sits on the canfitpro Advisory Panel and the Gold’s Gym Think Tank and was a founding board member for the Women In Fitness Association (WIFA). Recently nominated for the IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year Award, Kooperman won the Most Innovating Fitness Pro by FIT-C (Fitness Industry Technology Council). Sara is the best-selling author of FIT FOR BUSINESS, an inductee into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, an Illinois State Businesswoman of the Year, esteemed panelist for multiple Webinars & Podcasts, and sits on the ACSM Communication & Public Information Committee. 

Why Personal Trainers Need to Add Aqua

By Mark Grevelding & Tyler Valencia, Ph. D

 As a personal trainer, you constantly seek ways to grow your client list. More clients equal more monthly income and a prolonged career in the fitness industry. What if an “untapped” workout format existed that your clients would enjoy and could quickly establish you as the go-to instructor? Training your clients in the pool offers numerous advantages while being attractive to gym members who observe from afar.

On this episode of the KIPS Podcast, guest Mark Grevelding reviews the benefits for personal trainers who want to add aqua fitness to their repertoire. He also shares the nuances that instructors should know before their clients jump into the pool for the first time. Mark founded Fitmotivation, an online streaming platform for aqua fitness professionals, and is an AEA educator.

How Water Impacts Exercise
One of the unique experiences of exercising in the pool is the constantly changing environment. As “whitewash” increases from movement, the exerciser must adjust their footing and use their brain to improve each movement. The environment is also a training stimulus that can’t be replicated in the gym.

During this episode, Mark shares the concept of buoyancy, which is the tendency of an object to rise or float in water. As an exerciser becomes more submerged, buoyancy increases (why humans can float), and the demand for the joints also decreases. Think about it: if a client performs jumps in the shallow end of the pool that is knee-deep, the demand on the joints is slightly reduced, but as they become submerged chest-level, the air in their lungs helps them float, and the demand on the joints is roughly 25% according to Mark.

Add Business to Your Fitness Career
As Mark starts the episode, he discusses how not many personal trainers are taking advantage of training their clients in the pool. It’s an untapped area of the fitness industry for personal trainers that have access to the pool, which can equate to more sessions rendered through a week. As a personal trainer, you might frequently hear the question, “What should I do when I’m not with you for training?” New clients typically feel enthusiastic about improving their health and seek guidance on every facet of their weekly routines. Conversely, personal trainers also seek opportunities to offer additional training sessions within their weekly schedules. By conducting more sessions, trainers can increase their monthly earnings and getting clients to commit to more sessions as soon as possible is beneficial.

You Don’t Need Specialty Education
One of the key takeaways from this episode is when Mark shares how you don’t need a specialty certification to train clients in the pool, and a general personal trainer certification will suffice. Using common sense when training clients in the pool is a general rule of thumb, and getting in the pool yourself to practice each exercise will help you cue your clients. The cues you utilize on the ground will mostly apply. Still, you must remember the changing environment, how submerged your client is, and how much whitewash can alter the intensity.

Remember the surroundings and basic safety. Any exercises performed there should be altered if the pool deck is wet and slippery. Also, if other members use the pool, it’s wise to speak with them if they get bothered by the workout you’re leading.

Summary
With the pool providing 12-14% more resistance than air (Harvard Health, 2024), it offers a unique bodyweight training experience and elevates the use of equipment in the pool. The versatility of training clients in the pool enhances the enjoyment factor. You can bring regular dumbbells or kettlebells to create circuits that combine pool exercises with more traditional workouts on the pool deck. This variety encourages clients to transition seamlessly between exercises, providing a fresh experience. Pool workouts can be an excellent addition that motivates your clients to keep returning while increasing your earnings. 

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About the Author: Mark Grevelding
Mark founded PoolFit.tv and the Poolfit App (iOS & Android), offering over 200 workouts for home pools. He also established Fitmotivation.com, an online platform with 350+ streaming videos and resources for aquatic fitness professionals. Additionally, he is a training specialist and continuing education provider for the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA), the leading resource for aquatic fitness certification. In 2011, he received AEA’s Global Award for Aquatic Fitness Professional of the Year. For training aquatic fitness instructors at your facility, Fitmotivation.com is your resource. If instructors aren’t available, use the Poolfit App/Poolfit.tv. 

