Education Sessions

Demystify the dual dynamics of 'Working In' and 'Working Out'. While traditional workouts can deplete our energy, integrating them with mindful movements can replenish it. This session offers a deep dive into the art of balancing energetic workouts with serene, energy-enhancing ‘work-in’ practices, showing attendees how to effortlessly blend these two wellness concepts for their clients.Participants will also learn not just the 'how', but the 'when'– understanding the optimal times to physically challenge themselves versus moments to inwardly recharge. Embark on a transformative journey towards a balanced lifestyle, harnessing the dual power of physical exercise and mindful rejuvenation.

A unique fusion of African inspired functional, primal and mobility movements set to infectious Afrobeats. Discover 11 foundational movements that can be intensified or modified in the spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire. MSINGI™ is elemental total wellness that brings movers of any age and fitness level together. Join in!

Integrated strength is a new approach to resistance training. Utilizing combination movement patterns in a targeted, rhythmic progression, its superpower is the dynamic integration of upper and lower body movements set to fun music. The result? A sweat-drenched, functionally efficient workout that will challenge your body in new ways, improve lean muscle mass, and rev your metabolism.

For 25 years, Exos has been in the trenches with the world’s most elite athletes, getting each of them ready for their moment. Our systems-based approach and cutting-edge methodology are rooted in a deep responsibility to be the resource they need to optimize their game day performance on the court or the field of play. Join us for a total-body training session highlighting the Exos methodological approaches to mobility, stability, and overall strength work. 

Obesity medicine has been transformed with the introduction and availability of new anti-obesity medications (e.g. Ozempic, Wagovy, Mounjaro) that are highly effective at reducing body weight, adiposity, and related chronic conditions. But what does this mean for the exercise professional and the role of physical activity for weight management? This L brings together exercise physiology and weight management experts and a practicing board certified obesity medicine physician to address how physical activity and lifestyle approaches need to adapt to these emerging and popular treatments for obesity.

The pelvic floor is always included in inner unit core training but what does it actually do? In this highly interactive session, you will learn the anatomy and functionality of the pelvic floor and how to train it to get the most out of your core work. Help your clients with dysfunctional pelvic floors and enhance their overall pelvic floor function. Explore core training in unique was to help your clients stimulate these important muscles at the base of the core cylinder.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport for all ages. However, injuries are part of the craze. You will experience how to train your clients to be better athletes and decrease injuries due to poor mechanics. Rotational sports need specific training techniques from preparing the body for the activity to restoration after the game. Leave with strategies and techniques that will improve mobility, flexibility and stability necessary for this sport. A progressive functionally sound approach to training.

Designing and developing Small Group Training programs can be time-consuming. In a hands-on environment, through interactive practical application, learn a simple system, structured to save time and produce results for clients. Discover creative strategies to expand your toolbox and walk away with unlimited ideas for your Small Group Training programs

Much of the research showing the efficacy of power training for the active aging population focuses on one-on-one training with pneumatic strength machines. Learn how to apply the science to a group exercise setting with little to no equipment by following the course of a newly implemented power-training group exercise class- “emPOWERed”- from inception and design, pretesting, class exercises, and 3- and 6-month post-testing for roughly 20 participants (average age 83). Watch videos of research participants in class, review the data, and try out power exercises with adaptations to challenge all ability levels- from entirely chair-based to high-level plyometric versions.

This session will introduce Exercise is Medicine® (EIM), a global health initiative managed by ACSM. EIM aims to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere and of all abilities.This session will specifically focus on the Above + Beyond Cancer program and how it relates to the mission of EIM. This innovative, evidence-based program is free to the public, with the mission to elevate the lives of those touched by cancer, to create a healthier world. This presentation will describe the evidence-based program that promotes recovery and establishes healthy practices to increase health span, not just lifespan, for cancer survivors.

Social media are emerging technologies that health and fitness professionals cannot escape – but is it possible we can use them to positively promote physical activity? Results from two qualitative studies suggest we can! 48 adults in the U.S. shared experiences using physical activity-related social media on Facebook and Instagram. This session presents these findings and offers suggestions for how health and fitness professionals apply what we have learned to create their own inclusive, engaging, and scientifically-backed social media content.

