Home » The KIPS Podcast » Effectively Adding Pool Workouts to Your Personal Training Business

Training clients in the pool is one of the most underrated strategies for attracting personal training clients. This unique environment offers a refreshing alternative to traditional land-based workouts, tapping into the therapeutic and invigorating properties of water. With its natural resistance and low-impact benefits, aquatic exercise caters to a diverse range of clients, including those with injuries or mobility limitations. By incorporating pool sessions, trainers not only enhance their service offerings but also create a fun, engaging atmosphere that appeals to both novice and experienced clients. Embracing aquatic training can set personal trainers apart in a competitive market.

Returning guest Janice Jaicks shares her over three decades of experience training clients in the pool. Janice is the owner of the Phoenix-based fitness conference, FitnessFest, but is also an aquatics professional. She owns an aquatic-based training business in the Phoenix metropolitan area and sells aquatic-based education for fitness instructors.

Safety Precautions for Pool Workouts

When training clients in the pool, safety is paramount to prevent accidents and injuries. One key precaution is ensuring clients wear appropriate water shoes. Water shoes provide grip and protect feet from rough pool surfaces or hidden debris, greatly reducing the risk of slips and falls. Slippery surfaces are common around and inside pools, so it’s crucial to keep the pool deck clean and dry whenever possible, and to remind clients to walk carefully when entering or exiting the water. As a personal trainer, always try out exercises in the pool before introducing them to clients. This allows you to assess the difficulty, identify potential risks, and understand the movement mechanics in a water environment. Testing exercises first ensures they are suitable for your clients’ abilities and enables you to demonstrate them with confidence, further promoting safe practices and building trust during aquatic training sessions.

Benefits of Pool Workouts

Training clients in the pool offers numerous health benefits due to the water’s unique properties. Aquatic exercise provides natural resistance, which helps improve muscular strength and endurance without the need for heavy weights (Chodzko-Zajko et al., 2009). The buoyancy of water reduces joint impact, making it an ideal environment for clients with arthritis, injuries, or mobility limitations (Nagle & Sanders, 2010). Additionally, water-based workouts enhance cardiovascular fitness, as the movement through water increases heart rate and circulation (Takeshima et al., 2002). Pool training also supports flexibility and balance, as the resistance and support of water allow for a greater range of motion and stability during exercise. Furthermore, exercising in water can boost mental well-being by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Overall, aquatic training is a versatile and effective approach to improving physical health and wellness for a diverse range of clients.

Great for Recovery Days

A common question for personal trainers is, “What should I do when I’m not training with you?” New clients often want guidance on their entire weekly routine as they seek to improve their health. Meanwhile, personal trainers aim to increase their weekly session count, as more sessions lead to higher earnings, and the sooner clients sign up for additional sessions, the better. Depending on your approach, pool workouts can be high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate activity. You can incorporate sets and reps, similar to gym workouts, and include full-body exercises to challenge muscles.

References Used

Chodzko-Zajko, W. J., et al. (2009). Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(7), 1510-1530.
Nagle, E. F., & Sanders, M. E. (2010). Aquatic exercise for rehabilitation and training. Human Kinetics.
Takeshima, N., et al. (2002). Water-based exercise improves health-related aspects of fitness in older women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 34(3), 544-551.

Listeners of the KIPS Podcast can receive 20% off any conference package by using the code “Tyler” at checkout. The 2026 event runs from April 16th to 19th in Phoenix, AZ.

Janice has over 30 years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry. She founded the FitnessFest Conference & Expo, the largest of its kind in the Southwest. As a continuing education provider for ACE, AEA, NASM, and ISSA, she organizes speakers, workshops, vendors, and sponsors, attracting passionate fitness professionals. She also owns Desert Swim School, running a children’s swim program since 1985. An aquatic fitness professional, she trains many in water exercise, especially older adults who benefit therapeutically. Her strengths include experience, motivation, inspiration, and genuine concern for people of all ages.