About the Author: Tyler Valencia, Ph.D.(c)
Tyler is the President of KIPS. While working for the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA), an online fitness education company, he started his first business, Time 2 Train Fitness, which specialized in boot camp and personal training. Time 2 Train Fitness went on to receive the distinction of 3X Best Bootcamp and 2X Best Personal Trainer with the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Before founding KIPS, Tyler was the Vice President of the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) and Smart Fitness. 

Dive, Flow, and Grow: Aquatic Fitness Takes Center Stage!

Whether you are looking to build your aquatic portfolio as a fitness pro or are jumping in the pool for the first time, join SCW at Midwest MANIA®, October 3-5, at the Hilton Rosemont/Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois,—a weekend packed with over 200 sessions, certifications, and workshops. Among its most innovative offerings, aquatic education stands out as a powerful way to expand expertise, engage participants, and transform teaching strategies.

Aquatic Certifications: Build Your Foundation in the Water 
Just getting started in Aquatic Fitness?  Be sure to register for SCW Aquatic Exercise Certification, led by Melissa Layne, MEd, a premier opportunity for aquatic professionals. This in-depth program explores anatomy, kinesiology, and practical applications for water-based training. Learn to adapt exercises for different water depths, modify intensity, integrate music, and address special populations.  Already have water instructor experience and looking to make it more specialized?  Get certified in WATERinMOTION®, with Cheri Kulp.  This unique pre-choreographed, licensed program offers aqua leaders offers everything you need to know about teaching aqua along with the R.I.P.P.L.E. method designed to make all three (soon to be four) formats your go to classes in the pool.  Offered live at Midwest Mania® and online, these two certifications provide flexibility for professionals to learn the format that best suits them.

Aquatic Sessions: Inspiration and Innovation in the Pool
The SCW Midwest MANIA® schedule promotes three days full of creative, high-energy aquatic sessions that showcase the versatility of water fitness. These are a few guaranteed to keep you splashing.

  • AquaZen: Flow, Breathe, Renew – Led by Zory Sepulveda, this yoga-inspired session blends fluid water movement with mindful breathing to enhance flexibility, relaxation, and balance.
  • AQUAHOLIC – With Melissa Layne, participants dive into a body-weight choreography workout that turns water turbulence into resistance for a fun, full-body challenge.
  • Drip & Drop – Instructor Tani Haggard brings the energy with a dance-inspired aqua workout, fusing rhythm, cardio, and conditioning for an unforgettable aquatic party.
  • Wave Works – led by Cheri Kulp & Manuel Velazquez, offer fresh choreography, expert cueing, and innovative water moves in this high-energy session. Get six detailed routines, creative combos, and exciting music ideas to energize your classes and elevate your teaching.

These sessions not only keep instructors current but also provide fresh choreography and ideas to take back to their own classes.

Continuing Education That Counts
Over the course of the weekend, Midwest Mania® participants can earn up to 20 CECs/CEUs, with credits recognized by SCW, ACE, AEA, ACSM, AFAA, NASM, and more. For aquatic professionals, this means advancing credentials while also refreshing class programming with cutting-edge content.

The Ripple Effect of Aquatic Education
Aquatic fitness isn’t just exercise—it’s an opportunity to serve diverse populations, from older adults seeking joint-friendly workouts to athletes chasing resistance-based training. By engaging in aquatic education at SCW Midwest Mania® in Rosemont, fitness professionals can sharpen their skills, discover creative programming, and build confidence to make an even greater impact in the water. Get registered today and save. See you in October at the Rosemont /Chicago O’Hare Hilton.

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Seed Oils: Healthy or Harmful

From Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI.com)

Confused about seed oils? Discover the truth behind popular oils like canola, sunflower, and safflower. Learn how they impact your health and whether they deserve the bad rap. Get the science-backed facts from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

What does the evidence say? Do seed oils cause inflammation or harm you in some other way? How are they processed? What are the best cooking oils? We’ve got answers to your most pressing seed oil questions.
Read more here

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Berry Recovery Smoothie

After aquatic exercise, a healthy recipe should focus on replenishing energy stores with carbohydrates and repairing muscles with protein. A meal or snack combining these nutrients within 30 to 60 minutes after a workout will aid recovery. A smoothie is a great option for a fast, liquid source of carbohydrates and protein when you’re not ready for a full meal. 

 Ingredients:

  • 1 cup mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 large banana
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or a scoop of vanilla protein powder
  • 1 cup unsweetened milk of your choice (e.g., almond, dairy)
  • 1 tbsp ground chia or flax seeds
  • Ice (optional) 

Instructions:

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy. 

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