This conference is for anyone interested in aquatic fitness! Become a certified Aquatic Fitness Instructor or recertify your current certification by attending the appropriate conference option. Additionally, you have the opportunity to add a specialty certification to your resume. Join us to make connections and enhance your network while learning new trends in aquatic fitness.
Recertify your current WaterART qualifications, have the opportunity to become certified in a new specialty, earn continuing education credits towards other certifying programs or just come for the love of aquatic fitness.
*An additional charge for materials, lunch and light refreshments will be added on at check out for non-residents of Toronto.
Become certified as an Aquatic Fitness Instructor. The first weekend has a set curriculum. This will prepare you for the second weekend in which you will take part in the conference.
Practical exams will be scheduled by WaterART upon completion.
*An additional charge for materials, lunch and light refreshments will be added on at check out for non-residents of Toronto.
Register through the City of Toronto
This year the two specialty certification courses offered are Common Movement Disorders Specialty Certification and Water Walking Specialty Certification.
Candidates have up to six months after the conference to complete the exam process for the specialty certifications.
If you would like to upgrade to a Specialty Certification or have questions contact info@waterart.org or check out www.waterart.org. Upgrading to specialty certification includes full home study materials for $150+HST:
Complete the following:
A total of five sessions are required.
Complete three of the following:
Complete two of the following:
After registration, WaterART will be contacting you to register in the sessions offered.
Lunch and refreshments will be served.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:15 to 8:50 a.m. | Registration and Networking |
| 9 to 9:45 a.m. | Key Note: Combo Class with Noodles |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. | Day 1 Session 1. Choose one of the following:
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| 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | Day 1 Session 2. Choose one of the following:
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| 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | Lunch and Networking |
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. | Key Note: Managing your Class with Visual and Verbal Cueing |
| 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. | Day 1 Session 3. Choose one of the following:
|
| 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Day 1 Session 4. Choose one of the following:
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| 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Day 1 Session 5. Polish Movement Techniques with Master Trainers.
Mandatory for full course instructor candidates. |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:15 to 8:50 a.m. | Registration and Networking |
| 9 to 9:45 a.m. | Day 2 Session 1. Choose one of the following:
|
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. | Day 2 Session 2. Choose one of the following:
|
| 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | Day 2 Session 3. Choose one of the following:
|
| 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | Lunch and Networking |
| 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. | Key Note: Managing Large Classes |
| 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. | Day 2 Session 4. Choose one of the following:
|
| 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Day 2 Session 5. Choose one of the following:
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| 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Day 2 Session 6. Polish Movement Techniques with Master Trainers.
Mandatory for full course instructor candidates. |
This keynote address will explore how shallow & deep water classes can be neatly combined into one program. Each water depth has specialized skills, moves and benefits. Using the noodle, explore a variety of moves, working positions and program designs to skillfully teach both water depths simultaneously.
Visual and verbal cues are communication tools that can be used to help people process information, learn, and understand spoken language. Class management using visual cues and verbal cueing is essential in class engagement and providing context to help people learn effectively.
Managing a large group of people can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can help. This keynote session will review tips to succeed with large class sizes and all types of personalities.
What are the key tips that help your students gain the most results in the least amount of time? Review techniques that will aid in keeping everyone moving and enjoying the many benefits of water exercise.
If you do not know 100 different ways to walk, then you must participate in this session! Reviewing hundreds of variations of walking patterns will benefit your program with both function, variety, and purpose.
One of the most troublesome symptoms of neurological disorders is postural instability and poor balance. Balance is a skill that can be improved through practice. Learn several static and dynamic balance techniques to help your students/clients improve their stability.
Need ideas to keep your class engaged? Challenge the cardiovascular system using a variety of basic movements, working positions, and traveling ideas. Learn combinations that build on the basic moves for a fun and functional workout.
If equipment choices are limited, you may want to explore how to put together some dynamic circuits! Circuit training is an excellent way to provide variety, fun and adds new ways of training for caloric expenditure when planned and managed properly.
This shallow water program is appropriate for anyone with any neuromuscular movement disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, Huntington’s Disease, brain injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, and other common movement disorders. Specifically developed for those who need training for movement coordination, posture and gait, the exercises discussed in this program will be helpful in maintaining function and relaxing muscle rigidity.
