IDEA Health & Fitness Association Announces 2025 IDEA® World Award Finalists and Jack and Elaine LaLanne Award Honoree
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 IDEA® Industry Awards, as well as this year’s recipient of the IDEA® Jack LaLanne Award. IDEA CEO and owner Amy Boone Thompson will acknowledge the finalists and winners during the Golden Gala of Distinction Celebration on Thursday, July 17, 2025, during 2025 IDEA® World in Sacramento, CA.
These prestigious awards represent the highest levels of professional achievement in fitness and wellness, celebrating individuals who are setting new standards in leadership, instruction, coaching, and community impact.
🥇 IDEA® Jack & Elaine LaLanne Award: Denise Austin
IDEA is honored to present Denise Austin with the 2025 IDEA® Jack & Elaine LaLanne Award, which recognizes individuals whose lifelong commitment to health and fitness has profoundly impacted the world.
Denise Austin, Hermosa Beach CA, has helped transform lives as one of the world’s most successful and recognizable health professionals for 40 years. Known for her legendary content that brought fitness into the home through VHS, DVD and digital formats, which to date have sold over 25 million copies, Denise has also published 12 best-selling books and hosted her #1 exercise TV Show for 24 years every weekday morning.
Denise’s magic touch and unparalleled impact stems from her passion for helping people live healthier lives and showing them how easily that can be accomplished without feeling overwhelmed or that they must make tremendous sacrifices. Her expertise and larger-than-life personality has inspired millions of women across several generations to make small life changes that result in big impacts that keep them feeling young, fit, and fabulous every day. Denise continues to evolve her approach to connecting with women, now via digital formats with her membership program at DeniseAustin.com. In addition, her Denise Austin’s Fit Over 50 quarterly magazine, is100-pages filled with advice, and tips covering fitness, nutrition, mindset, family, fashion and more! It’s the Top Selling Special Interest Print Magazine Focused on Women’s Fitness Over 50 since its first issue was released in 2020 and is sold at over 40,000 retail locations 12 months a year.
She is also a sought-after speaker and commentator for national media. There, she is often seen with her daughter, Katie Austin, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps as a fitness personality and is transforming lives among Millennials and Generation Z.
Follow Denise:
📲 @deniseaustin on Instagram
📘 Facebook
🎥 TikTok: @thedeniseaustin
🌐 Website
🏆 2025 IDEA® Fitness Instructor of the Year Finalists
This award honors a certified group fitness instructor who demonstrates superior instructional and leadership skills, actively engaging with the community and inspiring others to lead healthier lives.
Finalists:
- Yoav Avidar, Tel Aviv, Israel – Yoav Avidar, MPE, is the recipient of the Israeli “Instructor of the Year 2001” award, 2012 ECA award for best international presenter and 2016 + 2024 IDEA World group Fitness Instructor of the year award finalist. A Nike Elite Trainer and co-owner of “Hagymnasia”, Israel’s leading fitness and dance certification institution. Yoav is well known for his ability to provide cutting edge presentations in GX choreography classes, Pilates, functional training, Stability Ball, stretching and mobility, Core conditioning and more.
- Ellen de Werd, Eugene, OR – Ellen de Werd is a celebrated fitness industry leader with over 25 years of experience in group fitness. A 2024 and 2025 IDEA Group Fitness Instructor of the Year nominee, she is the creator of the WARRIOR formats—dynamic, license-free programs now taught in 14 countries. Ellen also hosts the Confessions of a GroupX Instructor podcast, is a Legacy Lululemon Ambassador, and teaches in Eugene, Oregon. Outside the studio, she enjoys watercolor painting, classical music, and time with her beloved whippet.
- Melissa Layne, Dawsonville, GA – Melissa Layne, MEd, is a faculty member in the Kinesiology Departments at the University of North Georgia, teaching students how to teach group fitness and other exercise science classes. She began her career over 35 years ago with a BS in P.E. and a Masters in Education. She has taught elementary PE, coordinated programs for multiple fitness chains and managed an exercise program for a team of orthopedic surgeons.
🏆 2025 IDEA® Personal Trainer of the Year Finalists
This award recognizes a certified personal trainer who demonstrates exceptional client success, continuous education, and industry leadership.
Finalists:
- Stephen Holt, Timonium, MD – Stephen Holt, owner of 29 Again Custom Fitness, has been transforming lives through personal training since 1997.
- Greg Johnson, Sacramento, CA – Greg Johnson is the Owner and Head Trainer at both Varimax Fitness Personal Training Studio and FitGolf Performance Center, both located in Sacramento, California. He has over 20 years of experience in Personal Training, and 10 years as a small business owner. Greg also has a passion to educate others and continue to build and grow the fitness industry as an international presenter and contributor to the field of fitness.
- Brian Richey, Bethesda, MD – Brian Richey is an author, personal trainer, educator, and industry leader in the fields of medical and corrective exercise and is a Faculty Educator for Balanced Body and the Lead Educator for the Anatomy in Three Dimensions program. Brian is the author of Back Exercise; Stabilize, Mobilize and Reduce Pain and can be seen around the world bringing medical/corrective exercise and integrated movement to the masses through lectures and workshops, both in person and online. He is based in Washington, D.C., where he proudly owns and operates Fit 4 Life DC.
- Rocky Snyder, Santa Cruz, CA – Rocky Snyder is a leading expert in biomechanics, motor neurology, and human movement with over 30 years of experience as CEO and Performance Consultant at RockySnyder. He specializes in optimizing performance through movement quality, postural alignment, and functional balance, making complex biomechanics accessible to professionals worldwide.
🏆 2025 IDEA® Fitness Leader of the Year Finalists
This award honors a visionary leader who is shaping the direction of the fitness industry through education, innovation, and community influence.
Finalists:
- Desiree Bartlett, Oahu, HI – Dr. Desi Bartlett is a globally recognized women’s health expert, yoga teacher, and product innovator with 30 years of experience in fitness and wellness. She recently completed her doctoral degree in kinesiology and leads international women’s health retreats, stars in programs on Beachbody, iFit, DailyOM, and BetterME, and authored two celebrated books: Your Strong, Sexy Pregnancy and Total Body Beautiful.
- Jessica Maurer, Winter Garden, FL – Jessica H. Maurer is a recognized fitness business consultant and strategist who focuses on taking businesses from overwhelmed to organized. Her international presentations, workshops, certifications, and consultations underscore her commitment to helping fitness professionals and businesses realize their full potential.
- Erin Nitschke, Cheyenne, WY – Dr. Erin Nitschke, NFPT-CPT, NSCA-CPT, ACE Health Coach, and DSWI Master Health Coach, is a professor of health and human performance, national presenter, and industry writer. She specializes in holistic, evidence-based wellness coaching and empowers individuals to achieve lasting improvements in nutrition, fitness, and overall well-being.
Winners will be announced live during the Golden Gala of Distinction, one of the most inspirational events of 2025 IDEA® World. Admission is included with full conference registration and celebrates the passion, progress, and people leading the future of fitness.
Don’t miss the red carpet energy, community pride, and powerful moments of recognition.
Register before June 22 and save $100 of your full registration.
