Mary Monroe's Articles

How are you going to transform your clients this year? What about 5 years from now, or 10? Fitness has evolved in ways we couldn’t have imagined 30 years ago when IDEA w...

Where are you going to be on July 5–8? Come join us at the world’s biggest celebration of fitness and have a blast on the sunny Pacific coast, taking a fun look ba...

Can the group Pilates experience provide substantial benefits to clients? Nothing speaks louder than results! For this issue, we asked Pilates instructors and their clients to...

There are many inaccurate ideas circulating about Pilates. It’s mostly for women? You have to flexible to take part? We asked instructors to tell us which Pilates myths...

What can you do to bring clients through your doors? We asked studio owners and program directors to tell us their marketing secrets: What works to attract students to Pilates...

Humdrum doesn’t cut it in a crowded market. However, exceed people’s expectations and word spreads. Learn how to target your training for phenomenal results at the...

Weight problems may be all in your head—or at least in your brain, according to an emerging body of brain-imaging work and related research on cravings, overeating and a...

Dispelling Myths With Great Instruction “‘Pilates is mostly for women.’ Because of this myth, we work hard to make sure our men’s class is outstanding....

Over 35 years ago fitness industry visionary Ruth Stricker discovered tai chi, and it changed everything. “Tai chi is my favorite subject,” she laughs. &ld...

Can students fully understand and experience the mind-body nature of Pilates amid the distractions and diversity of a group class setting? We asked instructors to tell us what...

“When I think of ‘wellness within,’ the theme of Inner IDEA this year, the word that comes to me right away is balance—balance between mind, body and t...

In the world at large, real transformation doesn’t happen every day. In the world of Pilates, transformation is all in a day’s work—or play. Ask instructo...

How daring are you? What will it take for you to risk the status quo and stretch beyond your comfort zone to create a new success story for yourself? You’ll have hundred...

How daring are you? What will it take for you to risk the status quo and stretch beyond your comfort zone to create a new success story for yourself? You’ll have hundred...

WWhat is the next goal on your path to success? Learning a new training skill or getting a certification in a new area? Creating a community program or building another market...

If you're looking for great education in an intimate environment, the Inner IDEA® Conference may be just what you're looking for.

As more people of all ages and fitness levels practice Pilates, and instruction becomes more diverse, concerns about safety have also become more prevalent. How safe are Pilat...

How do you succeed in the fitness profession? Whether you’ve just gotten certified, you’re returning to a fitness career or you’re an experienced pro who wan...

High-quality instruction may well be the deciding factor for maintaining excellence and integrity in the Pilates industry. But what defines quality instruction? In our last is...

In earlier issues of IDEA Pilates Today, quality of instruction has been cited as one of the most important factors—perhaps the most important factor—for maintaini...

No matter what words you use to describe the IDEA Personal Trainer Institute, one thing is clear: it’s no ordinary personal trainer conference. With a consistently high ...

The theme of the 2011 IDEA Personal Trainer Institute™ is “Training With a Purpose”—a reference to this year’s highly focused, intensive sessions...

The success of Pilates has sparked an explosion of innovative programs and props, but does all that creativity dilute the essence of Pilates or enhance its appeal and accessib...

How can Pilates teachers be creative and still stay true to their roots? And what are the essential tenets that define “true” Pilates anyway? We asked several prom...

This spring, CNBC reported that Pilates is the nation’s fastest-growing activity, with 8.6 million participants, up more than 450% since 2000, based on the most recent r...

This spring, CNBC reported that Pilates is the nation’s fastest-growing activity, with 8.6 million participants, up more than 450% since 2000, based on the most recent r...

So far, Pilates has had quite a ride in the fitness industry, but it hasn’t been without bumps. As programming gets ever more creative, Pilates advocates have raised questio...

What’s going to be hot in L.A. this summer? More than 350 fitness sessions on the latest topics in fitness, starring over 150 of the top names in the industry, as the 2010 I...

Five years ago, the Inner IDEA Conference changed the landscape of fitness education with a groundbreaking event dedicated to exploring the cutting edge of mind-body-spirit we...

What’s going to be hot in L.A. this summer? More than 350 fitness sessions on the latest topics in fitness, starring over 150 of the top names in the industry, as the 20...

Is there a formula for longevity? Researchers are looking for clues in the “blue zones,” locations around the globe where people live measurably longer than in the...

2010 IDEA World Fitness Convention Fast Facts When: Wednesday, August 4–Sunday, August 8, 2010 Premier Seminars: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 Headquarters Hotel: JW Marr...

In today’s challenging market, with savvy consumers demanding more than ever, do you have what it takes to stand out from the crowd? You can find out how to attract new ...

“We’re in a challenging time—a pivotal time in history—there’s a lot of stress. People are looking to get back in touch with basic values and pri...

