by Todd Durkin, MA
Do you ever wake up wondering, “Do I matter? Am I making a difference? Is all this toil and sweat getting me anywhere? Moreover, does anyone really care?”
If you’re one of the 100 million people worldwide who belong to Facebook.com, you might consider it a guilty diversion. Perhaps you’ve logged on to the wildly popular social networking site just to update your status (e.g., “Amanda Vogel is writing an IDEA article”). Or maybe you find yourself uploading heartwarming photos of your kids or scenes from a recent vacation. Perhaps you’re a casual visitor, checking in every now and then to respond to messages or view the “news feed” of what your Facebook friends are up to.
by Rosalind Gray Davis
Proper cuing is the essence of teaching Pilates. The learned skill of communicating effectively to a client on all levels is a critical ingredient of top-notch cuing. Moira Merrithew, co-founder of STOTT PILATES® and its executive director of education, says that successful cuing has the effect of “getting [clients] to move efficiently through an exercise, so they get the most out of it. That could mean performing a movement with a specific intention quality or with the correct muscular engagement and muscle-firing patterns.
by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
Fitness and wellness professionals should promote the benefits of mindful physical activity to preserve youthfulness. Increased interest in health, longevity and integrative approaches to wellness are stimulating “anti-aging” business. Supported by aging Baby Boomers and the anti-aging medical movement, the industry is presently valued at $96.89 billion.
In these increasingly uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to approach your personal and professional finances with an eye toward appreciation. The real measure of character is what you do with what you already have.
by Jim Gavin, PhD, Madeleine McBrearty, PhD (candidate)
The new field of personal or life coaching represents a rich avenue for career development for fitness and wellness professionals. At national and international industry conferences, coaching sessions are on the rise, and significant numbers of instructors and trainers are expanding their careers by adding coaching services.
What Is Coaching?
by Mary Monroe
As the spa industry continues to grow and consumers become increasingly knowledgeable about wellness benefits, spa opportunities for fitness professionals—especially if you love people and have a passion for wellness—are greater than ever.
by Ryan Halvorson
Sharing your hard-earned knowledge with peers can be rewarding and lucrative. But stepping into the spotlight can also pose significant challenges, especially if your public speaking experience is limited. If you’re
interested in becoming a fitness presenter, follow these tips
offered by IDEA’s director of event
programming, Aprile Peishel, MA:
First and foremost, be very knowledgeable in the topic area. Being skilled in the application of the material is also a major plus.
by Mary Monroe
Fitness professionals should be at the forefront of the campaign for a healthy planet, say group exercise pioneers Phillip Mills and Jackie Mills, MD, who are on a mission to increase awareness about the link between fitness and eco-health. Authors of the book Fighting Globesity: A Practical Guide to Personal Health and Sustainability (Random House 2007), the Millses have decided to combine their fervor for ecological health with their many years of innovation in the fitness industry.
