WITH STUNNING VIEWS, THE RESORT-LIKE VENUE & CATALINAS OFFER THE PERFECT AQUA FEST STAY, PLAY, VACAY…
THE FEST of FALL
AQUACON 2023 TUCSON, AZ
Friday, October 6th - Sunday October 8th, 2023
SADDLEBROOKE TWO desertview performing arts center & sports complex TUCSON, ARIZONA
FOR THE LOVE OF AQUA | FOR THE LOVE OF AQUA | FOR THE LOVE OF AQUA
THE FEST
of FALL 2023
From pre-con aqua courses, like Aqua Progressions I Certification with the Desert Swim queen herself, Janice Jaicks and the newly released Aqua Progressions III Course by Donna Lewen, to a FULL day of aqua fitness workshops covering topics such as Aqua Ease: Dynamic Flexibility, Core Fusion H2O, and H2O Cardio Dance Mix & Music Selection with Manuel Velazquez (yesss, he is back!), Water Walking For Better Gait & Balance with Jeannette Pyle, Tabata: Not For the Faint of Heart! with the powerhouse duo, Jeannette & Janice, Let’s Go Deeper with Monica Picard, Wet Barre™: OM and Wet Barre™: More Booty with Katina Brock… YOU are in for a SPLASH of a weekend! And, finish it all off with the post-con Wet Barre™: Pilates Course with Katina on Sunday, October 8th! Learn more below!
Meet THE AQUACON 2023 LINEUP
The PRESENTERS
Janice Jaicks is the founder and CEO of FitnessFest Conference & Expo, FitnessFest Events, AquaCon, and Desert Swim School, all of which have been in operation and incorporated since 1990. She has also been teaching water fitness since 1985 and training instructors in water exercise for over 25 years. Hundreds of instructors have been trained using Janice’s Aqua Progressions I program (previously titled Water Aerobics 101), and a more recent hybrid course is now being rolled out across the country. She is certified through AEA, ACE, and the Arthritis Foundation, and has enjoyed presenting aqua workshops for IDEA, SCW, AquaCon, and her own FitnessFest conferences.
Manuel Velazquez is a Group Wellness-Mind & Body Movement Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, and an international speaker having presented at fitness conferences worldwide for over two decades! He is the recipient of the NYC all Around International Presenter of the Year and has received the SCW Presenter of the Year Award. Manuel is a continuing education faculty member for SCW, ACE, AFAA, ACSM, AEA and WATERinMOTION and stars in over 50 fitness instructor training videos. He is currently one of the head instructors for Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico!
Katina Brock (MSEd), is the creator of Wet Barre™- which features dozens of original exercises. The diversity of her training and expertise lends itself to fitness programming that is unique; creatively addressing strength training, mobility, and stability with corrective movement. She is an international aquatic fitness presenter with over 30 years of experience and has been a fitness expert for shape.com, the LA Times, VH-1 Couples Therapy, and the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu. She currently resides in NYC!
Jeannette Pyle has been working in the fitness industry for over 30 years. She currently works at SaddleBrooke TWO HOA in Tucson, AZ as the Fitness & Wellness Director. Jeannette is passionate about working with 55+ Retirement HOAs to create programs and classes that help this demographic actively improve daily living & enjoy the benefits of fun, energetic lifestyles!
Monica Picard has been an aqua fitness instructor for over 30 years. As an Army wife, she has worked with both military personnel and civilians. With a career in aqua fitness, her path led her to train under Craig Stuart, her mentor and the owner of HydroFit. With a career that has stemmed from swim to lifeguarding to aqua fitness, Monica brings a multi-faceted approach to her teaching. Currently, Monica is on staff at the internationally acclaimed resort and spa, Rancho La Puerta, teaching water fitness & weight training, as well as leading hikes. When home, in Tucson, AZ Monica enjoys teaching virtually for Senior Fitness and offering local outdoors strength classes. Her favorite role to fulfill however is being “Yaya” to her grand-daughter, Olivia!
