Ai Chi and Silver Sneakers

Today was the day I have been anticipating for months--the Ai Chi certification workshop. It was a big reason I wanted to come to IAFC this year because the workshop was to be given by both the originators--Jun Konno and Ruth Sova. The 10-second explanation of Ai Chi is that it is aquatic mindbody work that combines Asian principles of balance and harmony with movement and breathing to form a moving meditation with physical benefits for people in almost any condition. Much of the day was spent in the land session covering many aspects of the practice--the underlying ideas, the different populations and conditions it can serve, the reasons it helps relax and relieve stress.

The icing on the cake, of course, was the pool session. Ruth first took us through all the elements of the movement progression, with plenty of opportunity for repetition. Then she facilitated an "Ai Chi Journey" where she vocalized some of the thoughts one might have while we did the movements. Last in the pool was a silent Ai Chi progression led by Jun Konno, where not a word was spoken and we thought our own thoughts while following his movement on deck.

I apologize to Ruth for the less-than-ideal angle of the photo, but I wanted to waste as little pool time as possible taking pictures, and the bright sunlight made very little visible in the camera screen. I just had to snap and hope. During Konno's progression, I was so lost in the experience it never occurred to me to pick up the camera.


To my surprise, passing this Ai Chi certification means that I can be an Ai Chi trainer, and can teach other instructors as well as teach classes or use it one-on-one. This can happen with Ai Chi because Mr. Konno wants its benefits to spread, because there are a small defined number of moves, and because perfection in instruction or execution is not a goal. It is an extremely non-judgemental format. "How it happens today is how it is supposed to be." With repetition comes deeper understanding and increasing benefit.

The Ai Chi was plenty for one day, and I would have been content to ooze off at the end of it and melt into a puddle of calm in my room, but I had signed up for an early evening session about Silver Sneakers SilverSplash, the aquatic format from the Silver Sneakers franchise of exercise for older populations. There are land classes as well as aqua.

Silver Sneakers classes are acquired at an institutional level by health clubs or nonprofits that want to serve elders in this way. Anyone can participate, but seniors with certain Medicare health insurance plans get free memberships in Silver Sneakers institutions on the supposition that exercise decreases health care costs. MaryBeth Marotto, the instructor, said that participation in an exercise program like Silver Sneakers can reduce such costs by $2200 per person per year.

MaryBeth led a land session explaining a little about Silver Sneakers in general, and then the principles and basics of the water format. The workout might remind some people of Arthritis Foundation classes, although SS is more flexible and varied. Anchored movement is basic, but participants who want and need more challenge are welcome to add impact to their moves. Beyond a basic warmup/cardio/flexibility/balance/stretch outline, instructors are welcome to create their own combinations and progressions. The only equipment allowed is a proprietary kickboard-style foam board that can be used in various ways for resistance or balance assistance.

Alas, electrical storms once again cancelled evening pool sessions, so we did a sample workout indoors. This actually had some special benefits, because we got the feel of what it would be like teaching this class from the deck. The room was too dark for photography, but the kickboard link above gives you an idea of how it is used and what it looks like. Although I'm not likely to work with an SS program, this certainly gave us plenty of ideas to take home.

Want the Ai Chi book? Enter the contest!

The Ptarmigan Has Landed and Registered

It was an uneventful but long couple of flights that got me here, tired, sweaty, and a bit crabby by the time I got to the Wyndham. [Note to self: Teaching two days of extra classes before sitting strapped to an airline seat for 8+ hours is not a very good idea. You might end up with a few stiff muscles.] I was assigned a room in a building at the furthest corner of the resort and for some reason had to schlep my own luggage to it. (Good thing I work out, isn't it?) Ever since I walked into reception, they were crowing about how I was going to get free wifi with my room. Except when I turn my laptop on, there was no net at all. A call to reception revealed that the wifi is only in the main buildings. I had to schlep to reception to get an ethernet cable. I schlep. When I get there, they have no more cables, sorry, try tomorrow morning after some people check out. Pondering the long useless trek back to my room, I requested a change to something that was a little closer to the main activity area. Duly granted, but I would have to schlep back to the old room and schlep the luggage myself to the new room. This is a grand total of a lot of schlepping in what feels to me like a sauna.  Nonetheless, I did it, and although the new room had its own disappointments, it had a mini-fridge and actual wireless, cable-less true blue wifi service, apparently due to its proximity to the main buildings. YAAAAAAY!!

