AquaCon 2026: Sept. 11-12
Step 1: Pick Your schedule
Friday Sessions
Are you ready to lead invigorating aqua workouts that truly transform lives? Already teaching but never formally trained? This certification is for YOU!
Aquatic fitness has grown tremendously over the past decade—and we need passionate, prepared instructors more than ever. Aqua Progressions 1 is the only certification of its kind, combining intensive online education with hands-on, in-person training you’ve simply GOT to feel for yourself.
Led by industry veteran Janice Jaicks (35+ years of experience!) and master trainer Lisa Busse, this hybrid course sets you up for success from start to finish.
How It Works:
You’ll begin with nine on-demand modules and a comprehensive manual you can study at your own pace (approximately 4–5 hours). Then we meet in person on September 11th for the practical, movement-based portion of your training.
What You’ll Learn:
- Fundamental water principles every instructor must know
- How to work with special populations, plus effective options and progressions
- Cueing, smooth transitions, leadership skills, and safety for both you and your participants
- Deck vs. water teaching styles and when to use each
- Complete choreography structure including warm-up, cardio, suspended and standing core, and stretch
What’s Included:
- Laminated choreography to take with you
- Full support before, during, and after certification
- Hands-on demonstrations and a practical evaluation to confirm your skills
- A 100-question online exam following the course
- Guidance and support for job opportunities
CECs:
- ACE .8
- AEA 8
- FitnessFest 8
Step into the water with confidence, credibility, and a complete program you can teach anywhere!
Many of us teach older adults in our aqua classes. Within these populations come a variety of health concerns. From arthritis, to joint issues, post-surgery, obesity, diabetes and on and on. Donna has been a fitness professional working with special populations for over 30 years. Learn in detail not only about these health concerns, but also how to offer options in your group OR private setting in the pool.
You’ll embrace the knowledge of four hours of lecture, a detailed manual, and a spreadsheet to break down health concerns and their contraindications. Then, a two hour in-pool demonstration/training from Donna!
CECs:
- ACE .6
- AEA 8
- FitnessFest 8
Saturday Sessions
8-10
Going into the Deep from Beginning to End -First things first…Not all equipment is created equal. Find out from expert Aqua Fitness Guru Monica Picard how to access, fit, and use deep water equipment properly.
How do movement patterns change when you are completely suspended? What role does buoyancy play in resistance, and how can we increase our strength using buoyancy? In this workshop, we will explore movement patterns to intensify our deep-water experience. Challenge yourselves to be more than just a leader of exercises in your deep-water classes. Cueing and choreography to take your classes to the next level will be examined.
Discover helpful tips for finding engaging music for your classes that will allow you to create fresh and upbeat playlists. Learn how to find different versions of your favorite songs, including faster, slower, shorter, or extended edits. Now, let’s take it to the water!!
10:15-11:45
This course will take you through the five things that we should do daily to stay strong as we age. We will take those 5 things and practice them in the classroom. These exercises will be adapted to the pool environment. In addition, you will receive 25+ Teachable Moments, so you can take one each day and explain to your participants why they are doing these exercises. Ultimately, this will create better adherence to your fitness classes.
This innovative workshop gives you enough core-movement sequences to fill with uniquely creative strength-training workouts focused on every part of your core: the abs, back, and hips. Enjoy powerful music, specifically adapted for the water, in a 64-count format. Walk away with enough practical ideas for deep and shallow water classes and be ready to use them on Monday morning!
12-12:45
Aqua HIIT is a high-energy aquatic fitness class that combines the principles of High- Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with the resistance and support of water. Participants alternate between short bursts of challenging cardiovascular and strength-focused exercises and active recovery periods, creating an effective full-body workout that improves endurance, power, agility, and overall fitness. The water environment provides natural resistance while reducing impact on joints, making this class suitable for a variety of fitness levels. Participants will learn proper exercise techniques, intensity management, and workout progressions to maximize results while maintaining safety.
This dynamic class is designed to challenge, motivate, and help individuals achieve their fitness goals in a fun and refreshing aquatic setting.
1-1:45: Lunch
2-3:30
This class focuses on designing and delivering aquatic fitness programs that effectively serve diverse populations with varying ages, abilities, fitness levels, and health needs.
Participants will learn how to adapt water-based exercises, class structures, and
teaching techniques to create safe, inclusive, and engaging experiences for a wide
range of individuals, including older adults, beginners, athletes, and those individuals
with chronic conditions. Emphasis is placed on teaching techniques, exercise
modifications, risk management, communication strategies, and evidence-based programming to ensure all participants can achieve their personal fitness and wellness goals in an aquatic environment.
Buoys, noodles, and resistance equipment—let’s put them to work with purpose and creativity! In this dynamic aqua workshop, we’ll discuss proper use, key contraindications, and what movements to avoid to keep participants safe. Then it’s time to dive in for a fun, functional, and highly effective cardio-and-strength workout using buoys, resistance tools, and noodles in innovative ways. Come explore fresh ideas, smart progressions, and endless possibilities with the equipment you already have!
3:45-5:15
Ai Chi is a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements,
standing in chest-deep water. Tai Chi, Shiatsu, and Qigong concepts are
combined with basic movement patterns. This program was developed in
Yokohama, Japan, by Mr. Jun Konno. We will review 16 Ai chi postures and
experience them in the pool.
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.
Step 2. Pick Your Ticket
