What a Fitness Conference Should Be and Often Isn’t

If you’ve attended a fitness conference recently, this may or may not resonate. Online fitness conferences in the past few years have been different. Back in real person, we’re all a bit hungry for the community and excitement that bringing people together offers. But have you experienced this? A drained feeling, a definite adrenal rush potentially, but also a superficial show of persona as opposed to real connections? This may resonate with you if so. 

Sometimes you just know that you’ve landed. Whether it’s because you find your people, or you have also found yourself and you’re comfortable in your own skin. 

The soul-sucking information pathway that social media has become for me was taking a toll. I was definitely not looking forward to this trip. I could think of a million reasons not to go! We’re launching a new cohort of the Flipping50 Menopause Fitness Specialists and it was the last 4 days we’re open. I had just opened our recent launch of our 12-week consumer course-plus-coaching offer. I had a mastermind meeting to prepare for. And every once in a while, I can take for granted where I’m at and what I’m doing and wonder if I’m offering any new insight in my talk. 

Definitely my thoughts before the fitness conference. Of course, in the process of presenting, and answering questions, and having people thank me and ask follow-up questions, I realize that I... I am the biggest benefactor of presenting because in doing so I remind myself that from 0 to 6-figure months is nothing to take for granted. I realize that sharing that story was crucial for me to have the reminder of what I am capable of doing… again.  

Time to Attend a Real Fitness Conference

I was long overdue to attend a fitness conference that wasn’t full of superficial “awesome” high-fives and selfies and find some source of peace and collective goal-seekers.

Mission accomplished. 

I’ve known the hosts of this conference for a decade I guess. I don’t know at all. Cody Sipe was first on my radar I believe as a presenter and award-winning fitness pro with ACE (American Council on Exercise). 

He and partner Dan Ritchie formed Functional Aging Institute. They hosted a first event in 2015 and I was invited. It’s a small world, where I’ve met other guests that will be familiar to you if you’ve attended the What, When & Why to Women’s Exercise Summit: https://www.flippingfifty.com/womensexercise

Dr. Emily Splichal – who is your go-to for all things feet issues that may limit your clients and for improving balance, stability and continued activity for life.

Bedros Keuilian – who is a renowned fitness marketing mastery expert and who has evolved as so many fitness and health pros do, to mindset and personal growth. Fitness Marketing Secrets.

Sister team Kymberly Williams-Evans and Alexandra Williams of funandfit.org co-wrote a guest-contribution to You Still Got It, Girl! (published by Healthy Learning in 2015). 

Dan and Cody also contributed to the same book’s chapter on strength training. And Dan was a guest speaker on The What, When & Why to Women’s Exercise Summit.

And here’s why. 

The Health & Fitness Professional Experience

When you meet good people, hold onto good people. I’ve had many “lunches” with fitness pros over the past few decades. But many of them were networking from the beginning, felt like networking, and I couldn’t wait to recover after. 

Others, like lunch I had with Dan a couple years ago, and the lunch I enjoyed with Lindsay Vastola (you may recognize as prior editor of PFP magazine for 10 years) and a few others, this weekend were rich in real connections and laughter. 

It’s not fair I suppose to compare pre-pandemic to post but I do believe there’s more to it. It’s also not fair to compare an early career or tendency to wear imposture syndrome, with seasoned career and an attitude of I just don’t care what people think, I’m doing the right thing.

I’ve seen too much about the inside of fitness conferences and about who and how they are chosen to speak, and what they’re reality is behind the scenes. I don’t suggest that we don’t all have things we may regret, but if you knew about industry award-winners, who and how promotions occur, and the very flimsy “influencer” market you are playing in if you decide to post based on what you see others with large audiences post, you’re headed for a reality check faster than you might know. 

What glitters, and is botoxed, does not shine so much in real life. 

The Reality of Fitness Conferences

I usually go home from fitness conferences exhausted. Not because of living a 1980s or even early 90s fitness conference reality where it was workout session after workout session. But because of the vibe. The junior-high-like cliques, ego-driven exchanges, the near-elevation of presenters to celebrity status that makes it less a learning environment than a day at a fitness bootcamp to see who holds up the longest, has the newest apparel and still parties through the evening. 

But this conference was different. Connections were real. Instead of ducking out to my room to recharge I stayed the day watching it all before and between my sessions. Speakers were around and making connections with each other as well as attendees. 

A panel of three female fitness leaders I was on had such great synergy not only with each other but with the audience. It was as rich an experience for each of us participating I think as it was for those in the room attending beginning to grow their own businesses. Lindsay, I and Alexis Perkins whom I’d never met had a great time co-hosting the panel. 

If you want to see and know what’s possible, consider that Alexis Perkins has founded Chair One Fitness [Link to learn more https://chaironefitness.com/]. She’s 30. She’s got contagious enthusiasm. She’s figured out it’s figuroutable. Don’t look at her and say, I wish I’d started then, look at her and say that it’s possible for any one of us. She’s a young woman of color, serving an older market both in the older adult caregiving arena and in the fitness professionals she trains. What do you need to overcome? Why not you? She’s doing it and she’s a breath of fresh air.  

Conference Locations, Sessions & Keynotes

The keynotes were not “look at me” but a real connection with audience through personal story and industry facts and overcoming challenges. 

Seek out conferences where you not only get knowledge poured into you, but you get filled up like this. 

Recently in our customer support I was asked about fitness conferences in Salt Lake City. This comes the same weekend I’m IN SLC for this conference. Does that feel a little too like AI or Alexa listening in? I can’t answer questions like that unfortunately, Google is your best GPS for that. 

But if you do have questions about what and where to gain education virtually or in person in a way you not only get knowledge, but gain community, reach out to us. We’ll help and we’ll host. We have educational events for health & fitness coaches in conjunction with our Flipping 50 retreats. So if you’re up for a weekend of hiking to put your fitness to work and your mind at ease and then also fill up your cup with business support, let us know you’re interested. 

We’re putting together some challenging destination hiking opportunities as well as other slightly milder but high-volume outdoor adventures combined with Menopause Fitness & Coaching Strategies for you.

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Resources: 

Health & Fitness Business Scorecard: https://www.fitnessmarketingmastery.com/scorecard

Sunlighten Saunas: https://www.flippingfifty.com/sauna