Stop Winging It: Layered Combos That Work for Everyone

If you teach aqua, you probably know this scene.

You look out at the pool and see a mix of newer participants, long-time regulars, older adults, people returning from injury, and a couple of fit machines who want to work hard. They are all in the same water, in the same time slot, with the same instructor: you.

No matter how much experience you have, there is a quiet question that sits in the back of your mind:

“How do I plan for everyone without losing someone?”

This blog provides a practical approach on how to keep everyone exercising where they are at, so you can challenge regulars while keeping newcomers safe and included.

Why mixed-level classes feel hard

Mixed-level classes are not only common, they are almost guaranteed in community settings. Different ages, fitness levels and experience will all change how people respond to the same move. Aquatic exercise guidelines encourage instructors to offer options and progressions so that participants can self-select intensity and stay within a safe range.

That sounds simple on paper. In real classes, it often feels like this:

• New people struggle with keeping up.
• Regulars don’t get a ‘workout’ and get bored
• You worry about trying to juggle too many options at once.

If you give too few options, you risk under-loading some and over-loading others.
If you give too many options, it can get confusing, particularly with new participants and regulars stop listening.

So how do you create something that feels structured, adaptable, and still teachable in real time?

Two base moves, three or more levels

Instead of trying to design a completely different version of the class for each level, you start with:

• Two base moves everyone can do
• Three or more levels built on those same moves

You are not changing the whole class every time. You are changing how those moves are performed.

The two base moves become your anchor. The levels are where you:

• Add intensity with changes in lever length, rebounding, travelling or suspension
• Add complexity with changes in direction or adding arm or leg movements

The secret is in how you structure those layers.

Formula 2: Two moves, back and forth, with layers

In Aqua Little Combos (upcoming workshop - https://www.mygroupmove.com/aqua-little-combos,) we use a few simple “combo formulas” to help instructors plan without overthinking. This blog focuses on one of those methods: two moves that you cycle back and forth between, while you gradually add layers of intensity using the hydrodynamic principles of water.

You don’t need to memorise long choreography. You work with:

• Move A
• Move B
• A simple alternation pattern (A → B → A → B)
• A plan for how you’ll layer each return

Think of it as a loop that evolves. Each time you come back to Move A and Move B, you tweak one element to lift or progress the challenge.

Why two base moves work so well in mixed-level classes

Two base moves give you:

• Clarity – easy to demonstrate, easy to remember.
• Flexibility – you can scale intensity up without changing the pattern.
• Familiarity – regulars recognise the moves; newcomers are not overwhelmed.

When everyone shares the same two base moves, it becomes much easier to say:

“Here is the base version. Here is level 2. Here is level 3. Choose your level”

Instead of a pool full of different exercises, you have one shared pattern with clear pathways to scale up.

The water is your intensity dial

Water gives you several built-in ways to change intensity without changing the move:

• Surface area – hand position (fist, blade, cup) changes how much water is pushed.
• Lever length – long arms or legs vs shorter ones.
• Support / impact – grounded, rebound, or suspended.
• Travel – staying still vs moving forward, back, or sideways.
• Speed and intent – slower, more controlled vs quicker, more powerful.

Formula 2 uses these as layers. You keep coming back to the same two base moves, but you apply these factors in stages. That is how you create three or more levels across a mixed group, without needing to provide separate specific exercises.

Step 1: Choose your two base moves

Pick two moves you use all the time. They should be:

• Easy to explain
• Familiar to regulars
• Versatile enough to adapt

Examples:

• Jog + bounce
• Jack + tuck
• Cross-country + kick back
• Rocking horse + front kicks

Write them as Move A and Move B. These are your base anchors.

Step 2: Decide on your layering focus

Rather than doing “a bit of everything,” pick one main focus for your layers in that block. For example:

• Surface area (hand position)
• Support level (grounded → rebound → suspended)
• Travel (on the spot → travel)
• Lever length and speed (short range and faster→ long range and slower)

This keeps your teaching more predictable and easier to remember the layers when delivering the workout.

You can always use other layers in other blocks. For this one, choose one main idea so participants understand the logic.

Step 3: Build levels from the same two moves

Here’s how this might look in practice using jog (Move A) and bounce (Move B) with support level as your main focus.

Base level: everyone together

• Move A: Low Jog – shoulders under the water, knees up and arms reaching forward and back
• Move B: Low bounce – small range up and down, hands on hips

You alternate between A and B at this first level. This gives everyone a starting point and lets new people get used to the pattern.

