Meet Liz Potts, Aquatic Personal Trainer at New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club
Elizabeth Potts (you may also know her as Liz Dalton…she recently eloped in Ireland!) is a licensed Occupational Therapist with 5 years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist and 15 years of aquatic experience (lifeguarding, Water Safety Instructor and Aqua Therapy). As an Aquatic Personal Trainer at New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club, she works with all age groups. Her clients include those recovering from surgery or injuries or managing chronic pain, as well as children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
QUESTION: As an Occupational Therapist with a lot of experience in aquatic therapy and teaching swimming and water safety, which clients do you find benefit the most from your skills?
In short, everyone can benefit. My aquatic experience includes teaching children and young adults to swim and improve their strokes. I also have clinical experience working with children with special needs in the pool. My qualifications as an Occupational Therapist enable me to assist people of all ages. Most gym members who benefit from aqua therapy are adults recovering from surgery, injury, or managing chronic pain. Using the therapy pool significantly improves movement and functionality.
QUESTION: What type of baseline assessment do you use? What criteria do you use when creating an exercise program for a client?
As we are not a therapeutic center and do not bill for services, no formal evaluation tool is required. I conduct an intake to assess the client’s current functioning and affected life areas. This information forms an Occupational Profile that provides a holistic view of the individual. Based on their current status and goals, I set personalized objectives. A simple full-body exercise routine serves as a baseline, which I adapt and progress to suit each client’s needs.
QUESTION: What can you tell us about your personal training style?
After assessing a new client, I begin pool sessions with a basic exercise routine tailored to their needs. Most sessions start with walking and stretching, progressing to resistance and weights based on their strength, balance, and tolerance. As clients improve and gain confidence, I increase the difficulty of exercises.
QUESTION: What are the benefits of an aquatic therapy training session?
The therapy pool’s buoyancy and warmth help relax muscles and increase movement. For deconditioned or fragile bodies, water resistance builds strength, preparing clients to exercise and strengthen on dry land.
QUESTION: We know that sometimes injuries are unavoidable, but are there ways people can prevent them? What are the most common injuries you come across?
I often treat workplace or overuse injuries that worsen over time. My clients are recovering from injury or surgery and face challenges with exercises and daily activities. Occupational Therapy addresses these functional limitations by guiding home modifications and activity adaptations to prevent future injury.
QUESTION: How do you track your clients’ progress? How do you keep them engaged and motivated?
I monitor clients’ progress through observation and occasional notes. Weekly, I assess their comfort with each exercise and adjust resistance or weight accordingly. Challenging clients maintains their engagement and motivation during sessions.
QUESTION: What is the benefit to working with an Occupational Therapist in an aquatic environment versus working out on your own?
These structured activities provide clients with an effective workout routine, establishing a foundation for exercising during and after aquatic therapy. Once clients develop the necessary strength-building skills, most discontinue services and continue independently. With consistent practice, they typically need only occasional refresher sessions for maintenance.
If you’re recovering from an injury or trying to manage chronic pain and would like to learn more about working with Liz, please contact us at (860) 799-6880 and ask to speak with Tim Gesualdi, our General Manager, or Nez Smith, our Personal Training and Programs Director. In addition to aquatic personal training, Liz also teaches private swim lessons.
Elizabeth Potts received her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Towson University in Towson, Maryland. She holds licenses in CT, NY, NJ, and PA in Occupational Therapy and is registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. She has 5 years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist and 15 years of experience in aquatics (lifeguarding, Water Safety Instructor, and Aqua Therapy). She works with all age groups, including children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