“I am back in Wisconsin this am, and it’s 65 degrees outside and windy,” writes Joyce Fisher, an attendee at last year’s IDEA World Fitness Convention....

Sometimes you simply need to take a break—not just to get away from the daily grind, but to reassess where you are in your work and your life, to determine what matters ...

Does your career or business need a boost to meet the daunting challenges in today’s market? Do you personally need a lift—an inspirational attitude shift—to...

In a time of sweeping global change and a shifting economic climate, fitness professionals around the world are gauging the potential impact on their careers and businesses an...

Now more than ever, health and wellness are valuable commodities. Your clients need reserves of energy, endurance, strength and flexibility (both physically and mentally) ...

Now more than ever, health and wellness are valuable commodities. Your clients need reserves of energy, endurance, strength and flexibility (both physically and mentally) to m...

In a time of sweeping global change and a shifting economic climate, fitness professionals around the world are gauging the potential impact on their careers and businesses an...

It’s the classic glass half-empty/half-full dilemma: Do the challenges of today’s business climate spell trouble for personal trainers—or an opportunity to be creative...

It’s the classic glass half-empty/half-full dilemma: Do the challenges of today’s business climate spell trouble for personal trainers—or an opportunity to b...

As the spa industry continues to grow and consumers become increasingly knowledgeable about wellness benefits, spa opportunities for fitness professionals—especially if you ...

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 ...

Is it ever possible to please all the people all the time? Maybe not, but if any business comes close, it is probably the spa industry, which specializes in making...

Call it a destination, a haven, a community or even a resort—but the one thing you won’t be calling Life Time Fitness is just a gym. With attractions ranging from in...

The first annual Inner IDEA gathering, held 2 years ago, was designed to be a new kind of fitness conference, one that was more like a retreat than a convention, that em...

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.That phrase became one of the most famous city tag lines in history. But this year, for IDEA fitness professionals, what happens in...

There’s no better place than the IDEA World Fitness Convention to see how a spark of inspiration can take on a life of its own and become a force that changes lives ar...

“Mind-body science has shown us that it doesn’t make sense to treat the human body like a science fair project anymore. Now we know that our health isn’t just abou...

California choreographer and hip-hop innovator Milo Levell had been a presenter at fitness conferences in Italy, Russia, Japan and China but had never presented in “hi...

On the messy road of life, it is often challenging to determine what your next step will be, what direction you will take, which way you will turn. Perhaps that is one reason ...

“We didn’t get into this because we thought Pilates would be a big business,” remembers Moira Merrithew, executive director of education for STOTT PILATES, who co-founde...

Michael Jacobson, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), may well be the world’s leading advocate for healthier eating ha...

He vows he will still teach fitness classes “at the Pearly Gates,” and it’s not hard to picture Richard Simmons convincing a few angels to do a little cardio. Whether he...

Jacki Sorensen is credited with originating one of the most significant fitness movements in history: aerobic dance—the combination of fitness and dance that swept the w...

Assessment. Coaching. Functional training. Peak performance training. RTS® exercise mechanics. Postrehabilitation. Core conditioning. Muscle activation. Women’s heal...

It’s going to be the most exciting, cutting-edge, thought-provoking convention in the history of the fitness industry—and one party you don’t want to miss, a...

“Where do you begin?” muses Jazzercise president, chief executive officer and founder Judi Sheppard Missett, 62. “In 38 years I’ve been through everyth...

Fitness phenomenon and 1986 IDEA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jack La Lanne is 92 years old. He works out 2 hours a day, 7 days a week. He eats two meals a day, at 11:00 ...

Cell phones, ring tones, voice mail, iPods, CNN, talk radio, traffic, clients, kids, family, friends—our lives can get so noisy that we barely remember what silence feel...

Do you have clients with special health challenges? Or clients who aren’t satisfied with their results, don’t follow your direction or just stop showing up? Is you...

In Chicago you can reserve a “wellness suite” at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, complete with organic cotton bedding, aromatherapy dream sachets and a heal...

In Native* American tradition, the circle is a powerful symbol. The Medicine Wheel, representing the cyclical and interconnected nature of life, is a traditional heali...

She walks into your class and you know she’s been there twice before. You even talked to her about . . . something. What was it again? Was she the one with the s...

You’re relaxed. No, wait, you’re not just relaxed; you’re gloriously, refreshingly relaxed. You feel like you’re floating on a cloud; your muscles are...

Ladder the Up Climbing Yes,you can advance from the front lines to upper management --if you know the right steps. By Mary Monroe It wasn't an overnight success: In 14 years s...

careers BY MARY MONROE f you haven't hired an intern (or been one yourself), you may be in the dark about one of the world's most effective employment networks. Whether your ...