Among many highlights of the 2020 IDEA World Convention—this year reimagined as IDEA World Virtual and held August 21-22—was the celebration of the association’s 2020 IDEA Fitness Awards Recipients. Over 8,000 members of the health and fitness professional community attended this unprecedented virtual event featuring 2 days of keynotes, continuing education sessions and a virtual exhibit hall.
This year more than ever, the fitness community has been challenged to reinvent the way it coaches, leads and Inspires the World to Fitness. “The recipients of the IDEA Awards represent the best and brightest of the fitness industry and we thank them for their many and varied contributions. Each one has made—and will continue to make—a positive and indelible impact on the health, wellness and happiness of the individuals they serve day-to-day as well as the worldwide fitness community,” said Ryan Halvorson, IDEA’s director of event programming, when he introduced the recipients.
2020 IDEA Fitness Inspiration Award
Kyle Maynard
The IDEA Fitness Inspiration Award is given to an individual who has overcome considerable physical adversity and now includes regular fitness activity in their life while providing inspiration to others. The 2020 recipient, Kyle Maynard, was born with a rare condition known as congenital amputation, that left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end near his knees. He learned early on to live life independently, knowing that exceptions wouldn’t be made for him. He has lived his life striving to do more, learn more, push harder, go further, and to inspire others to do the same by sharing his story and living by example.
2020 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year
Jeffrey Scott, vice president of fitness, nutrition and results, Beachbody
Vice president of fitness, nutrition and results for Beachbody International, Jeffrey reaches a large audience with his creative programming to help people live healthier lives. “Whether he is teaching five people or 500, his love for his craft, devotion to his students, enthusiasm for education and his passion to Inspire the World to Fitness® is unmatched,” says colleague Lisa Wheeler. “He has a way of making everyone feel special and, with his close attention to detail, he delivers thoughtful, engaging and compelling content, much of which he has created.” You can feel that joy in classes he teaches as well as in his ability to mentor other instructors. Jeffrey truly loves what he does. And it shows.
2020 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year
Leslee Bender, creator of Bender Ball Method and Director of I Am Ageless Now
You could summarize Leslee Bender’s impact on fitness in two words: Bender Ball. That’s accurate—more than 1 million Bender Balls have been sold since 2007—but, as a tribute, it’s woefully incomplete. Bender’s influence on personal training over the last 30 years is a much bigger story. “My mission is to help people of all ages and sizes to embrace life and age gracefully,” Bender says. That focus led to the creation of The Bender Method of Training—the first to use a small ball to protect the back and work the core. She has since certified more than 2,000 instructors in this safe method of functional Pilates training.
2020 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year
Tricia Murphy Madden, co-creator of Barre Above and education director of Savvier Fitness
A 28-year veteran of the fitness industry as a group fitness instructor and program director, Murphy Madden is currently the national education director for Savvier Fitness and the co-creator of the Barre Above® group fitness program. In that role, she recruits, educates and manages nearly 100 master trainers while creating monthly workout programs for more than 11,000 Barre Above instructors around the world. “Tricia recognizes the team members’ need to enjoy what they do and who they work with. She has a unique ability to both provide feedback and simultaneously motivate her team. Tricia knows how to bring out the best in all those she manages,” says Jeff Tuller, president and CEO of Savvier Fitness.
Congratulations to the 2020 IDEA Fitness Award recipients!
The 2021 IDEA World Convention will be back live July 7-11, 2021, in Anaheim, California. To register please visit https://www.ideafit.com/fitness-conferences/world-virtual/
About IDEA Health and Fitness Association
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 38 years. We deliver world-class content and continuing education to fitness professionals, business owners and allied health professionals via our publications, including the award-winning Fitness Journal; our fitness, business and nutrition conferences; and hundreds of streaming videos and online courses available on ideafit.com. Additionally, with IDEA FitnessConnect, we host the largest national industry-wide directory, linking over 275,000 fitness professionals to more than 40 million consumers. Through IDEA professionals in over 80 countries, we Inspire the World to Fitness.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