Is Human Nature working against us? Attend this L to discuss Anthropological, Psychological, and Sociological foundations of Human Health and Fitness. Leave with practical tools to help your clients harness their nature and support systems for better wellness outcomes.

The recovery industry is on fire, and fitness professionals must be in the know on how and why this sector is growing so quickly. Join our expert panel for a lively deep dive into the growing recovery industry, including reasons it has become such a new focus of businesses, strategic steps the industry is moving in, and the way fitness professionals and recovery brands should work together. Attendees will leave the interactive session with a clearer understanding of the growing recovery landscape, enabling them to stay ahead of the fast-moving curve. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Rachelle Reed and will include both experts from industry companies and fitness professionals.
 

Sponsored by NOW Sports

Attendees will receive a voucher that can be redeemable at the hotel outlets.

As a trainer, you’re giving your clients the foundation to improve their fitness and performance, but their job isn’t finished at the gym. How they fuel throughout the day, and especially before, during and after a workout, is a crucial component to their success. NOW® Sports recently commissioned a survey to identify the common sports nutrition gaps that could be slowing their gains. During this session, Performance Dietitian DJ Blatner, RDN, CSSD, will unlock the findings and empower you to recommend trusted supplements to help take their fitness to the next level when it comes to proper hydration, recovery, and improved performance.

Sponsored by Symmetry for Health

Attendees will receive a food voucher that can be redeemable at the hotel outlets.

Ever wish you had a quantifiable system for measuring the success of corrective exercise? Almost all workouts require good posture and alignment to maximize results while minimizing injury. However, it is difficult to assess our clients and ensure they are moving properly. Join our resident expert on posture, alignment, and evaluation, Patrick Mummy, as he discusses the best strategies for alignment in personal training and a small group environment. Learn to assess and coach clients through their journey to be pain-free and performance-ready.

Created by Podiatrist & Human Movement Specialist, Dr Emily Splichal, BARE® is the only workout that combines the benefits of barefoot, balance, bodyweight and body tension training for one intense workout! Bring the science of foot to core sequencing, breath & pelvic floor connections and fascial tensioning to a group setting. Perfect addition to a Pilates program, Senior Fitness, Mind Body line-up or any athletic performance program.

Hipster Yoga is 60 minutes of yoga poses and athletic stretches designed to release the hips and offer restorative flexibility for athletes, weekend warriors and anyone who battles tight hips. This practice will focus on building your clients up through a self-care approach so that they can take on activities in life with more flexibility in their hips. This practice is perfect for increasing athletic performance and simply starting or ending your day with happy hips!

Working with special populations, in particular individuals affected by Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and non-ambulatory individuals who are limited to a wheelchair, requires a unique set of skills. A trainer has to be willing to be flexible, but also be able to hold the line; be able to extend empathy, but also know when to push through; understand how to balance the needs of the client, but also meet the requests of the parent; and, at times, provide hands-on support through the movements. Different diagnoses, triggers, and anxieties, along with varied abilities, warrant an individualized approach to health and fitness for these clients. If you have an open heart, a passion for helping people, and also know how to have fun, you will quickly find working with special populations to be some of the most challenging and most rewarding training of your career. And it will change your life as much – or more – as it changes your clients’ lives.

There is growing interest in a plant-based diet but the research surrounding the benefits are still under debate—especially when it comes to post exercise recovery. For years, the science has suggested that when consumed after exercise, animal proteins may be superior to plant-based proteins at supporting muscle protein synthesis. But the science is evolving, and clients are demanding more plant-based options in the marketplace for a variety of reasons. This session will include a workout followed by time to recover with a new plant-based recovery drink while presenter discusses the use of plant and animal proteins for exercise recovery.

Gatorade Workout & Session

Have you ever worked with individuals who are not motivated to regularly engage in exercise or progress through an exercise prescription? This workshop will focus on evidence-based strategies that an exercise professional can use to promote client motivation to push individuals to a physiological edge for progression while balancing their behavioral responses. This hands-on session will outline behavior change targets, use movement-based case studies to practice evaluating affect and overload, and develop motivational interviewing skills that can be used to assist clients in identifying their personal exercise goals, barriers, and plans for reaching their goals.