Level 2: Same moves, more lift

You come back to the same A → B pattern and add a rebound option:

• Move A: Rebound jog – standing up and lifting the knees up high, long range of motion with the arms creating more turbulence.
• Move B: Rebound bounce – lift both heels back to buttocks with both arms moving forwards and back

You keep the option open:

“Stay low or add rebound if you want more.”

Newer or joint-sensitive participants can stay low. Regulars can float between low and rebounding options depending on how they feel.

Level 3: Same moves, plus hand position

Then you revisit A → B again and add a further layer. For example:

• Surface area: change hand position to open fingers and turning palms for more resistance

You might say:

“Now jogs and spread fingers wider for greater resistance and turbulence. If you prefer to stay where you are, stay with your current arm action” For the bounces “if you want to add more intensity, keep the arms long but now turn the palms forward and back as your arms move forward and back.”

You have just created three levels:

• Low only
• Rebound only
• Rebound + hand and arm action change

All built from jog and bounce. Mixed-level solved within one pattern.

Use clear language

The challenge with mixed levels is not just the planning. It’s the talking.

A few simple language habits help:

• Start with: “Let's start with level one.”
• Then: “If you want more, try this…”
• And always: “You can scale up or down any time.”

Some examples:

“We’re all starting with low jacks. When you’re ready, you can add a rebound. If that’s enough, stay there. If you want more, change to cup hands.”

“Base level is on the spot. Level 2 is a rebound. Level 3 is a rebound with travel. You’re in charge of how far you go today.”

You are not managing three separate classes. You’re guiding one pattern with clear options.

How Aqua Little Combos Formula 2 supports mixed levels

Formula 2 naturally supports this structure because:

• You only juggle two moves at a time.
• Each return to the pattern lets you add, remove, or repeat a layer.
• Participants get repetition (which helps learning) and variety (which keeps them engaged).

Instead of inventing seven different combinations to fill a class, you can spend more energy refining:

• Which two moves you choose
• Which hydrodynamic lever you layer (surface area, support, travel, etc.)
• How you explain the levels so people feel safe and confident choosing

In Aqua Little Combos, we take this further and show you how to:

• Move from “just two moves” into a complete class block
• Use Formula 2 alongside two other planning formulas
• Build a small library of combos you can plug into any class

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Making the base too hard

If your base version is already high-impact, complex, or heavily loaded, new participants and those with joint or confidence issues will have nowhere to go. Ensure your base:

• Is lower intensity, the most basic level
• Uses a smaller range or smaller surface area
• Feels manageable for someone on day one

You can always layer up. You can’t layer down if the base is already maxed.

2. Changing too many things at once

If you change level, surface area, travel, direction, and tempo in one go, people will switch off. Remember:

• One main focus per exercise
• One or two changes per level

For example, if your focus is surface area, use base, blade, then cup. Don’t also add travel and rebound at the same time.

3. Forgetting to invite people back down a level

It’s easy to say “add more” and forget to remind people they can also reduce. Regularly give permission to drop back to base or level 2:

“If your technique is slipping or you feel breathless, slide back to option 1.”

This approach supports safety and builds trust.

4. Feeling like you must “fix” everyone

You don’t need to individually correct every person’s level choice. Your job is to:

• Offer clear options
• Demonstrate them cleanly
• Keep reminding the whole group of their choices

Participants will gradually learn what feels right for them. You can nudge here and there, but you don’t need to micromanage every decision.

Planning your next mixed-level class

1. Pick your two base moves for each block.
2. Choose your main layer focus: surface area, support, travel, speed, or range.
3. Define base, level 2, and level 3 for those two moves.
4. Decide your language: how will you describe the options quickly on deck?
5. Leave some mystery: you don’t need to cram every idea into one class. Revisit the same pattern next week with a different layer focus.

You’ll soon find that planning for “one class, many levels” feels less like a problem and more like a creative framework.

Want more combos?

In Aqua Little Combos, we:

• Take this two-move, back-and-forth Formula 2 and build creative versions you can teach straight away
• Show you two other combo formulas that give you even more planning options
• Work through how to layer intensity using the water and hydrodynamic principles
• Give you time to test, refine, and leave with sequences that are ready to plug into your classes

So if you want your next mixed-level class to feel more structured, more adaptable, and less stressful to plan, Aqua Little Combos is your next step.