2014 IDEA World Fitness Convention™

It’s hard to believe that yet another IDEA World Fitness has come and gone already. And what a joyful, positive week of fitness professionals fueling their passion it was! We had a blast and were so impressed by those of you we met for the first time and by everyone we reconnected with. We are humbled by the work you do to Inspire the World to Fitness®.

The IDEA editors and our photographer were “Reeboks on the ground” at the Anaheim Convention Center, capturing the thrills, trends, education, product knowledge and overall energy of the event for you to enjoy. If you weren’t one of the approximately 12,000 attendees from 65 countries this year, you can experience the event vicariously through the news feature the editors have produced in this issue.

We would like once again to recognize and congratulate all of the 2014 IDEA Award recipients and finalists. Each of you is a beacon of leadership, poise and talent. We thank you for all you do to elevate our industry. Thanks also to SPRI®, which sponsored the IDEA awards. You can find a full report on all nominees
in the September issue; here are highlights from the recipients’ remarks during
the awards ceremony:

• 2014 IDEA Program Director of the Year Carla Sottovia, PhD, praised her coworkers at The Cooper Aerobic Center in Dallas. Specifically she thanked Kenneth Cooper, MD, MPH, with whom she has worked for the past 26 years. “He has been my inspiration. It’s been a great ride with him,” she said. “This award is not just for me; it’s for all of my fellow personal trainers, group exercise directors and leadership who have really taken our programs to heart; who have really tested the programs and developed them with clients.”
• 2014 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Douglas Brooks, MS, drew on a simple life lesson he has tried to instill in his sons as an analogy for how to change the world: “I always told my boys, ÔÇÿMake your bed.’ I understood why one day when I heard a commencement address by a U.S. Navy admiral and former U.S. Navy SEAL. One of his big points about changing the world was to start by making your bed. It’s about doing something well and consistently,” Brooks said. “If you do the little things well, you end up doing the big things well. I share this award with you because I know you guys are changing lives—you’re impacting every day. Everyone out there, make a difference. Make your bed! Change the world!”
• 2014 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year Krista Popowych beamed as she recounted the start of her 25-year fitness career journey in a small Canadian town, where her “Mum” would invite friends over to the house to exercise to fitness records. “It’s been an incredible journey. The common thread that ties us all together is the ability to help people,” she said. “It’s such an honor to be able to do that. So many people have helped me, supported me and mentored me along the way, too.”

Elaine LaLanne presented the 2014 IDEA Jack LaLanne Inspiration Award to world champion long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad. Be sure to read the anecdotes from Nyad’s inspirational keynote address in the Opening Ceremonies section of the IDEA World story. It’s not to be missed and will spark your imagination even if you didn’t hear her wonderful speech.

We invite you to mark your calendar for next year’s IDEA World Fitness Convention, July 15-19, at LA Live/Los Angeles Convention Center. We have already begun planning and invite you to anticipate it with us!

Yours in good health,

Kathie & Peter Davis