For fitness experts to effectively guide clients towards positive health behavior changes, a deep understanding of how body image influences decisions and client interactions is essential. Join us in this impactful session, where  Ashantis Jones, MEd illuminates the prevalent body image culture within the fitness domain.

This session explores using behavior change strategies to unlock fitness pros' potential. Attendees learn techniques to identify motivations, values and optimal work environments. Presenters share psychological research on self-awareness and habit formation. Through interactive exercises, participants gain personality insights and create personalized blueprints for setting goals, building positive habits and optimizing workplace conditions using behavioral science tools. Before guiding clients, fitness pros must first understand themselves. Fulfilled coaches ignite fulfillment in others.

This session explores the physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits of using pressure point techniques. Learn the most effective pressure points in the body to improve concentration and memory, increase blood flow and circulation, while also decreasing excess stress and anxiety. Unlock the tremendous benefits of infusing pressure point techniques into your fitness programming to better serve your clients' social and emotional health and wellbeing.

Discover how the fitness industry and exercise professionals are working to collaborate with governments and the public health community. Gain insights into their perspectives, the future of the industry, and the roadmap to integrate this health fitness industry into the healthcare ecosystem. In this engaging panel, we will explore effective strategies for engaging healthcare and government entities and how the health fitness industry can bridge the gap to become a vital community resource. Become familiar with ongoing advocacy and outreach efforts that are aimed at propelling physical activity's impact on wellness.

In the dynamic realm of fitness, a well-structured warm-up can set the stage for an optimized workout. Dive into a transformative exploration of unique upper and lower body warm-up and mobility patterns. Designed exclusively for trainers and coaches, this session is tailored to shed light on the often undervalued significance of specialized warm-up routines, ensuring athletes and clients are primed for peak performance while minimizing the risk of injuries.

Have you ever had an individual with an intellectual disability, such as down syndrome, come to you and want to begin an exercise program but you are unsure of where to start? This presentation will offer the opportunity to learn, practice, and identify how to prescribe, promote and assess physical activity for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Evidence-based practices for safe and effective adaptation of exercise programs and fitness assessments will be reviewed. Session participants will practice developing an adapted exercise plan and conducting modified fitness assessments, utilizing real-world case studies that can be used in their own business when working with clients with intellectual disabilities.

"But Coach… I AM doing that!!” Training Proprioception in real time: Smart tech devices that 'learn' a movement and 'teach' it back to the wearer with haptic feedback during movement. As movement educators, our jobs are to let our clients experience an optimal movement. Replicate it, Recognize and Retrieve it. This workshop, by Dr. Jo Shattuck, former world-ranked professional athlete and neuroscientist, offers hands-on break-out sessions where you will FEEL the vibratory feedback provided by Kinesthetic Awareness Training devices in applications in sport skills, functional movements and rehabilitative exercises. And afterward during the Q & A, you can try KAT with your own use-cases in your area of expertise.

Choosing the correct exercise for your client is essential: Understanding the process of exercise selection is an art! In this workshop we will examine the biomechanics and kinesiology of popular exercises and provide more effective alternatives. In an interactive environment, through practical application, learn how to best match the exercise with your client. Enhance your client's overall fitness and wellbeing by selecting effective movement strategies, ideal for their goals, needs and preferences.

Hip hinging is a common movement used for a variety of exercises, but is often done incorrectly by novice exercisers. Improper technique often leads to low back pain or the use of incorrect muscle groups. In this session, you will learn drills, techniques, and cues to teach novice exercisers how to perform this movement correctly and safely. The primary goal of this session is to provide a good foundation for all the exercises involving a hip hinge, not to help clients achieve a record setting deadlift.

How much time do you spend outdoors? Do you have sufficient Vitamin N? The Nature Principle holds that a reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human health, well-being, spirit, and survival (Louv, 2012). In this inspiring talk, Dr. Yoke will discuss the evolution of civilizations, from the near-constant outdoor activity of our ancient ancestors to the current epidemic of sedentariness, screen usage, and indoor urban life of our modern world.

