Reinventing Yourself - Again     Part 2

By Mark Grevelding

This is a three part series based on Mark’s original 2002 article, Reinventing Yourself.  Mark has written a 2009 update that includes a wide range of tips and ideas for recreating excitement in your classes and renewing passion in your instruction.

Part 1:  Includes an excerpt from the original article, as well as Mark’s own journey of reinvention and the introduction of his 2009 Guide to Reinventing Yourself with a look at choreography websites.

Part 2:  Includes tips for reinventing your classes and your approach to instruction with choreography DVDs, equipment usage, documenting routines and attending other instructor’s classes.

Part 3:  Concludes with more tips for renewing your passion, including attending workshops & conferences, learning new formats and exploring new career dimensions. 

Mark’s 2009 Guide to Re-inventing Yourself

Choreography DVDs:

If deciphering choreography notes is not your strong point, you may want to consider a more visual approach with a DVD.  It doesn’t always have to mean purchasing a new one.  I will often search through my collection and pop in an older DVD and then sit down with a note pad and take notes.  Usually, I can find ways to recreate previously used moves with a new approach.  When I am not feeling too lazy I will even hook up my ancient VCR and haul out my old VHS video tapes in order to study classic choreography with an eye for giving it a fresh new look.  In 2005, I started producing my own DVDs as an enhancement to my workshops.   My line of DVDs is called Visual Choreography Notes and they are available at http://www.fitmotivation.com/ or in the AKWA Shop at http://www.aeawave.com/.   I design these DVDs exclusively for instructors, breaking down each move on the written notes with a visual depiction that includes modifications and options for intensity alteration.  On my website, I also offer a package price for the DVD and suggested Dynamix music CD, thus creating a virtual “class to go.” 

The AKWA Shop is also stocked full of DVDs from other industry leaders.  AEA Members who purchase DVDs from the AKWA Shop can always find amazing bargains.  I just logged on with my member password and discovered that both of Julie See’s newest DVDs are on sale.  That is a savings of $10 for members and you know you will take away tons of new choreography ideas with two of Julie’s DVDs.  I also noticed that a bundle of four Quick Clips, a series of mini DVDs created and narrated by Angie Proctor, were on sale for $32.  Imagine how much fun you would have retooling your classes with four mini DVDs that include ideas for core conditioning, upper body training, deep water tips and interval training with bound & ground techniques.  Best of all, many of these DVDs also provide new ideas for equipment use, which leads to my next topic of reinvention.           

Equipment:

If you have been teaching aqua fitness classes for more than five years, there is a good chance that at some point you got so bored of teaching the same moves with noodles and foam hand bars that eventually you stopped rolling the equipment cart out to the deck and hoped the students wouldn’t notice.  Many instructors use equipment in the last 15 minutes of class and for some this final quarter feels like something out of the movie Ground Hog Day.  The same fifteen minutes keeps repeating itself for weeks and possibly months at a time.  While new and different equipment would be a welcome solution, it is often impossible given the strained budgets of most aquatic facilities. 

Once again, I urge you to consider a new approach to an old standby.  Yes, you can reinvent old strength moves with simple adjustments.  If you always perform your ab workout with the noodle horizontal under your should blades, try placing the noodle vertical along the length of your spine.  This forces more balance into the equation, thus requiring more from the core.  If you are sick of doing the same chest presses and tricep press downs with the foam hand bars, consider executing the movements from plank pose.  (AEA Members check out Class Tips – Strength.)  A simple change in body placement can create an entirely different outcome on standard exercises.  Check out Julie See’s new DVD, Core Creations and discover fun and fitness with balls.  Think smaller, somewhat deflated kick balls here, certainly something that can be affordable on a tight budget. 

If you do have some money to spend on new equipment, you may want to consider Speedo’s new line of Hydro Resistance Arm and Leg Trainers.  The facility where I teach bought the Speedo trainers and I have been using them in my Wednesday evening aqua group strength class.  Several of my students now tell me that this is their favorite class.  For me, I couldn’t be more thrilled that my student’s are finally realizing that there is life beyond cardio.  Group strength on land is packing the studio and there is no reason why we can’t pack the pool with aquatic group strength classes.

To check out Speedo’s new line of equipment, either click on the following link or paste it in your browser.  http://www.speedoinstructor.com/home.php?cat=263

Documentation:

Early on in my fitness career, I started creating and storing all my routines on Word documents in the computer.  Creating new routines on word documents made my life much easier thanks to the mouse and its ability to move entire combinations when I felt they were a better fit elsewhere.  On my Word documents, I was also able to increase font size for easy reading while bouncing around on a hot deck.  Given the nature of creating new routines, I was especially grateful for that thing called the DELETE button.

Storing my routines and documenting them with titles that proclaimed the month, year and type of class format, proved to be my most useful tool for reinventing future classes.  Older routines became a source of invaluable material for new routines.  Whenever I am brain dead and in dire need of something fresh, I search through my old routines for ideas.  Essentially, my old routines stored on the computer provide a template to “save as” and then I can just delete, cut and paste a new routine rather than retype a brand new one from scratch.  As I became a more seasoned instructor, I was able to look over old moves and give them new life by changing tempo, rhythm, impact options and then giving them new arm patterns and directional travel.   If you do not currently document and store your routines on the computer, I would highly encourage you to begin doing so.   

Other instructor’s classes

As a new instructor, I “borrowed” plenty of material from other instructors.  As my skill levels progressed, I took pride in the fact that other instructors started taking my classes to “borrow” from me.  The only downside to attending other classes for ideas is that sometimes you end up in a dud class.  Finding myself “trapped” in some pretty uninspiring classes over the years, I eventually hatched a devious exit strategy.  Whenever I go to a new class, I tell the instructor that I have to leave early for an appointment.  If the class is a snore, I make haste for my fictitious appointment.  If the class is good, well that appointment can wait!  Attending other instructor’s classes is always valuable because it gives you a broad perspective of styles.  It shows you what works, and what doesn’t work!  I have modified many of my mannerisms after observing other instructors from the perspective of a student.

Aquatic fitness professionals can also find plenty to “borrow” from in land classes.  Obviously, if you borrow from land you will have to spend time getting in the water and practicing the moves to insure an effective adaptation to the aquatic environment.

Land fitness formats have provided me with a great deal of inspiration for my aquatic fitness classes.  In my preparation for teaching Aqua PiYoChi, I attended and studied land mind & body classes.  I even hired a land fitness yoga teacher to come into the pool with me and help me with my aqua yoga postures.

Recently, I have observed and attended kickboxing, rebounding and Zumba classes in the studio.  I also viewed a You Tube clip that featured a Drums Alive class.  The ideas from these various formats were the inspiration for my 2009 IAFC session, Urban Aqua.  My new workshop will feature updated kickboxing, creative rebounding drills, Latin inspired core moves and a blistering arm workout designed to mimic drumming. 

AEA is excited to premiere a sneak peak of Aqua Zumba at IAFC 2009.   Zumba, the Latin dance workout, is hands down the most popular class on everyone’s schedule right now.  Taking this format to the water will surely be a recipe for packing the pool!

THE 2009 RE-INVENTING GUIDE CONTINUES IN PART 3.  DON’T MISS IT!

Renew your passion for teaching by attending workshops & conferences, learning new formats and by expanding your career dimensions.