Listed: Helping People Find Freedom in Water with Rachael Green

Imagine losing your sight and having to navigate a world where even a short walk can leave you anxious about what might be in your way. Now imagine stepping into a swimming pool or into the sea, where the water supports your body and, for a little while, you can move without that same fear.

It's an experience Rachael Green, founder of Aqua Health, has witnessed through her work with a young man who lost his sight later in life. After building his confidence in the pool, she was able to take him into the sea, guiding him through the water with his hand resting on her shoulder.

"They put their hand on my shoulder, and I'm their eyes for an hour," she explains, describing the trust involved in helping someone experience the water in a way they might never have thought possible.

For Rachael, moments like these are what make her work so rewarding, and a reminder that the benefits of being in water can go far beyond physical exercise.

 

 

They put their hand on my shoulder, and I'm their eyes for an hour,

 

A Lifelong Love of Water

Born in Guernsey, Rachael spent much of her childhood between the island and Brittany, where her father developed holiday homes. Family trips around France and Europe were a regular part of growing up, and swimming was always encouraged. Her parents made sure she and her siblings were confident swimmers, and with a pool at home and swimming club sessions, water became a natural part of everyday life.

But growing up around the sea also taught her to respect it. As a teenager, Rachael found herself stranded on the cliffs and had to be rescued. It's an experience that has stayed with her and inspired her to train as an SLSGB beach lifeguard, developing her water rescue skills and a lasting commitment to water safety.

It's something she has passed on to her two daughters, encouraging them to enjoy the water while understanding the tides, wind conditions and when it's sensible to stay out of the sea. And it's a commitment that continues through her adaptive surfing work, where helping people experience the water safely is always a priority.

That combination of enjoyment, confidence and respect for water has remained central to her life, both personally and professionally.

 

 

I loved seeing people comfortable in an environment where they're able to push themselves.

 

From Swimming Lessons to Aqua Health

Rachael's career in water began almost by chance. While working at Ladies' College, she accompanied the younger girls to their weekly swimming lessons. She enjoyed those Mondays so much that one evening, while at Beau Sejour, she asked about training to become a swimming teacher. That conversation set her on a completely new path. She began teaching swimming before moving into aqua aerobics, aquatic fitness and rehabilitation, developing an interest in how water could help people who struggled with conventional exercise.

"I just loved watching children learning in the water. I loved seeing people comfortable in an environment where they're able to push themselves."

Over the years, she has continued to build her knowledge through specialist training in aquatic therapy, anatomy and rehabilitation, including regular professional development in the UK. Today, through Aqua Health, she works with people of different ages and abilities, from those looking to improve their fitness to clients managing neurological conditions, recovering from surgery or rebuilding their confidence after an injury.

And it's clear from talking to her that she finds as much enjoyment in watching other people discover what they can do in water as she does being in it herself.

 

 

I am so lucky because so many people have put their trust in me. And because of that, they've been able to achieve great things.

 

It's About More Than Movement

Ask Rachael about the most rewarding part of her work and she doesn't talk about qualifications or techniques. She talks about people. There's the person with Parkinson's disease whose posture changes when they're supported by the water, allowing them to stand more upright and move more comfortably. There are clients preparing for hip replacements, building strength and mobility before surgery, and others who have become fearful of falling and gradually rediscover their confidence through exercises in the pool.

And then there are the changes that aren't necessarily visible in a physical assessment. Rachael recalls working with a woman who initially arrived at the pool with very little confidence, covering herself up and feeling uncomfortable in her body. Over time, that began to change.

Today, she comes to the pool independently, has made friends and continues exercising with a confidence that extends well beyond her sessions with Rachael. Some of her clients now meet up with friends to exercise together, using the movements they've learnt and encouraging others to join them.

For Rachael, that's a wonderful outcome. Her goal isn't simply to help someone through an hour in the pool, but to give them the confidence and ability to keep going.

"I am so lucky to be where I am because so many people have put their trust in me. And because of that, they've been able to achieve great things," she says.

That trust is particularly important when working with people whose disabilities or health conditions have made activities that others take for granted much more challenging. Rachael believes that, with the right support and precautions, people should still have opportunities to challenge themselves, enjoy new experiences and take appropriate risks.

It's a philosophy that extends beyond the swimming pool and into another part of her work: adaptive surfing.

 

 

I feel it is giving somebody dignity for them to take risks, as long as we can mitigate risk.

 

Making Waves Beyond Guernsey

Rachael's passion for water has taken her well beyond the island. Through her involvement with Surfability UK, an organisation specialising in adaptive surfing, she helps train instructors to support people with disabilities, injuries and additional needs to experience surfing.

Working alongside the Surfability team, she has helped train more than 180 instructors in under two years, with training taking place across the UK and internationally. It's work she finds especially fulfilling because of the people she meets along the way. These are instructors who want to make surfing more accessible in their own communities, helping others experience something that might otherwise be out of reach.

For Rachael, that can mean supporting someone who has never been in the sea before, or helping a person return to an activity they enjoyed before illness or injury changed their circumstances. Her experience in aquatic therapy also plays an important part in this work. She often begins by getting to know someone in the pool, where she can understand their confidence, movement and individual needs before taking them into the sea.

"I feel it is giving somebody dignity for them to take risks, as long as we can mitigate risk."

It's an approach she also brings to her work in Guernsey, where she is passionate about making water-based activities accessible to people of all abilities.

 

 

When you're on that wave, there's nothing you're thinking about, just being on that wave.

 

Finding Her Own Freedom

With so much of her working life spent in water, you might expect Rachael to prefer dry land when she's off duty. Not a chance. Surfing is one of her greatest pleasures, and after returning to the sport following a break of around 20 years, it's become an important part of her life.

When she was younger, surfing felt like a male-dominated world, and finding people willing to take a beginner out wasn't always easy. These days, she's back among the waves and loves sharing that experience with her daughters.

For Rachael, surfing offers something that's increasingly difficult to find in a busy life: the opportunity to switch off completely.

"When you're on that wave, there's nothing you're thinking about, just being on that wave."

And surfing has taught her plenty about herself, too. Born with hip dysplasia and hypermobility, she credits the sport with helping her develop balance and agility. It's also taught her patience, persistence and the importance of accepting that progress takes time. Some days are challenging, and not every session goes to plan. But that's part of what keeps her coming back.

She now also coaches other women, including those returning to surfing after years away, helping them rebuild their confidence and rediscover the enjoyment of being out on the waves.

 

 

The career choices I've made have given me a life full of fulfilment.

 

A Bigger Vision for Aqua Health

Back in Guernsey, Rachael has plenty of ideas about what she'd like to do next. She's continuing to develop her training and international work, with plans to explore retreats that bring together surfing, aquatic therapy and other water-based activities.

But there's one ambition particularly close to her heart: developing more opportunities for water-based wellness and healing. Having seen what people can achieve when they have access to suitable facilities and professional support, she'd love to make those opportunities more widely available.

For now, she's balancing her work with clients in Guernsey, ongoing professional development and her international commitments, all while raising her two daughters. "The career choices I've made have given me a life full of fulfilment," she reflects. And it's easy to see why. Whether she's helping someone find their feet in a swimming pool, supporting a return to the sea or training instructors around the world, Rachael is doing what she loves.

 

Find Out More...

For many, when land exercise hurts, the water holds you, taking the load off your joints so you can move freely again. If you would like to know more about the services provided by Aqua Health, including one-to-one aquatic therapy, fitness and rehab for recovery, chronic pain, hypermobility and injury, get in touch with Rachael here.