Of Alchemy, Energy and Togetherness

The Spring collector’s issue ofFitness Journalis doubly special in that it not only marks IDEA’s 40th anniversary, but it’s also a marvelous celebration of our first in-person IDEA® World Convention since July 2019.

There’s an extraordinary alchemy and indescribable magic that makes IDEA World among the most meaningful experiences of a fitness professional’s career. While I don’t have a physics equation or a peer-reviewed study to prove my theory about why transformation unfolds at this event, I’ve always believed that positive human energy and endorphins power it.

磁性画communi的线程ty together—positive mental attitude, teamwork, generous mindsets and the joy of physicality—are a force unique to this industry and even more unique to IDEAfit+ Members. The IDEA team welcomes and thanks all who are attending the event after such a long drought. We appreciate your trust and confidence in our ability to uplift and inspire you, and we hope you have the time of your life celebrating, networking, learning and sharing. It has been much too long since we shared the power of togetherness!

In terms of our Spring issue, from which you can gain 4 CECs toward certification renewal from 20+ agencies, our expanded format gives us the space to cover more of the topics you’ve told us matter most to you. It’s tough for an editor to pick her favorite pieces, but here are a few highlights to point you toward topics that will open your mind to new possibilities.

• 40 Forward-Thinking Fitness Trends to Grow Your Business:As homage to IDEA’s 40th anniversary, we sought out 40 ways the wellness revolution is impacting our industry and your business opportunities. Check out these 40 trends, some of which are well established and others that are just emerging. We hope they help stimulate new thinking on how to focus your business to capture developing opportunities or, perhaps, do some trendsetting of your own.
• Weight Biases: How Do They Influence Our Industry?These last few years have awakened many to the injustices that exist in this world and have challenged us all to think through how we contribute to them. The focus of this article by professor Kellie Walters, PhD, is primarily a research-based look at inclusivity as it relates to weight bias—and how you can be more inclusive toward individuals of all body sizes and shapes in the work you do, which starts with becoming more educated and more self-aware.

IDEA believes that exercise is for everyone, and that there is no place for discriminating, stigmatizing, bullying and/or being prejudiced toward individuals who are in larger bodies solely based on their appearance and/or weight. This is essential reading for all fit pros, so please share your copy with colleagues if you think they will benefit from the information.

There are also articles on why group fitness managers are essential to helping our businesses run smoothly and profitably; engaging kids in fitness; recruiting and retaining top talent on your team; using heart rate variability data to improve performance; and using apps to support behavior change. There isn’t space enough to detail the complete table of contents here, but on behalf of our team, I invite you to settle in, take your time and savor article–now both in print and online.

Find me at IDEA World Convention in Las Vegas (July 20–24) and say hello! I’d love to thank you in person for all you do to make this world a healthier, happier place.

Sandy Todd Webster

Editor in Chief

@sandytoddwebster

@fitnesseditor

@ideafit