Education From a New Angle

Making News: Can you learn anything new from attending the 2008 IDEA fitness Fusion Conference™?

It takes a certain amount of self-awareness to realize you are resting on your laurels. If you’ve been teaching the same combinations in slightly different ways for the past 5 years or your personal training sessions lack functional luster, it may be time to go back to “class.” Perhaps all you need is a brain boost, a revitalized rendition of old favorites. Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing reminds us that education is an exploration, an evolving experience: “You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.”

The 2008 IDEA Fitness Fusion Conference, held in Rosemont, Illinois, April 3–6, offers a perfect mosaic of in-depth study, skill development, fun and motivation to help you not only Inspire the World to Fitness^® but also inspire yourself and your co-workers. If you think you can’t learn anything new at the “premier fitness education event in the Midwest,” think again. Listen in as IDEA Fitness Fusion presenters share the scoop from the inside track.

Explore

What career opportunities exist for fitness professionals? Just when you thought you’d considered everything, a new product, format or study comes out and challenges the status quo. “With an industry that is evolving and ever-changing, it can be challenging to find a niche that fits your career goals and your personal needs,” says Krista Popowych, who will be presenting “Creating Longevity in Fitness” (session 140). “Two benefits of working in the fitness industry [are] that there are always opportunities to try something different, and because of the growing health and fitness needs of our society, you are almost guaranteed a job. With that in mind, you have the ability to sculpt out a fitness career that keeps you happy, motivated and inspired.”

Popowych says attendees in her session will explore and reflect on their career goals and walk away with an overview of multiple paths. “Anything is possible,” she says. “Create and live your fitness dream.”

Evolve

A lot has changed in the personal fitness training arena in the past 5 years alone. It’s important to stay current with research and techniques, as clients’ needs are constantly shifting. Charlie Hoolihan is presenting “JAMS: Joint Alignment and Muscle Sequencing” (session 155), just one workshop that fuses concept with practical application. “JAMS unites movement and strength training into circuits that can be adapted for clients of all levels,” says Hoolihan. “Isometric, static and alignment stretches, releases and exercises improve range of motion so strength gains can be made safely. This session will expose [attendees] to resources that will allow their training techniques to evolve along with the fitness industry as research continues to reveal the mystery of movement.”

Another workshop, “Fitness Anywhere: TRX^® Suspension Training Techniques for Functional Strength and Core Conditioning” (session 120), presented by Fraser Quelch, will present a bevy of new training options. “Using nothing but their own body weight, attendees will learn how to deliver fast-paced, effective workouts for their clients using the TRX,” says Quelch. “The movements map directly to functional principles that enhance the trainer’s ability to program relevant workouts that will increase client performance and function.”

Experience

IDEA Fitness Fusion also caters to the fun-loving kid inside the fitness professional. An additional benefit of attending this conference is that you get to meet other “kids” and share ideas. Veteran IDEA presenters Rob Glick and Mindy Mylrea will combine fun and function in “No More Boring Circuits” (session 153). Glick says attendees will walk away with at least 10 new ideas for their own circuits.

“Management depends on the group fitness department to deliver a great experience for members, and this is one way to do it,” he says. “Circuits are hot, and members love them. You can easily integrate cardiovascular conditioning with strength while having fun and delivering a safe, effective workout. We’ll share how to add spice to traditional ideas and also think outside the box. This is a wonderful way to entice members who might be intimidated by group exercise to try a class. Once you have them, you can show them just how much fun it can be.”