Sell - The 4 letter word fitness professionals hate but need to learn to love: You can have a solid understanding of exercise physiology and programming but if you can't convince a potential client to invest in your services, it'll be impossible to succeed. In this session, you'll learn the words that enhance the selling process, how to overcome typical objections and how to develop a first phone call or consultation script. You'll review the best ways to perform an initial session, how to effectively encourage client referrals and which phrases to use when it's time to ""close the sale"". Most personal trainers are uncomfortable with the selling aspect of personal training, but after this session you'll walk away with the skills to generate more revenue, and survive and thrive in the fitness industry.

Elevate your fitness professional toolkit with evidence-based insights into sports nutrition for endurance exercise. Many of your clients are branching into this world, tackling long-distance road races, cycling events, or triathlons. With confusing media headlines, sensationalist influencers, and ever-evolving science, it can be tough for a fit pro to sort fact from fiction when it comes to sports nutrition. This session will help you understand how endurance athletes should fuel daily, as well as before, during, and after training sessions. We'll also dive into common trends in the sports nutrition world and answer the question - healthy or hype?

Over the past several decades an explosion in research has revealed new insights into optimal exercise strategies for functional longevity.  While these studies have confirmed that virtually any type of exercise is beneficial as people age, it has also revealed that, due to the significant heterogeneity of the older population, not all exercise strategies are equally beneficial for all individuals.  Simultaneously, the 65+ population has increased rapidly and has changed significantly due to the Boomer population, who continue to redefine what being "old" means.  They have become one of the most dominant forces in the fitness industry as they seek out exercise as a means to live a high quality of life for as long as possible.  The sustained growth of this market for the next 70+ years will continue to drive numerous profound changes that will re-shape the health, fitness and rehabilitative landscapes.  There is probably no more important time than now to bridge the gap between science and practice so that health, fitness and wellness professionals have evidence-based tools at their disposal to use with the ever-increasing number of older clients who want to remain functional as long as possible.  In this insightful and provocative session, we will take a look back at the evolution of the research and practice of older adult fitness and project ahead to understand how we can prepare for what is coming in the near future.

Poor posture is the #1 nontraditional comorbidity that leads to rapid health decline. Don’t worry, there is a solution. This workshop is designed to help you understand that poor posture is a significant health concern, and there is a real way to fix it before it’s too late. Your understanding of this condition will equip you to serve your clients and help them recognize the importance of learning and living in their ideal posture. This will help them improve functionally in ALL aspects of his/her life.

Explore the transformative potential of Pilates with Pilates Method Alliance Co-Chairs, Stella Hull-Lampkin and David McMahan. This movement workshop designed for personal trainers delves into optimizing alignment, breath, and centering. Uncover how integrating these seemly simple Pilates principles can not only enhance physical results but also the overall fitness journey of your clients. Acquire practical insights, enhance your teaching methods, and discover tools to elevate your fitness training approach.

This lecture explores the transformative role of new strength technologies and protocols in enhancing the quality of life for the aging adult population. As individuals age, maintaining muscle mass, strength, and power becomes crucial for preserving independence and mitigating the risk of falls and injuries. This session delves into the latest advancements in strength training equipment and evidence-based exercise protocols designed specifically for older adults. Attendees will learn about the physiological benefits of tailored strength training, practical applications of emerging technologies, and strategies for integrating these innovations into routine care to promote healthy aging and improve functional outcomes.

Unlock the potential of female physiology with a much-needed update to your training approach. This insightful session, perfect for sports performance coaches, personal trainers, physical therapists, and exercise enthusiasts, focuses on the under-researched aspects of the menstrual cycle. By understanding these nuances, you can help your clients achieve their goals and thrive in their overall well-being. We'll explore how the menstrual cycle impacts training, nutrition, and health, offering practical tips for tailoring fitness programs to each phase. This approach ensures effective, personalized support for your clients, whether they're elite athletes or fitness enthusiasts, fostering a holistic path to wellness and peak performance.

Enjoy an engaging presentation with ACSM Certified Pro of the Year 2023 Louise Valentine, as she shares insights and inspiration from her incredible career journey. Learn how she overcame tremendous obstacles to secure her dream job with the NFL prior to undergraduate graduation, publish research, win accolades across the wellness industry, publish a best-selling book and ultimately, create a thriving holistic business for perimenopausal active women and runners that’s changing health and fitness outcomes for women throughout the world. It’s time to reimagine what’s possible with your fitness certifications and learn simple steps to create a career and life you absolutely love!