Now that’s an IDEA—member!  

I can spot an IDEA member from a mile away, without wearing my glasses and not necessarily within the context of an IDEA event. An IDEA member walks quickly through the aisles, takes the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, has energy bars sticking out of his or her pocket and generally offers free health and fitness advice to anyone who will listen. Congenial in the face of sleep deprivation, IDEA members have found that one sure path to happiness in life is through making best friends with your own body—and sharing that path with others.

 Here I am at the 2008 IDEA Fitness Fusion Conference™. It’s sleeting outside, but inside the warm confines of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, (a stone’s throw from Chicago), more than 1,000 people meet to sweat, learn, relearn and meet like-minded people from other parts of the world. Separately, these people are powerhouses within their communities. Together, this is a group that commands attention and creates a tsunami of inspiration.  

Still, everyone needs inspiration from time to time. That’s what Fred Hoffman, MEd, did this morning with his welcome address. Hoffman, who is the 2007 IDEA Group Fitness Instructor of the Year, shared seven philosophies with attendees that he drew from his own successful career, which spans two decades. Here are his gems:

1. Seize the moment.

2. Ask and you will receive—don’t let opportunities pass you by.

3. Move out of your comfort zone (how bad could it be?)

4. Don’t make assumptions and don’t take anything personally.

5. Be true to yourself and be the best that you can be.

6. Life is a series of changes.

7. Laugh, smile and enjoy the journey.

Hoffman shared an anecdote about how seizing the moment worked for him. Years ago, Reebok asked him to develop a sports conditioning program for cricket players in India. No problem, right? Well, he had to do a lot of footwork and research to get up to speed, but did what he needed to in order to seize this particular moment and opportunity. Taking advantage of the second in front of your face also causes you to stretch a little and moves you to your personal and professional edge. After seizing this moment, for example, Hoffman becamse a resident expert (of sorts) on cricket conditioning. Plus, he got to see the Taj Mahal!

 My eyes landed on so many great things today. I learned how to modify movements on the TRX Suspension System. I found my inner hip-hop queen in one of Juliane Arney’s classes. Keli Roberts showed attendees how to do a “spider move” on a BOSU® Ballast Ball™.  I laughed with others who were foam rolling their bodies in unison, and I learned a neat trick about “off-center” training. Want to know what that is? You’ll have to look for it in IDEA Fitness Journal or check our website for more.  

This show is launching. I can feel the momentum starting to build as members of the IDEA fitness flock gather toward this Midwest center. As the sessions roll over and people get a taste of the trends in the trenches, a buzz is starting to vibrate under the surface. I’m excited to see what that buzz becomes.