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Starting a fitness program can be daunting, especially when your only exercise is the occasional walk or yoga class. But when Colleen Donofrio, then 57, heard about personal trainer Nicole Simonin’s successful program, Shape It Up, her motivation to improve her health—and her yoga poses—outweighed her fears.
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Not many fit pros quote a witch for inspiration, but Sue Singer knows that Glinda (the Good Witch of the South) had it right when she told her “client” (Dorothy Gale, of course), “You’ve always had the power, my dear; you just had to learn it for yourself.”
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You’ve done your homework. You’ve earned multiple specializations from esteemed certification organizations. You’ve worked with lots of clients over the years. So what else do you need if you’re going to benefit those who seek your help?
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If you ever wander the halls of the IDEA office, you may have the good fortune to be greeted warmly with a bright smile from Calvin La, our affable senior inspired service specialist. Always one to approach his work and interactions with kindness and integrity, Calvin has a knack for making you feel at ease.
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Andrew Sung had tried multiple training programs, but nothing seemed to help him reach his fitness goals. When he found personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder Aaron Seaton, that all changed.
“Andrew came to me with a defeated outlook,” says Seaton, a multicertified NASM trainer. Still, “he was highly motivated; just unsure how to put the pieces together.”
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Michael Taylor Member Since 2010 :: Los Angeles “I am a Jedi,” says Michael Taylor, with a smile. And once you know him, the idea isn’t at all far-fetched. Taylor harnesses the power of a positive attitude to help his clients succeed. Through his personal training business, he has “the opportunity to help people get…
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It was little surprise to anyone when, asked to pick her “favorite punctuation mark” for a photo shoot of the IDEA editors, Judy Minich picked the exclamation point. She approaches every situation with the thought that she can spice it up with an extra dash of excitement.
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Cynthia Walker was struggling. Although she’d been trying to lose weight for years, it just seemed like the odds were stacked against her.
“At age 42, she had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) along with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels,” says trainer E. Faith Bell. “Then, 11 years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At 4 feet 9 inches tall, she weighed 176 pounds.”
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One of the magical attributes of a great dancer is the ability to convey supremely tough athletic feats as graceful, artistic and seemingly effortless movement. It’s no wonder, then, that IDEA’s director of event programming, Rebecca Garity, seems to glide through the annual creative challenges of programming 100+ sessions for IDEA’s Personal Trainer Institute and more than 350 sessions for the IDEA® World Convention.
Read More Ammar Zoubi
Member Since 2017 • Naim Village, Israel
Ammar Zoubi says he lives “on the other side of the world,” but his story really hits home. After years as a bodybuilder, he became a certified personal trainer, eventually getting hired at the gym where he was a member.
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In rising to meet major challenges and needs—from overcoming cancer, a staph infection and even a four-story fall inside an elevator, to serving reservation residents and low-income individuals in high-crime neighborhoods—the 2019 IDEA World Scholarship recipients have shown character, determination and a commitment to helping others.
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Veteran fitness pros know how important it is to pay attention to clients as unique individuals. Experience, education and empathy are key qualities that equip seasoned pros to help a wide variety of people with diverse needs.
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If you’re ever lucky enough to get Nate as your inspired service specialist when you call IDEA with a question or need assistance at an IDEA event, there’s no doubt you’ll finish the encounter feeling like your day just took a leap and a bound. This man walks a positive path, lives by the golden rule and sincerely gets pumped when he witnesses the good nature of others. “I love seeing or hearing about acts of kindness for those deserving or in need,” Nate says.
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Purpose, passion and people! The fitness industry is all about forging relationships that lift others up. Fitness professionals have energy to spare, and they are dedicated to mentoring new generations of pros, networking with peers, and motivating clients and participants every day.
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“Returning to Pilates has changed my life,” says Linda Arroz. That’s a powerful affirmation, but Linda’s journey with trainer Jillian Hessel has power to spare. Their story extols the virtues of focusing on health over weight and building connections that stand the test of time.
The Foundation of a Lasting Partnership
It began in 1994. Hessel, a multicertified master Pilates teacher, remembers her first meeting with Linda.
Read More Susanna Gayedon
Member Since 2008 • Los Angeles
In 1979, Susanna Gayedon, inspired by a kinesiology class—and the movie Flashdance—became a fitness instructor. But she was no flash in the pan, going on to earn her AFAA certification, become registered with Yoga Alliance and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of clients as both a personal trainer and a group fitness instructor.
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You may feel the hummingbirdlike whoosh as she speeds by you in the hallways at IDEA headquarters, but your brain may not always process that the voltage you felt pass by was teammate Kelly Nakai. This woman is calibrated at a higher speed than most people you’ll ever meet, and from Day One of her more than 15 years at IDEA, she has moved with purpose. Driven by her love of our mission to Inspire the World to Fitness®, Kelly. Gets. Stuff. Done!
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When Colleen Evans wanted to improve her strength while healing from Lyme disease, her doctor knew exactly who could help her: fellow patient and personal trainer Shona Curley.
Like Colleen, Curley had been diagnosed with Lyme disease and was coping with its symptoms.
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Jillian Hessel
Member Since 1989 • Los Angeles, California
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IDEA Fitness Journal
Current Issue:
December 2019
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