How to Mix Repetition and Variety in Aqua Classes

A Guide for Instructors Who Want to Keep It Simple, Without Being Boring

One of the most common struggles for aqua instructors is figuring out how to balance repetition and variety in a way that’s manageable for the instructor and engaging for participants. The sweet spot? Enough repetition to give participants confidence, paired with enough variety to maintain interest.

Here’s a straightforward approach to take.

Stick With Three to Four Moves Per Track

I recommend sticking with three to four moves per track. This gives participants enough time to feel familiar with the movements, while keeping things flowing. It also simplifies your planning.

But here’s the key: just because you’re repeating a move across different classes doesn’t mean you should repeat it from one track to the next within the same class.

Avoid Repeating the Same Move in Consecutive Tracks

Doing the exact same move over and over, especially back-to-back in multiple tracks, can become dull and potentially overloading. If you’ve used a cross-country ski with straight legs and a rebound in Track one, avoid doing another cross-country variation in Tracks two and three. Give your participants something different to explore.

If you want to bring that cross-country back later in the class, say in track four, change how it's performed:

• Lift the knees toward the chest instead of keeping the legs straight
• Add a different arm pattern
• Make it a power version
• Use suspension for a challenge

What matters is that it feels different. Repetition can work, but only if it’s purposeful and progressive.

Use the Water to Create Natural Variety

You don’t need a huge library of fancy moves. The water itself gives you endless options for creating variety. Some simple adjustments include:

• Changing the direction of travel (forward, backward, sideways, diagonal)
• Shifting tempo or intensity
• Using rebound, neutral, or suspended positions
• Adding equipment or wall-based elements
• Varying arm and leg coordination patterns

When you layer these elements across your class, you create variety without complexity. It also keeps your cueing cleaner and helps your class feel structured, not scattered.

Use Track-Based Planning to Structure Your Variety

Here’s an example of how this might look across the first four tracks of your class:

Track 1

• Cross-country ski (straight legs, rebound)
• Pendulum
• Jumping jacks
• High knees with fast arm drives

Track 2

• Jogging with front and lateral arm reaches
• Twist movements
• Forward kicks
• Feet-wide stance with stable, controlled arm circles

Track 3

• Side-to-side kicks
• Jogging with uppercuts
• Kickbacks
• Neutral stance boxing movements

Track 4

• Cross-country ski returns with knees lifted toward the chest and a strong arm drive
• You could also make it a power or suspended version for added challenge

This structure also gives your regulars something familiar to anchor to, while offering enough change to keep things fresh.

Final Tip: Think Ahead—Not Just in the Moment

This kind of planning requires a little time before the class. But the planning you do beforehand pays off during the class.

You’ll feel more confident in what you're delivering, and you’ll be able to focus on actually teaching the moves, not on what’s coming next or how to make things more interesting on the fly. Personally, I’ve found that even a few minutes of planning can completely change how I show up on pool deck. You don’t need a 12-page plan, just a clear roadmap.

It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing things with intention.

Written by Marietta Mehanni Aqua Alliance Cofounder

Ready to deepen your skills and gain fresh inspiration for your classes?

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• Aquatic Boosters for Older Adults
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