Continuing Education/Events
Bending American Food Culture Feature Resonates
Editor in chief Sandy Todd Webster’s article “Bending American Food Culture” in the September issue was so on point. As a dietitian, I’m constantly cognizant about who exactly is my target audience—and that “target” keeps moving. It’s clear that traditional registered dietitian services of the past—such as meal planning, cooking demos, and so on, will always need tweaking to remain relevant to current culture. Those [who are] successful in the industry are the ones who [are] able to adapt and morph their offerings for future generations.
2013 IDEA World Fitness Convention™
In the early evenings, you could faintly hear the screams outside–about every 45 seconds–from the quiet, cushy guest rooms in the J.W. Marriott at L.A. LIVE.
AIIIIEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! It sounded like the breathless squeals people emit on the most hair-raising portion of a crazy amusement-park ride. But in downtown L.A.? Turns out it was the throng of teenage girls cheering for One Direction, the wildly popular boy band that was playing next door at the Staples Center over four consecutive nights.
A World Fitness Celebration!
2013 IDEA World Fitness Convention (August 7-11) attendees, volunteers, faculty, exhibitors and staff experienced an thrilling, information-packed ride of a fitness event. As 2013 IDEA Fitness Inspiration Award recipient Peter Twist, MSc, said during his moving acceptance speech at the Opening Ceremonies, these 8,000 fitness pros lived their World experience “from the front seat of the roller coaster” on a continuous loop of excitement that kept everyone on their toes.
6 Older Adult Training Trends You Will Find at This Year’s IDEA World Fitness Convention™
The U.S. population is aging, which makes now the perfect time for fitness professionals to learn more about training older adults. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2050, one in every five Americans will be considered a senior. The U.S. Census Bureau also predicts that between now and 2030, the 65 and older population will grow an average of 2.8% annually.
What’s Hot: Progressing Beginners, Three-Dimensional Training
People sat on the edges of their chairs and leaned in to better hear Tom Purvis, PT, founder of the Resistance Training Specialist® (RTS) program, Oklahoma City, finish the sentence he had started. The session, “Progressing Beginners,” touched on a subject many personal trainers take for granted, according to Purvis. “It’s easy to train athletes,” he said. “It’s much harder to train beginners because no truly standardized protocol or assessment exists. Our assessment tools are for advanced exercisers, but the continuum for beginners is vast and varied.”
2013 IDEA World Fitness Award Finalists
The efforts of the IDEA World Fitness Award finalists start at home but, like ripples from a stone thrown in a pond, their actions fan across the globe. Their passion for spreading the health and fitness message to clients—and the world at large—motivates them every day.
Please join us in celebrating the careers of those shortlisted for 2013 IDEA Program Director of the Year, 2013 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year and 2013 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year. (Check the July–August issue of IDEA Fitness Journal for an announcement of the recipients.)
Transfer Your Energy: IDEA Personal Trainer Institute West
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Only at a fitness conference for personal trainers will you see people turning down the Doubletree hotel chocolate chip cookie. Not every person checking in for the IDEA Personal Trainer Institute West in Seattle bypassed the heavenly, sweet packet of fat and sugar, of course, but the front desk staff definitely had extras left over for the next crowd.
Recharging Trainers From the Inside Out
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing clients smile—and not because they lost weight or improved their fitness, either. When clients exude confidence that comes from having adopted a healthier outlook on life, it is because their transformation was more than external—it came from within.
Inner IDEA® Conference Explores Range of Topics
Pilates instructors and enthusiasts left their studios behind for a weekend to delve into the evolving body of Pilates education presented at the 7th annual Inner IDEA Conference at La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California, October 25-28, 2012.
Meditation: Push-Ups for the Brain
Many mind-body movement and wellness professionals have discovered the power of meditation and are introducing it to clients. One experience that particularly stands out in my teaching career occurred when I was leading a walking meditation.
Opening Hearts and Minds: Inner IDEA® Report
This year’s 7th annual Inner IDEA® Conference was another breakthrough experience for the 450 Pilates and yoga instructors, personal trainers, mind-body studio owners and wellness professionals who attended. Those who chose to take this journey to wholeness shared an inner vision of a larger community where mind, body and spirit are all supported equally.
IDEA world fitness convention™
Who could have foreseen in 1984 that a modest gathering of 600 fitness instructors at a fitness conference in downtown San Diego would turn into an event bringing the entire…
IDEA World Fitness Convention™ Memories
Congratulations on celebrating 30 years! I attended the first IDEA convention in San Diego in 1984, and I have attended many IDEA events since. The speakers and leaders have been…
IDEA World Fitness Convention™: 30 Years of Excellence
Who could have foreseen in 1984 that a modest gathering of 600 aerobics instructors at a conference in downtown San Diego would turn into the extravaganza that IDEA World Fitness Convention is today?