Cuffs offer an advanced challenge to lower body targeting and cardiovascular conditioning, especially for deep water training. Buoyant cuffs may be utilized as advanced leg and arm equipment. It is recommended that you have excellent core strength to participate in this program.
Did you know that a pool noodle may dynamically be utilized to train cycling in the water? Venture through our Aquatic Tour de France with the rhythmic movement of cycling that provides an excellent cardiovascular workout. Water shorts/spandex shorts under the bathing suit is recommended.
Discover how to target all of the major muscle groups in deep water. Review the body positions to aid each individual to achieve optimal posture, muscle balance, and performance. Optimize visual and verbal communication techniques to help you to coach and motivate safely from the deck.
Most group exercise programs allow self-paced movement; however, training with synchronized music and exercises will help the instructor to build movement combinations to get the group in a groove. Review rhythm and discover how variety in your music will add instant motivation and camaraderie.
Interval training is a type of exercise that alternates between periods of high-intensity activity and lower-intensity recovery periods. It’s designed to be challenging and quick, can help you burn calories, increase fitness, and boost your metabolism.
Fins will elevate your class to a boot camp challenge level! This class will target all the major muscle groups at an advanced intensity level and will challenge those weekend warriors!
Review 20 foam weight exercises that provide resistance without risk. This program will review the necessary shoulder girdle mechanics and safety considerations.
Explore an exercise inventory of activities of daily living that otherwise will decline if left unused! Training in water with specificity has been researched to help people with common movement disorders such as stroke, Multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s, and those with brain injuries improve balance, posture, and function.
What’s in your water exercise design toolbox? Let’s review a variety of exercises and explore the many ways to design more purposeful water fitness classes for those with Common Movement Disorders.
Discover ways to blend mind-body techniques into part of your present program or use them to develop a stand-alone program. Using creative ideas taken from the disciplines of tai chi, yoga or pilates to help control breathing, increase flexibility, core stability, coordination, and muscular endurance. Enhance your posture using the relaxing and healing properties of deep water.
Walking is an excellent way to really target your muscles as well as engage core abdominal strength. Explore how to incorporate total body muscle work with walking patterns. Review three levels of intensity and progression for each major muscle group. Learn how to cue to help manage posture and balance.
Review tips and techniques to help people who are new to exercise in the water or have limited mobility and may be nervous and/or a non-swimmer. Ideally, they are individuals who can walk to the pool on their own.
Discover new ways to strengthen and increase core strength while in deep water. This whole body class emphasizes movements from Pilates to create mind-body awareness.
Master Trainers are available for one on one positive, specific, feedback and ideas to help you take your programs to the next level. Whether you are new to teaching, or a veteran instructor, you can get great tips and techniques for teaching an exciting and engaging class.
Candidates in the instructor certification program are required to participate in this session.
Learn how to create and develop infinite combinations to keep your classes energized. Three levels of intensity and progression will be demonstrated without the complication of choreography.
Walking is the most used daily activity. Walking and gait training is essential to retaining independence. Train for effective movement, balance and good posture in the water with skills and drills to improve both stride length and stride speed.
Did you know that up to 80 per cent of the population at one time or another experience back issues? Learn the key muscles for stretching and strengthening to help people with back problems. Review tips for exercise safety.
Are you ready for a resistance challenge? Paddles and cuffs can do just that! Learn how to add these tools to the program gradually so participants can learn to perform the exercises properly. Using paddles, cuffs or both, this program will help patrons build more total body strength.
The healing properties of water are an excellent place to provide a calming yet revitalizing mind and body exercise. Discover ways to incorporate walking and mind body techniques to increase patrons’ flexibility, core stability, coordination, and muscular endurance while soothing the mind with innovative yoga-like moves in the water.
Plan your program to help people train weaker muscle groups naturally and safely for balanced strength. Walking in many directions rather than simply forward will provide a total body workout. Design the workouts to be done alone, with a partner or with a group to challenge balance, coordination, and agility!
Learn how to help people achieve and train specific fitness goals. Review techniques for designing, delivering, and providing purpose and progression to train all the major components of a fitness program.
Add a Latin flavour, 70’s disco, Broadway Showtunes and Rock and Roll for an energetic workout. Keep basic moves blending with dance tempo’s to add energetic cardio to your program.
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