IDEA Member Spotlight: April 2019

Sarah Turkstra, MSc

Member Since 2017 • Guelph, Ontario

So many certifications! Trained in cycling to yoga (and a lot in between), Sarah Turkstra sees herself—not surprisingly—as a lifelong learner. But it’s how she’s used the lessons she’s learned that truly sets Sarah apart. “I struggled with an eating disorder from age 14 to 22, and weight lifting and exercise helped me overcome my fears around food and body image,” she says. “Because of that, my mantra with [my clients] is to focus on what your body is capable of, not what it looks like. No scales, no negative self-talk; only goals and positive body love.” Whether training a client or teaching a certification course, she loves helping others “achieve goals and happiness. I love that I can be the best part of someone’s day.”

Pauline Brown, MBA

Member Since 2005 • Severance, Colorado

On the way home from an IDEA^® World Convention, some fit pros plan their next class. Pauline Brown planned life-saving surgery. Told not to eat or drink anything on her Sunday night flight home from Las Vegas in 2017, she had a double mastectomy the next day. “I know my fitness level and health level had a huge part in my quick recovery,” she says, and she now inspires others battling breast cancer. It’s an amazing story, but over the 40 years she’s been teaching, it’s just one of many. Deeply involved in her community and profoundly committed to education and proper technique, Pauline advises others to “stay true to yourself and your passion to inspire health and happiness. Never forget why we are in the industry. Our clients’/students’ health and well-being should always come first.”

Tracie Smith-Beyak

Member Since 2015 • Kingston, Ontario

“What are you doing and where are you going?” Those are the vital questions that Tracie Smith-Beyak recommends to all fit pros. It’s about finding a niche you’re passionate about, something she has excelled at throughout her 32-year career. Tracie parlayed her active youth into an international fitness expedition, training and teaching both clients and other fit pros, in person and through television and radio. “I feel exceptionally lucky to have had the opportunity to work overseas in critical areas of research and growth,” she says. Still, working directly with clients is closest to her heart, and she specializes in pre- and postnatal, youth, and movement mechanics. “The close relationship, journey and ultimate success of my clients is both a privilege and priceless experience,” she says.

We’d Like To Put The Spotlight On You!

If you would like to be featured in this section or know an IDEA member who stands out in the fitness crowd, email a brief description of your (or your colleague’s) fitness activities and achievements and a high-resolution digital photograph (at least 300 dpi, in focus, well-lit and at least 3” ├ù 3” in its original digital format) to content@ideafit.com. Please include your IDEA member number, if possible. You (or the colleague) must be an IDEA member to be considered for this section.

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