IDEA Personal Trainer Institute™ Fun and Educational for All
Thanks so much for the opportunity to volunteer at this IDEA fitness conference! I had a really great time both assisting and attending the sessions. Your staff and volunteers were…
Boot Camp, Nutrition, Core: Trainers Find Purpose
How good does it feel when your clients start seeing results? An educated personal trainer who knows how to put together the perfect program is a metabolic magician. When clients see and feel they are manifesting their goals, the impact of your program design is apparent. The best personal trainers work at their craft, constantly learn new concepts and upgrade their expertise. This pays off with powerful, purposeful, client-focused sessions that make a lasting impression.
2011 IDEA World Fitness Convention™ “Inspires!”
Words cannot convey how truly fantastic my experience was at the 2011 IDEA World Fitness Convention. As a convention veteran—seeing the energetic pulse this year of all the diverse participants across all age groups, all levels of ability and the far reaches of the globe—I was reminded of how much I love our industry and its wide embrace.
Wellness Within: Finding Tranquillity and Balance
Inner IDEA®, early October, La Jolla, California, the evening of the first full day: The sun was gently setting on an uncharacteristically blue Pacific. Just inland, the vibrant greens of the world-famous Torrey Pines golf course had developed an amber glow. For IDEA’s associate editor, Ryan Halvorson, it had been awhile since he’d felt this peaceful.
Zero Regrets at the 2011 IDEA World Fitness Convention™
You might describe it as overwhelming, but even that superlative is an underwhelming descriptor for what transpired at the 2011 IDEA World Fitness Convention in Los Angeles, August 11–14. Between Apolo Ohno’s keynote message of zero regrets and the convention theme of “Take the Challenge,” there was no way to leave even a whisper of yourself on the table. The atmosphere at this event had a way of sucking the energy right out of you and then infusing it right back in—plus 10%. Everyone gave it up and got it back, and the effect was palpable.
Personal Training Trends: What’s New
Nearly 700 IDEA personal trainer members—mostly independent, small-business entrepreneurs—completed the 2011 IDEA Personal Trainer Programs & Equipment Trends survey. Read on to discover what they are seeing in their day-to-day operations, why they are making certain decisions about programming and equipment and how they are positioning themselves for 2012 and beyond.
Topline Trends
The most popular trends emerging from the 2011 data show that IDEA trainers continue to incorporate small, portable equipment into small-group training sessions that focus on body weight leverage training, functional resistance training and balance training. Results further show that these trainers believe specialized client populations, such as older adults and those in need of weight management or back pain prevention programs, are growing. This, in turn, means that professionals need more continuing education to remain current and effective in their service.
Survey respondents reaffirmed that training adults one-on-one remains the mainstay of their training businesses. Sessions focus most often on cardiorespiratory cross-training, strength training, stretching, functional resistance training and balance training.
Top 10 Programming Trends
This year we asked IDEA personal trainers to report their picks for the top programming trends in the industry. Participants were asked to respond yes or no to a list of more than 30 possible programming trends. Write-in replies were also analyzed. Results fell into three main categories: training methods, special populations and organizational training formats.
p>Training Methods
The number-one programming trend is body weight leverage training, followed closely by functional resistance training and balance training. Two of the top three trends—functional resistance training and balance training—have been offered by at least 95% of respondents since 2008. Tied for fourth in popularity are senior-specific training and weight management training. Further down the list are cardiorespiratory interval training (tied for sixth with personal training, 2 clients share); nutrition coaching (eighth); and back pain prevention (tied for ninth with outdoor boot camp classes and personal training, 3-5 clients share). More than three-quarters of trainers who responded to the survey currently offer their clients these types of programs.
Special Populations
Consistent with the trends, Ray Vargas, owner of ISOTONEX Personal Training in San Jose, California, is keeping his eye on a few special populations. His top three picks are the weight management sector, seniors and clients needing postrehabilitation. “The reason for such growth is that these markets have remained untapped for many years, but now we are seeing the need for training at every phase of life. For an athlete, this may mean speed, agility and quickness, but for a senior citizen it may mean getting in and out of the house without breaking a hip,” Vargas observes.
Organizational Training Formats
Working with multiple clients—through personal training sessions that 2 clients share or 3–5 clients share, or through outdoor boot camps—ranks among the top 10 programming trends. Five-year trends data show that while 2 clients sharing and 3–5 clients sharing have both grown, outdoor boot camps—perhaps surprisingly—have shown no growth. Survey data regarding which types of facilities are more likely to offer shared sessions show equality across facility types, with slightly fewer group sessions available at the trainer’s home.
For detailed survey results, please see the complete article, “2011 IDEA Personal Trainer Programs & Equipment Trends” online in the IDEA Library or in September 2011 IDEA Fitness Journal.