Aquatic Awareness for Breast Cancer Survivors

What are some AEA Certified Professionals doing?

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) is now celebrating 26 years of awareness, education and empowerment. While October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, NBCAM, along with Susan G. Komen for a Cure and other organization operate year round in providing education and support for breast cancer survivors.


AEA Certified Professionals are also doing their part in advancing the cause. As the cooperation between the medical and fitness communities increases and the benefits of water exercise for breast cancer survivors are better understood , AEA fitness professionals are stepping up to provide specialized programming in their communities.

Many of these AEA professionals are survivors themselves and they are now sharing valuable information and education from lessons learned on the journey.

Debby Visconti, a survivor of six years, is an AEA certified instructor in Rochester, Michigan and has been offering an Ai Chi class for breast cancer survivors for the past four years. “My clients have improved mentally and physically because we have applied our Ai Chi to daily living and it has truly helped us relieve stress and form friendships,” says Visconti.

Ai Chi is a water exercise and relaxation program performed using a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements of the arms, legs and torso in flowing continual patterns. “The Ai Chi movements help increase range of motion for survivors and it trains us to apply positive thoughts of healing and forgiveness,” adds Visconti. She promotes her classes in her community through oncologists, surgeons and local cancer foundations who she says are happy to support the program.     

Catherine Shade is featured in AKWA Magazine’s, In the Spotlight, in the current October/November issue. Catherine, a registered nurse in Columbus, Ohio, became a breast cancer survivor in 1998 and an AEA certified instructor in 2002. After a right mastectomy, removal of lymph nodes and reconstruction; she went on to be diagnosed with lymphedema in her right arm. “This is when I began my journey to help other breast cancer survivors and lymphedema sufferers,” says Shade. In 2006 she started a class, Making Waves, which was the first of its kind to specifically help women with lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. She has had over 140 women participate in her class since 2007, thanks to grant funded money from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Columbus Affiliate. These funds were provided from The Race for a Cure which is held in May every year. Catherine is now also teaching other programs for survivors in her area. Her experience as a registered nurse and her accrued knowledge of the lymphatic system and breast cancer has helped her create a very detailed and solution oriented approach to her fitness programming. “I am currently working on a workshop and home study for instructors to teach the basics of my water exercise program and the therapeutic benefit of water exercise so that they can teach my style of class to other women suffering from lymphedema,” says Shade. She says she also hopes to collaborate with Mary Essert on future projects to benefit cancer survivors.

Considered a pioneer in the aquatic fitness industry for her work regarding breast cancer and other special populations, Mary Essert has been involved internationally in presenting and teaching swimming, safety, water fitness, and therapeutic intervention techniques since 1949.  After surviving two bouts of cancer, she has shifted her focus to specialize in aquatics for individuals with breast cancer, arthritis and fibromyalgia. In 2009, she received the Arkansas Governor's Council Award for Fitness Leadership in the Senior Category. Her other awards include life time achievement and recognition from AEA, AAHPERD, ATRI, USWFA and more. Mary offers workshops, educational CD-ROMS and online courses that provide education and exercise recommendations for practitioners and survivors.

The healing lure of the water provides promise for survivors and opportunities for AEA certified professionals to provide much needed services in their communities.   As a non profit fitness organization pledged to advancing aquatic fitness worldwide, AEA is dedicated to supporting their efforts and dedicated to supporting future development in education and aquatic training specific to breast cancer survivors. Who better to lead others to hope and health than dedicated AEA professionals?