If you’re a group fitness instructor in need of some exercise inspiration or new workout ideas, a health and fitness expo or convention is the ultimate way to break out of a rut. After spending the day surrounded by fitness professionals and immersed in wellness conversations, it’s hard not to feel reinvigorated. Even if you don’t need a motivation refresh, a health and fitness expo or convention is a great way to network, learn new moves and get updates on the latest happenings in the fitness industry.
I do have one caveat: they can be expensive! If you only teach one group fitness class a week as a side hobby, it can be hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on a fitness gathering. There are ways to attend an expo or convention without breaking the bank. Consider activities in your area — if you can commute to and from each day, you’ll save major dough you would otherwise spend on hotels. You can also attend for one day instead of a full weekend.
Some of the major shows have volunteer programs. I was a volunteer at the SCW Fitness convention in 2015 and loved it. Being a volunteer was much more affordable, and it helped me connect with other professionals I would have never talked to otherwise. I liked it so much that I’m going to be a volunteer again at this year’s SCW Fitness convention.
If you’re looking for a health and fitness expo or convention in your area, here’s a list of some of the most popular events this year.
January 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- The Total Health and Fitness Expo, Sacramento, CA, January 14-15, 2017
February 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- New Orleans Health & Fitness Expo, New Orleans, LA, February 4-5, 2017
- IDEA Personal Trainer Institute East, Bethesda, Maryland, February 23-26, 2017
- SCW Mania Convention, New York City, February 24-26, 2017
March 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- EMPOWER! Fusion, Rosemont, IL, March 2-5, 2017
- IHRSA 2017, Los Angeles, CA, March 8-11, 2017
- Sedona Yoga Festival, Sedona, AZ, March 9-12, 2017
- SCW Mania Convention, Burlingame, CA, March 24-26, 2017
- IDEA Personal Trainer Institute West, Seattle, Washington, March 30 – April 2, 2017
April 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- ACSM’s Health & Fitness Summit & Expo, San Diego, CA, April 6-9, 2017
- Pilates on Tour, Phoenix, AZ, April 7-9, 2017
- Fitness Fest, Phoenix, AZ, April 20-23, 2017
May 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- SCW Mania Convention, Orlando, FL, May 5-7, 2017
- The Fit Expo, Chicago, IL, May 6-7, 2017
- EMPOWER! Houston, Houston, TX, May 19-21, 2017
July 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- Team Beachbody Coach Summit, New Orleans, LA, July 13-16, 2017
- IDEA World Convention, Las Vegas, NV, July 19-23 2017
- Club & Studio Summit (same time and place)
- Blogfest (same time and place)
- Nutrition & Behavior Change Summit (same time and place)
- The San Francisco Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, San Francisco, CA, July 23, 2017
- SCW Mania Convention, Atlanta, GA, July 28-30, 2017
- The Fit Expo, San Jose, CA, July 29-30, 2017
August 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention list
- SCW Mania Convention, Dallas, TX, August 25-27, 2017
- The Fit Expo, Anaheim, CA, August 26-27, 2017
September 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- EMPOWER! Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, MN, September 15-17, 2017
- SCW Mania Convention, Rosemont, IL, September 22-24, 2017
October 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- Pilates on Tour, Chicago, IL, October 13-15, 2017
- The Fit Expo, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, October 21-22, 2017
- SCW Mania Convention, Reston, VA, October 27-29, 2017
November 2017 Health and Fitness Expo and Convention List
- Athletic Business Show, Orlando, FL, November 9-11, 2017
- SCW Mania Convention, Danvers, MA, November 10-12, 2017
Notably, I didn’t find any major events happening in June or December scheduled so far (as of January 15). This doesn’t include workshops, so check out your local certification websites to see what workshops are going on in your area.
If you want to take your career in group fitness up a notch in 2017, I strongly encourage squeezing a health and fitness expo or convention into your schedule.
For more tips and industry insights, check out the group exercise ideas page.
