Growing your aquatic programming can be an exciting and rewarding challenge. To achieve success, it's important to cultivate your resources and develop a comprehensive strategy that considers your unique strengths and goals. Cultivating your resources means intentionally developing and nurturing the assets and strengths of your aquatic program to achieve your goals. Resources can include your staff, facilities, equipment, programs, partnerships, and community support. Cultivating these resources involves identifying areas of strength, investing time and effort to improve weaker areas, and leveraging available resources to achieve growth and success.

Cultivating resources is a proactive approach to managing your program, as it involves continuously assessing and improving your resources to ensure that they align with your goals and objectives. By cultivating your resources, you can optimize your program's performance, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve long-term success.

Here are some tips to help you cultivate your resources and grow your aquatic programming:

1. Identify your strengths: The first step is to identify the strengths of your program. What makes it unique? What do you do well? By identifying your strengths, you can focus on building on what's working and develop strategies to improve your weaker areas.

2. Build relationships: Relationships are essential in the aquatic industry. Developing positive relationships with your staff, clients, and community partners will help you to build trust and a positive reputation. This will help you to attract more clients and to retain your existing ones.

3. Develop your staff: Your staff is one of your most valuable resources. Investing in their development will pay off in the long run. Offer training and development opportunities to help them grow their skills and knowledge, and provide feedback and coaching to help them improve their performance.

4. Stay up-to-date: The aquatic industry is constantly evolving. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices will help you to stay ahead of the curve. Attend conferences, read industry publications, and network with other professionals to stay informed.

5. Leverage technology: Technology can help you to streamline your operations, improve your communication with clients, and enhance the overall experience for your customers. Consider investing in software to manage your scheduling, billing, and communication with clients.

6. Focus on customer service: Providing exceptional customer service is critical to growing your aquatic programming. Make sure your staff is trained to provide excellent customer service, and always prioritize the needs of your clients.

7. Seek feedback: Ask your clients for feedback on their experience with your program. Use this feedback to make improvements and to identify areas where you can grow and expand your offerings.

Aquatic fitness programming is often an area of weakness within facilities.  Enhancing your vertical aquatic fitness programming can help you attract new clients, retain existing ones, and ultimately grow your business.  Let’s take a look at how you can use the more global tips listed above and make them specific to vertical aquatic fitness.  

1. Assess your current program: The first step is to assess your current aquatic fitness program. Evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, identify opportunities for improvement, and consider what types of aquatic fitness activities and programs would be most appealing to your target market.

2. Offer a variety of classes: To attract a wide range of clients, offer a variety of aquatic fitness classes that cater to different needs and interests. Consider offering classes such as water aerobics, aqua yoga, aqua Zumba, and aquatic strength training.

3. Focus on instructor training: The quality of your instructors is key to the success of your program. Ensure that your instructors are well-trained, knowledgeable, and passionate about aquatic fitness. Offer ongoing training and development opportunities to keep your instructors up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

4. Incorporate technology: Technology can be a valuable tool for enhancing your aquatic fitness programming. Consider using fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, and other wearable devices to help your clients track their progress and stay motivated.

5. Create a welcoming atmosphere: Create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that makes all clients feel comfortable and supported. Ensure that your facility is clean and well-maintained, and provide amenities such as towels, lockers, and changing rooms.

6. Promote your program: Promote your aquatic fitness program through various marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, and local advertising. Consider partnering with other businesses and organizations in your community to expand your reach.

7. Solicit feedback: Ask your clients for feedback on their experience with your aquatic fitness program. Use this feedback to make improvements and to identify areas where you can grow and expand your offerings.

By following these tips and continuously improving your aquatic fitness programming, you can create a successful and thriving business that meets the needs of your clients and community.

Links to Resources:  

https://aeawave.org

https://waterexercisecoach.com/ 

https://totalaquatic.llc 

https://medicine.wvu.edu/exercise-physiology/bachelor-of-science-bs/future-students/curriculum/aquatic-therapy-area-of-emphasis/