Donna Lewen (BA, ARRIC) has 30 + years of experience in aquatics and land-based therapeutic training with clients ranging from ages 3 to 103! She is an Ai Chi Master Trainer and a former trainer for the Arthritis Foundation. She has received many accolades such as: the Arthritis Foundation Regional Public Health Partnership Award, the University of Pittsburgh Community Service Award (December 2013), the ATRI Aquatic Therapy Professional of the Year (2016), and the Tsunami Award (2014). She integrates ancient teachings with science offering her clientele many holistic approaches and practices!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2023 PRE-CON COURSES, AQUACON WORKSHOPS, AND POST-CON COURSE
COURSES & WORKSHOPS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023
(VIEW ONLY – MAY ONLY CHOOSE ONE PRE-CON DURING REGISTRATION)
AQUACON 2023 PRE-CON CERTIFICATION COURSE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6TH: 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Learn all you need to know to teach a safe and effective water aerobics class warm up through fun, fresh choreography & core-specific exercises with noodles (suspended and plank), and the complete static stretch cool down! You will create your own portal, and at your leisure, view and study detailed online lectures/modules designed to educate you on working with special populations (older adults, persons with arthritis, diabetes, obesity etc.), how and when to offer specific modifications, how to make smooth transitions, some basic anatomy & movement terminology, and an awesome video on breaking down all the moves. Then, the fun part! Get in the water with the creator, Janice Jaicks, and go through the entire practical. You will be given an opportunity to create your own routine and practice your skills to the rest of the group! An online exam will follow.
(8 CREDIT HOURS: AEA | ACE | AFAA TBD | FITNESSFEST)
AQUACON 2023 PRE-CON COURSE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6TH: 11 AM - 5:00 PM
Since most of us do not teach specialized classes but simply want to involve these special groups in our existing programming, in Aqua Progressions 3 we will deal with proper modifications and precautions for common conditions you will see in your exercise classes. You will leave this course with the expertise & knowledge to incorporate all different sorts of populations into one exercise group. Whether you are looking to learn how to safely teach special populations within your classes or want to explore offering aquatic personal training, Aqua Progressions III is the course for you! Donna will share with you her thirty-plus years of experience to help you become well-versed in the aquatic wellness world when it comes to special populations and special health concerns, from Parkinson’s and Diabetes to obesity and joint issues.
(8 CREDIT HOURS: AEA | FITNESSFEST)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023
(VIEW ONLY – MAY ONLY CHOOSE ONE PER TIME BLOCK DURING REGISTRATION)
TOTAL OF 8 CREDIT HOURS: ACE | AEA | AFAA | FITNESSFEST
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - POOL TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 8:30 AM - 10:20 AM
Aquatic exercise provides many benefits, including an ideal environment to exercise throughout the year. The buoyancy of the water supports a portion of your body weight, making it easier to move in the water and improve your flexibility. Join Manuel to review and experience at least ten of his favorite flexibility moves for the water environment and get ideas to develop sensitive sequences ideal for active aging clients. Then, take it to the land! Work every joint and muscle from the Ground Up! Learn functional self-myofascial- release techniques without equipment, and appropriate applications for maintaining and regaining range of motion, strength, balance, and proprioceptive skills allowing clients to lead an active lifestyle. Improve functional mobility and dynamic flexibility without compromising safety and effectiveness. (Velazquez)
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - LECTURE TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 8:30 AM - 10:20 AM
In this lecture and practical class, we will go back to basics and break down what many of the favorite exercises of deep water really are. How can we educate our students with the tried and true fundamentals and progressions that work to avoid fads and burnout? Let’s refine our knowledge on the basics to not only grow our class with beginners but also help our intermediate to expert students achieve more success with strength and conditioning in this non-impact workout. We will dive DEEPER into utilizing the equipment we already have in a more effective and productive way. Whether you find yourself new to teaching, or you’re the pro looking to competitively set yourself apart as an expert in your area, this is the workshop for YOU! With a thorough understanding and long-term career in swim coaching, lifeguarding, and aqua fitness, Monica offers a multi-faceted approach to both help refine and grow your skills with effective execution and cuing that will transform your approaches! (Picard)
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - POOL TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 10:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Get fresh ideas to stimulate your gluteals and hips and core! Find inspiration in standing and floating positions to bring new life to these often under developed muscles that are vital for back health, functional movement, athletics and longevity! intermediate (Shallow). (Brock)
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - LECTURE TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 10:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Water Walking uses the buoyancy effect of H2O to create an environment that allows participants to have proper form while walking, which may be too difficult to do on land. We will focus on proper alignment and movement, creating space and length in the core and spine while learning drills and skills to reinforce the concepts. (Pyle)
AQUACON 2023 LUNCH BREAK & FORUM -
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 12:30 PM - 1:20 PM
LET’S GRAB LUNCH, SIT DOWN, & CHAT WITH OUR PANEL GUESTS ON THE LATEST IN AQUA & GROUP FITNESS TRENDS OF 2023!
