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Billy Blanks Leads a Class at IDEA World
Billy Blanks: A Celebration of Creativity and Character

Billy Blanks was born with an anomaly in his hip joints that left him clumsy and subject to taunts. He found strength—both physically and of character—in karate, and he went on to a successful career as a martial arts champion, bodyguard and movie star. That in itself is a pretty amazing story. But in Blanks’ case, that’s just the preface . . .

Fitness instructor
5 Traits of the Best Fitness Instructor

As a group fitness manager, you may already know who your best fitness instructors are. However, you’re lucky if you see your instructors once a week, especially these days, and there’s probably no way to monitor every action. If you try to boil the contribution down to numbers, you might create a team focused less on winning and more on trying to impress you. It’s time to change the score card and think more broadly about what you value in employees.

Debt Know Your Numbers
Debt: Know Your Numbers

Debt is a common by-product of fitness entrepreneurship, but it doesn’t have to be a jail sentence. What if you walked into your facility tomorrow and everything was paid off?…

Fitness class
Creating a Fitness Class Family

As group exercise instructors, we can get wrapped up in creating
choreography, choosing music, cuing effectively and teaching proper
technique. While all these aspects are important, we sometimes lose
sight of the overall picture and miss the opportunity to connect with
participants.

Fitness classes for the masses
Fitness Classes for Everyone

Fitness classes abound and it has never been easier for movement-hungry people to find a workout experience that appeals to them.

Checklist for instructors
Hiring Checklist: Find the Best Talent

There’s a checklist for every task, it seems, even if it’s purely mental. However, when it comes to hiring the best group fitness talent, it’s important to formalize a checklist…

Group Fitness Instructor Tips
Group Fitness Instructor Tips

Group fitness instructors: If fitness is your career and not just a hobby, you should treat the hiring process the same way you would if you were applying for a full-time job

gyms open, people exercising
With Gyms Open, Are Clients Ready?

With many gyms open again—some after long closures—IDEA put three questions to five fitness pros from around the country: Are you now operating at full capacity? How are clients adapting as…

Diverse group workout
How To Create a Workout Community

As we return to the group exercise studio, it’s good to remember how a workout community not only brings us together, but helps us thrive.

Person who needs better posture
Posture Correction for Static Damage

The word posture tends to evoke the image of a schoolgirl standing perfectly erect with a book on her head. More accurately, static posture refers to the way in which a person holds his or her body or assumes certain positions, such as sitting, standing or sleeping. The cumulative effect of the time spent in certain positions can lead to prolonged static-posture damage to both the musculoskeletal and myofascial systems of the body.

Diverse group in fitness class
Fitness Class as Experience

Is your fitness class just a class, or is it an experience? People are ready to move and are seeking experiences that engage them on an emotional level.