34 | Akwa | December 2022 / January 2023 / February 2023 Group fitness will be a key area of focus for the fitness industry over the coming decade due to its growing popularity and the 2020 required isolation. People are seeking connections on a personal level with like-minded peers. Based on the pre- diction of UK fitness experts, “The Group fitness of 2029 will have rising popularity of an increasingly precious commodity: human interaction.” Recent research highlights the role that group fitness can play in helping people to digitally disconnect and get back to their real-world roots through shared exercise experiences. In addition, socially engaging exercise and the therapeutic benefits experienced in water will allow water fitness classes to strengthen communities. Thus, multilevel instruction becomes a critical skill to keep water fitness classes uplifting, exciting, and rewarding for participants with different health conditions, movement abilities, skills, and fitness levels. The instructor must be able to observe participants, communicate clearly, motivate by creating challenges, and build movement patterns from the base up, to optimize results. One of the greatest benefits of multilevel programming is that it gives participants a sense of control, for example, a choice of their intensity, speed of movement, com- plexity, and even volume of training. Class participants are encouraged to build their self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-confidence, which ensures a positive expe- rience. Teaching with compassion, empathy, and understanding helps participants feel connected, more engaged, and committed to staying physically active. Multilevel instruction provides success for each class participant when three learn- ing phases are acknowledged. 1. Cognitive Phase New learners (i.e., class participants) may also have a lower level of condition- ing and require appropriate movement options to be successful. As a result, they may make mistakes, and their movements may be tentative and unsure. Keeping them safe and building their confidence is essential. The new learner is the per- son who is most likely to drop out because they may find the overall experience to be a negative one. As an instructor, being sensitive to this learner’s needs can help keep these participants coming back. 2. Associative Phase Associative learners have built a skill level, yet they still make errors. They are less cognitively engaged but still need to keep their minds focused on the task. Char- acteristically, they have improved movement efficiency and skill levels, which Multilevel Group Fitness Class Methodology By Maria Pritz, EdD Work: • Knee-high jog with high knees and big pumping arms (one minute) • Knee-high jog faster (one minute) • Steep climb with power (one minute) Recovery: n Straddle jog, toes point out (one minute) n Side quad kick right (30 seconds) n Side quad kick left (30 seconds) Work: • Cross-country ski full range of motion (one minute) • Cross-country ski faster level III (one minute) • Cross-country ski with power level II (one minute) Recovery: n Heel jog (one minute) n Rocking horse right (30 seconds) n Rocking horse left (30 seconds) Work: • Knee lift, straighten, and press the leg down (one minute) • High kick faster (one minute) • High kick power down (one minute) Recovery: n Knee-high jog (one minute) n Front quad kick right (30 seconds) n Front quad kick left (30 seconds) Work: • Jacks cross (one minute) • Jumping jacks faster (one minute) • Jacks cross with power, grounded (one minute) Recovery: n Wide jog (one minute) n Log jump side to side level II (one minute) Adding variety to base moves, adjust- ing intensity, and using a rolling inter- val format will take your class to the next level. n Author Christine Alexander is the author of Water Fitness Lesson Plans and Choreography (2011) and Water Fitness Progressions (2019) and a blog at https://waterfitness- lessonsblog.com/ She teaches water fitness classes for the City of Plano Parks and Recreation Department. Chris can be reached through her website at https://water- fitnesslessons.com