Bring your own lunch, or select from several catered lunch options during registration & get ready to connect with each other, network & enjoy some laughs along the way!
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - POOL TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 1:30 PM - 3:20 PM
Interval training like Tabata has been proven to burn calories long after your workout. So why not take it to the pool! Higher intensity moves will be executed to give you that burst of energy, paired with short rest, and timed intervals to repeat. The Tabata method utilizes 8 rounds of a 20 second at max “give it all you’ve got” effort with a 10 second recovery. The dynamic duo, Janice & Jeanette, will combine their favorite cardio moves to give you a run for your money! We will discuss fresh Tabata music options, how often to change the move with safe effective transitions, and other hot topics. (Jaicks, Pyle)
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - LECTURE TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 1:30 PM - 3:20 PM
Move over traditional sit-ups and crunches, we’re shaking things up and gamifying core work! In this session, learn fun games that inspire friendly competition amongst your clients while sculpting, and strengthening the body’s center of power. Clients will stay for the laughs and return for the results! This innovative workshop leaves you with enough core-movement sequences to fill with uniquely creative strength training workouts focused on every part of your core: the abs, backs, and hips. Enjoy powerful music adapted specifically to the water in a 64-count format. Walk away with enough practical ideas to be ready to use Monday morning! (Velazquez)
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - POOL TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 3:30 PM - 5:20 PM
Inspired by the 3 dimensional movements of Gyrotonic, yoga, Myofascial stretch and more, this workshop helps undo faulty movement patterns and muscle adaptations from being sedentary. It incorporates rotation and fluid movements that create a sense of length and openness. Ideal for warm-up, cool-down, mind-body formats, seniors, warm water classes and recovery (Shallow). (Brock)
AQUACON 2023 WORKSHOP - LECTURE TO START
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: 3:30 PM - 5:20 PM
You don’t have to be fit or flexible to dance. In fact, with this dance workout, you can build fitness, flexibility, and coordination, all while moving to the beat of fun-funk music. Join Manuel and learn and experience his combinations of comfortable choreography with passionate performance. Your body will vibrate and rejoice with the enjoying the sweet and satisfying freedom of moving and grooving. Are you looking for a new way to add spice to your water fitness program? Try adding dance elements. Aqua Dance captivates the joy of movement and the expression of life through integrating world rhythms and music. The fusion of aquatic fitness moves with dance-based choreography will give you, as an instructor, a movement base free from the boundaries and gravity, limited only by the possibilities of the human form. (Velazquez)
AQUACON MAIN EVENT – TOTAL OF 8 CREDIT HOURS: ACE | AFAA | AEA | FITNESSFEST
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023
(VIEW ONLY – MAY SELECT ONE POST-CON OPTION DURING REGISTRATION)
AQUACON 2023 POST-CON COURSE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
A skillful adaptation of Mat Pilates utilizing the resistance and buoyancy of the water. Focus on alignment, specific intentional movement, and breath work lay the foundation for this workshop. This supportive, gravity-reduced environment will uniquely improve core strength, proprioception, and stabilization. It includes over 30 land-based Pilates exercises that have been adapted to be effective in the water! Modifications and progression are also discussed offering even more programming options to use -with everyone from collegiate athletes to seniors (Shallow)! (Brock)
(3 CREDIT HOURS: AEA | AFAA TBD | FITNESSFEST)
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ALL WITH STUNNING VIEWS OF THE CATALINAS & FULL RESORT AMENITIES!