Connie is an international presenter, author and speaker who shares her enthusiastic approach to active living with a variety of ‘regular’ and special needs Aquatic rehabilitation exercisers.  During the past twenty years, she has had the pleasure of training hundreds of  Aquafit leaders, across Canada and internationally.  Each week, she brings laughter and learning about health and fitness to her, aquatic rehab patients, and the members of her aqua fitness and osteoporosis exercise groups.

Connie offers and extensive list of Aquafit training, some of which are listed below.

Aqua Fitness Leadership Training
Below are listed a number of training workshops for aqua fitness leaders and aquatic personal trainers.
Workshops can also be custom-designed to meet the needs of your aqua fitness staff. Master class are also available at request on these and a variety of other themes.

Aqua to the Max: Hard Water
Blast boredom out of the pool as you progress participants to new and loftier training goals. This workshop will clarify the key factors determining aquatic exercise intensity. Leaders will experience a variety of effective aqua fitness styles from aqua box to circuit-style interval training. Refresh your choreography and buff-up your cueing skills! Pull your participants out of their ruts and into the new millennium of aqua fitness. Take home techniques to harness hydraulic power and challenge your participants to a hard water workout!

Introduction to Aquatic Exercise for People with Special Needs
People with injuries or chronic diseases such as arthritis or fibromyalgia benefit from regular exercise. However, fatigue, pain, and fear of pain often limit their participation in exercise programs. These special populations respond very well to activity in the pool. This practical workshop explores the characteristics of several conditions requiring adapted aquatic exercise. The benefits of aquatic activity, class design, and facility programming issues for these special populations will be explored and demonstrated in the pool.
( a warm pool is required for this session – high 80s to mid 90s F.)

Creative Aqua Choreography
Are you bored with doing the same old moves, class after class? This Workshop will get you out of your ruts and help you explore your creative side. Patterning techniques will be explored and applied to effective aqua fitness movements. Participants will experience a dynamic vertical water training class that demonstrates a variety of choreography styles. Participants will have lots of new ideas to take home to their pools.

Aqua Muscle
Discover the liquid weight room! Participants in this workshop will overview important muscle balance issues and identify key muscle groups to strengthen and stretch. Effective teaching techniques to harness hydraulic power for challenging aquatic muscle work will be demonstrated in the classroom and pool. Learn how to give your aqua class more muscle!

Aqua Personal Training
Are you seeking the ultimate training tool? Grab your clients and head for the pool! In the classroom and the water, this session explores the versatility and cool challenge of a wet workout. Whether you work with athletes, weekend-warriors or clients new to fitness, you will welcome the magic of the water in your training repertoire. Client assessment, program prescription and tracking will be discussed, then practiced at the pool. This session is ideal for personal trainers who want to learn more about aqua fitness, or for aqua fitness leaders who want to venture into personal training.

Stretch Wet
What are the advantages and difficulties of stretching in the aquatic environment? Where does flexibility training belong in the aqua fitness class? What are the best techniques to ensure safe, effective pool stretches? This workshop will clarify muscle physiology as it pertains to stretching, and highlight current research regarding the need for optimal flexibility. Participants will have the opportunity to see, discuss, and try various effective stretch techniques for deep and chest deep water.

Take the Plunge! Aqua Fitness 101
Land-based activity leaders and personal trainers who want to get their feet wet should come to this workshop. If you’ve heard “aqua fitness is a great workout” but haven’t tried it for yourself, this session will get you splashing! Understand the key differences between the two workout environments, then treat yourself to a pool class that will challenge your body and open your mind.

Armed to the Core: Aquatic Training Techniques for the Upper Body
Effective upper body training begins with sound cueing, mental focus and a stable core. This session will review important muscle groups to train at the shoulder girdle, shoulder joint, and torso. Key anatomical structures will be highlighted, followed by an opportunity to explore and create appropriate training stimuli in the water. Personal trainers and group aqua fitness leaders will benefit by taking these functional upper body training techniques to the pool.

Strong Seniors Use Their Noodle
Resistance training is an essential component in maintaining health as we age. Learn how to design muscle conditioning exercises for seniors using noodles in a unique way. Experience a chest deep water session which demonstrates a variety of appropriate muscle conditioning moves for this diverse group.

Creative Aqua Choreography
Are you bored with doing the same old thing in the pool? This workshop will get you out of your ruts and help you explore your creativity. Patterning techniques will be reviewed and applied to effective aqua fitness movements. Participants will experience a dynamic aqua fitness class and have an opportunity to design their own creative aqua routines to take home.

Aquanatal: Pre and Post Natal Aqua Fitness
The water is an ideal exercise environment for the pre or postnatal participant. This workshop will highlight the benefits of aquatic exercise during and after pregnancy. Participants will learn about precautions and contraindications for aquanatal exercise during the childbearing year. Safe, effective class design for this special population will be discussed and experienced in the pool.

Cue For Two: Simultaneous Deep & Shallow Water Cueing
Simultaneous deep and shallow water aqua fitness classes allow maximal class size as they optimize client preferences. Learn to teach a class at two depths by identifying, selecting, and modifying movements to suit different levels of immersion. Save your voice by learning to use visual cueing techniques that successfully motivate and instruct your participants.

Aqua Cue-Munication!
The pool is a challenging environment for communication. No mic? No problem! Clear, effective verbal and visual cueing will successfully instruct and motivate your participants. This workshop demonstrates excellence in aqua fitness cueing. Learn techniques to energize, educate and entertain your aqua fitness participants, without raising your voice!

Wonders of the Deep: Making Your Deep Class Dynami
Are you out of your depth when you leave the pool floor behind? This workshop will overview the fundamentals of successful deep water as well as suspended aqua fitness class design. Leaders will ponder ‘how deep differs’ and practice effective deep and suspended aqua fitness cueing. This is an ideal workshop for leaders making the transition from shallow to deep water / suspended classes, or those interested in adding variety to their pool programs.

Smooth Moves
Do you sometimes get stuck between a jog and a jack? If you have lots of great moves but have trouble making them flow, this workshop is for you. Learn to successfully sequence your aqua fitness movements to create safe, enjoyable, effective aqua fitness classes. Leaders will practice motivating movement transitions in the classroom and pool.

Water Wellness and Rehabilitation

The Physiological Effects of Immersio
Why do I have to pee when I get in the pool? I feel like I’m working hard, but I can’t get my heart rate into my target zone! This theory workshop will explore the effects of immersion on the body. Participants will learn how and why aquatic exercise has such profound and beneficial effects on our physiology. This is great information to pass along to your aqua classes!

Introduction to Aquatic Exercise for People with Special Needs
People with injuries or chronic diseases such as arthritis or fibromyalgia benefit from regular exercise. However, fatigue, pain, and fear of pain often limit their participation in exercise programs. These special populations respond very well to activity in the pool. This practical workshop explores the characteristics of several conditions requiring adapted aquatic exercise. The benefits of aquatic activity, class design, and facility programming issues for these special populations will be explored and demonstrated in the pool. (a warm pool is required for this session – high 80s to mid 90s F.) 

You can lean more about Connie at her website: www.fortheloveoffit.com.