Stars To Shine At IDEA World Fitness & Personal Trainer Convention

San Diego – A wide array of celebrated fitness presenters, motivational speakers and renowned actresses will all take part in the IDEA World Fitness & Personal Trainer Convention, being held in Anaheim, California, July 17 - 20, 2003. Some of these well-known figures include:

Billy Blanks, one of the greatest martial artists of all time, will lead two Tae-Bo® master classes. Created by Billy, Tae-Bo combines the self-awareness and control of martial arts, the focus and strength of boxing, and the grace and rhythm.

Dan Clark - the primary contributing author to the New York Times best selling series, Chicken Soup for the Soul, an award winning athlete, and one of the most sought after keynote speakers in America - will serve as the MC at the IDEA Health & Fitness Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening, July 17. During this event, fitness leader, Kathy Smith will receive the IDEA's Lifetime Achievement Award. The IDEA Fitness Inspiration Award will go to wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen. Also being presented are the 2003 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year Award, the 2003 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Award, and the 2003 IDEA Program Director of the Year Award. Propel Fitness Water® is the Presenting Sponsor of the IDEA Health & Fitness Awards.

Mariel Hemingway - actress and long-time Yoga practitioner - will deliver the closing keynote address at the IDEA West Coast Yoga Conference. Inspired by her book Finding My Balance, Mariel's remarks will explore the practice of being present. Through yoga postures, talk, laughter and sharing her own story of finding balance, Mariel will guide convention attendees toward a better degree of self-understanding though the channels of yoga and meditation. Duncan Wong, a presenter at the IDEA West Coast Yoga Conference, was recently featured in an article in People magazine as one of America's leading yoga teachers who works with Madonna and Sting.

Constance Towers - star of stage, screen and television - will host IDEA's Annual Charity Workout for the National AIDS Fund. Since 1997, Ms. Towers has starred as "Helena Cassadine" on ABC's General Hospital and she has performed in many well-known stage and screen productions. Fitness is an integral part of her life, and she trains in both traditional and mind-body disciplines on a daily basis. This year's National AIDS Fund Charity Workout - taking place on Sunday morning, July 20 - is being called, "Zenergy Hour - A Benefit to Raise Funds and Consciousness." The event will feature different mind-body disciplines such as Yoga, T'ai Chi, Pilates, Chi Gung and relaxation.

Gray Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS -a well-known lecturer and consultant to numerous universities and professional sports teams - will open a general session with remarks entitled, "Expertise and Objectivity in Personal Training." Gray is a practicing physical therapist in southwest Virginia who has spent his entire career designing and refining functional evaluation exercise techniques.

The 2003 IDEA World Fitness & Personal Trainer Convention will feature over 300 Educational Sessions from more than 100 of the world's leading health and fitness presenters. Inspire the World to Fitness is the focus of this year's conference and a wide assortment of lectures and workshops will help fitness professionals address the twin health care challenges of obesity and sedentary living.

The 2003 IDEA West Coast Yoga Conference and other pre-convention sessions take place July 15-16, and the IDEA World Fitness & Personal Trainer Convention will be held July 17- July 20, 2003. IDEA's Senior Partners are Kashi®, Nautilus Health & Fitness Group® and STOTT PILATES™.

To receive a conference brochure or to register, call (800) 999-4332, ext. 7, or outside the United States and Canada, dial (858) 535-8979, ext. 7 or visit the IDEA website at: www.IDEAfit.com.

IDEA is the world's leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals with more than 23,000 members in over 80 countries. Since 1982, IDEA has provided health and fitness professionals with pertinent information, educational opportunities, career development programs and industry leadership while helping them enhance the quality of life worldwide through safe, effective fitness and healthy lifestyle programs. For more information on IDEA events, publications, educational products, member services or other activities, visit the IDEA website at: www.IDEAfit.com.

MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA: To receive a brochure and schedule of events for the IDEA World Fitness & Personal Trainer Convention, or to receive a registration form for a complimentary press pass, contact David Gilroy at: (858) 535-8979, ext. 262, or e-mail: gilroyd@IDEAfit.com