Shift Happens
- Laura Thomason
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
By S'WET™ Instructor Laura Thomason
Shift Happens: My Journey to Becoming an Independent Aqua Fitness Instructor
Crossing over from employee to contractor felt bold, maybe even a little messy. But it was the right choice then, and it still is. Here’s how I stayed true to myself and made it work.
I kept thinking I’d know when it was the right time to branch out on my own—like there would be a clear sign, something strikingly good or bad to push me. But that moment never came.
Instead, I realized my mission went beyond what was expected of me as an employee instructor. The support I needed wasn’t there, so I had to create it myself.
Now, I have a new sense of freedom—and a lot more behind-the-scenes work—for something that started as a small side gig in 2018. Over the next few years, I see the contractor role solidifying my brand, expanding my reach, and generating the revenue to support my goals. Living in rural Vermont, my next facility could be 30 miles away, but as a traveling instructor, I have the flexibility to go where the opportunities are. I’ve even started approaching athletic coaches to cross-train student athletes—an exciting new avenue.
The shift forced me to get up to speed fast on insurance, booking systems, and marketing. I also invested in my own aquatic equipment—something I’d waited years for facilities to provide. (More on that in a bit...)
My goal in every class is to give everything I have in that moment—to inspire students to make waves and embrace all the benefits water has to offer, both physically and mentally. But let’s be clear: while I love helping people, I’m not driven by philanthropy. I expect to be compensated fairly for my investment in time and education. Now, I have more control over profitability and can reinvest in my own growth—training, memberships, certifications, and CEUs.
Like many instructors, I started in a facility with few prerequisites—no formal training, just a willingness to teach. While not the most impressive beginning, I’m grateful for the opportunity it gave me to grow. In the early years, I focused on confidence and class structure. My facility initially supported me with a certification and a Fitmotivation subscription, and for a while, that was enough. My classes grew, and I gained momentum.
Naturally, I thought I had earned the right to ask for better equipment. I quickly learned how hard it was to get a ‘yes.’ It took two years and countless emails just to secure a $300 order of high-density noodles. Brutal. I didn’t want to burn bridges, so I treaded lightly with management, balancing my desire to grow with the reality of limited facility support. When I wanted to attend conventions and earn additional certifications, the financial burden fell on me. My instructor stipend barely covered costs, making this gig feel more like an expensive hobby.
Determined to prove my value, I pitched pay-to-play specialty classes like S’WET™ and Aqua Strong. The first rollout in summer 2023 gave me a taste of independent programming, even though I was still an employee. By summer 2024, I had personally taught 54 classes in just 2.5 months.
But despite my success, I struggled with the facility’s resistance to change. I was on the brink of an identity crisis—torn between pushing my ideas and respecting “the way things have always been done.”
After summer ended, I returned to another facility, eager to fit back in. Within months though, familiar roadblocks appeared—outdated instructor fees and no immediate plans to invest in basic equipment to name some. That’s when I knew: I had to stop waiting for the change I wanted to see. It was time to go solo.
A casual chat with management about renting pool space turned into a formal meeting, and I secured my first rental contract. It felt like winning gold. That same day, I ordered my HydroRevolution equipment—something I’d debated for years—because now, I was running the show. No more waiting for approvals.
If you’re like me, always striving to grow, you might find this industry rigid and unsupportive at times. Facilities often don’t prioritize or invest in instructors simply because they don’t fully understand what we do. That’s why it’s crucial to advocate for yourself. Have conversations with management, educate them, and be patient. And when you hear “no,” be cooler than I was—don’t take it personally.
The shift to independence wasn’t something I planned, but it was inevitable. Now, I face new challenges, but I also have the freedom to shape my own future—and that makes all the difference.
Laura Thomason is an aqua fitness instructor at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, VT as well as Hard'Ack Pool in St. Albans, VT.
She's AEA, S'WET, and ABS Aqua Combat certified.
Laura is an avid lover of the water and stumbled across an aqua fitness class while waiting for open swim to start one morning in 2016. The rest is history. She now passionately teaches multiple aquatic formats and her goal is to change the perception of aquatic fitness so that more people of all ages and athletic abilities will learn how effective and beneficial it can be move in the water. Outside the pool, Laura enjoys cooking for her family and bike joring with her husky.
Follow Laura Online:
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquafitnessvermont
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AquaFitnessVermont
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