Background/objectives: Previous studies on aquatic exercises have primarily focused on either physical fitness or psychological outcomes. This study examines the effects of a structured 10-week aqua fitness program on physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes in healthy adult women. Additionally, a 4-week training cessation period was incorporated to assess the sustainability of any observed physical fitness benefits. Methods: A total of 32 female participants (mean age 51.28 ± 9.12 years) with prior aqua aerobics experience engaged in supervised aqua fitness sessions, conducted three times per week (~55 min/session) at moderate intensity (RPE = 12, on a 6–20 scale). The physical fitness outcomes assessed included dominant hand grip strength, lower limb muscle endurance, dynamic balance, mobility, and upper and lower limb flexibility. The psychosocial outcomes included subjective well-being and social inclusion. Results: The results demonstrate significant improvements in dynamic balance (ES = 0.85) and lower limb flexibility (ES = 0.73 and 0.65 for the two limbs, respectively), with smaller yet notable gains observed in other physical fitness outcomes (ES = from 0.20 to 0.48). On the contrary, only a marginal improvement was detected in a single domain of subjective well-being (environmental domain, ES = 0.35) and no changes were observed across the seven domains of social inclusion. Importantly, all physical fitness gains were maintained during the 4-week training cessation period, with lower limb flexibility showing additional improvements. Conclusions: These findings underscore the effectiveness of supervised aqua fitness programs in enhancing physical fitness in middle-aged women, while their impact on psychosocial outcomes appears limited in this population.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of external (EXT) versus internal (INT) focus of attention on acquiring and transferring simple and complex motor skills in novice female volleyball players. Methods: Fifty-seven participants were assigned to one of the three groups: The external focus (EXT), the internal focus (INT), and the control group (CON). Over a 6-week intervention, participants practiced a simple skill (volleyball passing) and a complex skill (overhead tennis serve). Pre-tests, post-tests, and transfer tests (conducted two weeks later) assessed movement form and accuracy. Results: The results showed a statistically significant interaction among focus methods, skill complexity, and testing periods for movement form and performance outcome. The EXT group showed higher movement form and performance outcome improvements during the simple skill (passing) compared to the INT and CON groups. For the complex skill (serving), the EXT group outperformed the INT and CON groups regarding movement outcome; however, no differences in movement form were observed between the EXT and INT groups. Post hoc Tukey tests indicated that the EXT group scored higher than the INT and CON groups in the post-test and transfer test for the simple skill, with movement form improving from 1.68 ± 0.48 to 2.32 ± 0.58. In the complex skill, the EXT group’s movement outcome improved from 11.32 ± 6.83 to 44.47 ± 16.57. Conclusions: External focus significantly enhances movement form and outcome in simple tasks and performance outcomes in more complex skills among novice athletes.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students studying tourism management, heritage conservation, urban planning, public policy, and disaster or recovery studies are the primary target audience for this case study. It is particularly suitable for those seeking to gain experience in operationalizing theoretical concepts through interactive exercises. Participants are expected to possess foundational knowledge of tourism systems, destination management, and basic crisis communication strategies. The Antakya case highlights the complex interplay between rapid recovery and authentic preservation. It invites participants to navigate competing priorities through structured stakeholder dialogue and negotiation. The case aims to provide students with a realistic understanding of the tensions that arise in post-disaster recovery, including ethical conflicts, the pressures of rapid economic recovery, and the competing interests of various stakeholders. By engaging with this case, students gain insight into multi-level management structures and the complicated relationship between local, national, and international actors in the planning and implementation of tourism recovery strategies.