Monday morning I slept in enough to get myself pretty close to the local time zone. I had a ramble to find a store and provision the fridge, a decent lunch, and then it was time to register. At registration, I met someone who recognized me from the plane flights--a fellow Alaskan!!

It's Paige Dilley, the director of the Mat-Su Borough pool in Palmer! What a treat to find a fellow Alaskan here! This is Paige's first time here. Besides lots of the regular workshops, she's here to get certified for Aqua Zumba. Look out in the Valley--Aqua Zumba is coming to a pool near you!

When I came the first time, in '09, there was a conspicuous lack of swag. You know, the souvenirs stamped with various sponsor logos to help you get through the conference and take home to remember your experience forever after. Expecting this in '09, I intentionally didn't bother bringing a tote bag, certain that there would be one in the offing. I ended up having to buy one in a tourist shop so I could carry my stuff from pool to workshop and back again. This time, it's a completely different story! Lookee here:

Bag-o-rama from this year's swag! I count at least 4. Holy moley. Maybe we will have some of these in the lucky prize drawing.

This evening, for the first time ever, there was a Monday extravaganza show. Presenters got together in groups representing their countries and led a choreographed water dance representing their origin. Alas, only the very first number took place in the water, a synchro swim routine by Dr Jane Katz. Take a look at who she is here. Take time to see the video at the bottom of the page.

Unfortunately, lightning was beginning to dance in the sky, so the whole show decamped to an indoor room for the rest of the event. The performing groups did their thing on a stage, and participants were invited up to pretend they were in the water in front of it. There then ensued amazing and wonderful numbers that showed that you can take water moves and do any kind of dancing in the pool. There was tap dancing, Russian dancing, Turkish belly dance, Italian, Brazilian, Dutch, Israeli...it was all incredible and a great demonstration that with imagination, you can translate almost any kind of movement to the water.

My indoor pictures didn't turn out really great, but this group, the Spectacular 7-1 from America has several AEA workshop presenters that Alaskans will recognize:

They are, not necessarily in order, Sandy Stoub, Pauline Ivens, Teri Mitchell, MaryBeth Morotto, Connie Jasinkas, and Lori Sherlock. Puttin' on the Ritz.

Here's the entire cast, not all of whom would fit in the frame, but it gives you an idea of the size and variety of the show:

At dinner I met a two teachers from Bainbridge, WA who do some of their classes in a waterpark-type river. They've worked out routines going with and against the current. Great cardio, they say. I got their contact info for you, Linda St. They want to visit river pools all over the country and might come to Alaska!

Contest

When packing for my trip, I discovered that I have an extra copy of the book about Ai Chi:

I don't need both, so let's have a lucky drawing for the extra one.  Here's what we'll do--any time between now and my return to Alaska on May 20, you send one (1) email to wet dot ptarmigan at gmail dot com (replacing the punctuation words with actual punctuation) and put Ai Chi Book in the subject line. On May 21, with the help of my trusty random number generator, I will select one from the thousands of entries and email the lucky winner to find out where to send the book. OK? OK!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog of the 2012 AEA (Aquatic Exercise Association) IAFC (International Aquatic Fitness Conference).

I'm going to Orlando, Florida to participate in a wonderful splashfest. I attended one previous conference, 2009 and decided to blog it after many requests from colleagues at home to "tell us everything you learn". My memory is full. There was no way I could remember it all well enough to bring everything home, so a daily blog seemed like the best way to help settle the new information in my bulging brain, communicate it to the interested, and vicariously bring everybody along for the ride.

This time--same deal. I found the blogging was a superb addition to the conference experience. It was worth missing some sleep to be able to consolidate my experience and create a permanent record of it. I can hardly wait. I hope you're excited, too.