About the IOA
The Institute of Aquaphobia aims to help everybody, on a multi-cultural & inclusive basis, who has a fear of water to overcome their worries and concerns and learn to feel happy and relaxed in or around pools, rivers or the sea.
We achieve this by using the Aquaphobia Learning Programme (ALP). Taught by certified “Aquaphobia Coaches” who have been through the industry accredited - Certificate in Teaching Aquaphobia (CTA) training courses.
The IOA’s worldwide community brings together people from around the globe
The IOA’s worldwide community brings together people from around the globe, who have a personal or professional interest in helping individuals be free from this life-changing phobia and stresses relating to aquatic events or experiences. You can be a part of this amazing network, either as a member of the public, interested in overcoming aquaphobia or a swimming teacher training to be an Aquaphobia Angel Coach.
The IOA aims, with global partners, to further all aspects of learning that advances scientific research, community networks and best practice by professionals for people, at whatever age, who need to be able to relax with basic swimming skills for personal, social/pleasure, mental and physical health and most importantly life-preservation reasons.
To advance education in the water and using the latest Virtual Reality technology for multimedia, so we can truly reach everybody wherever they are in the world, on their phones or tablets.
For for further details please email support@instituteofaquaphobia.com
Certificate in Teaching Aquaphobics (CTA)
This course, Certificate in Teaching Aquaphobics (CTA) aims to teach aquatic & leisure professionals how to understand, identify and by using the Aquaphobic Learning Programme (ALP) treat Aquaphobics, weak and non-swimmers from both a psychological and physical perspective.
The professional development course establishes a swimming teacher an Aquaphobia Coach (A.C) & then an Advanced Aquaphobia Coach (A.A.C) Who then will be able to assess the severity of an individual’s fear or phobia and support them through the recovery process to stress free happy swimming. If you are a swimming teacher, STA or equivalent, who is actively training and wants to increase your skills and revenue, this is a must for you. You will get 5 CIMSPA Points and 1 STA point, for each CTA CPD.
You can download our brochure "How to become an Aquaphobia coach" Click Here
For for further details please email support@instituteofaquaphobia.com
Aquaphobia Coaches Testimonials
I want to personally encourage every swimming teacher to take this course for the amazing knowledge and skills you will gain
Watching people liberate themselves from a fear of the water, through ALP is exciting, fantastic and a joy for everyone concerned, I can highly recommend this course
As an Aquaphobia Coach it is amazing to have these new skills, to transform someone's life, by taking their fear away
We (MSTA) are honoured to have collaborated with the IOA to bring our Swimming Teachers this extraordinary and wonderful course
If you are looking to bring in new business into your swimming school, then ALP is a must for you. This course has been a game changer for me and I am sure it will be for you and your aquaphobic client's too
The Aquaphobia Learning Programme
The Aquaphobia Learning Programme (ALP) is a 12-stage step approach to support those with a fear of water, providing them with the confidence, skills and techniques to enjoy the unique freedom that being in water can give.
Distinctive from swimming programmes, AALP focuses on eliminating and desensitising fear, with the physical mechanics of swimming being secondary.
The aim of the programme is to teach a participant how to relax, float, feel happy and in control in the water and reduce all stresses in a safe and careful way.
Taught by a certified Aquaphobia Coach, each course is tailored to the individual’s personal needs and degree of fear, going at their own preferred pace, so they feel uplifted, encouraged and comfortable to undertake lessons on a regular basis.
When a person has achieved a stage, they then progress on to the next one in sequence, with no set timescale or pressures on the individual they will learn key swimming skills that really boost enjoyment and relaxation.
By going through the 12 steps, participants will grow in confidence and learn the basic principles of: entering, standing, floating, moving and breathing in water.
Creator of the course Master Coach Mike Burman LIII said: “As each new swimming action is correctly learned, it is embedded into both the conscious and subconscious mind and also into muscle memory. This increases the skill base, knowledge and self-belief in each individual.
“As the skill level goes up, the fear reduces. You will never be rushed into achieving the next stage. We understand that some aquatic skills are easier learnt than others with some aspects of the fear being more entrenched than others.
“Every achievement, however small, is a milestone. Something to be proud of, boost confidence and be happy about.”
A Virtual Swimming Pool for all
Available(For Mobiles And Tablets)
Our virtual swimming pool is the ultimate digital teaching companion for your phones, tablets, and devices. This pool is an advanced fully immersive interactive technology, designed by experts from aquatics, psychology, robotics, and exercise science. Users can experience what it is like to be in a leisure centre and go into a swimming pool, in the familiar format of a PlayStation or Xbox game.
If you would like to download the IOA VR pool for Mac or Win PC, please email support@instituteofaquaphobia.com
All From The Comfort Of Their Living Room. Designed For Aquaphobics, Non-Swimmers And Beginners Or Anybody Who Needs To Feel More Confident In Or Around Water. There Is Also A Strong Message Of Water Safety Awareness Throughout The App.
Once you have downloaded and installed the App, the opening scene is in the changing room. Here you can walk around by using your mouse, by holding down the left button or by pushing it forward. You can use your finger on a tablet or mobile devices.
(Stop and take your time, there is no rush) click and listen to the calming voice of your relaxation coach. (Clinical Hypnotherapist) You can play our great selection of interactive relaxation videos on poolside, whenever you need to use them. Users can enter the pool itself, at any point (jump in) or via the pool stairs in the shallow end.
This pool in your pocket is a safe and gentle way to experience what it is like to be in the middle of a large swimming pool. Once in the water you can submerge and move about underwater or go into the deep end and even stand on the bottom.
You can also float on your back and your front. We aimed for the water and the effects to be as realistic as possible, you may feel like you have to hold your breath when you duck under. By simply clicking the on-screen instruction boxes, you can undertake those actions or combinations of movements. Try lying down and floating, ducking under, swimming, and standing up. You can only exit the pool using the stairs in the shallow end.
Real Stories
When I was young my cousins held me under the water, I thought I was going to drown". I missed out on so many years of swimming but now with ALP, I can enjoy my holidays for the first time in many years
Until you put it out there I may be phobic, I had never considered it like that, I just always avoided pools and the sea. Having done the ALP lessons I can join in with my family and friends. No longer do I feel left out
Before ALP lessons, when my kids shouted, Daddy come for a swim, my fear used to go really high
Now my daughter is having lessons, I realise just how much I missed out all because of a bad swimming lesson when I was at school
I have done Bungee jumping, jumped out of a plane, and now I am not scared of water. I have the whole set, I am free
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