SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is honored to announce that Life Time Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Bahram Akradi, will keynote its third annual Optima 2017 Conference, an intensive, three-day education event for certified personal trainers and fitness professionals, being held October 12-15 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
NASM has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Life Time and Akradi – a true visionary with more than 30 years of experience in healthy way of life initiatives. Since founding the company in 1992, Akradi has been credited with transforming the health and fitness industry, while also successfully growing Life Time to more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue with operations in 127 destinations in 27 states and 35 major markets, including Toronto. Today, Akradi is further extending the Life Time brand with the development of large, mixed-use lifestyle centers that feature Life Time Athletic destinations combined with residential, office, retail, entertainment and medical spaces and services that encompass the full spectrum of daily life for individuals, couples and families of all ages.
Life Time’s brand portfolio also includes nationally renowned athletic events, acclaimed corporate health programs, best-in-class nutrition products and the award-winning healthy lifestyle magazine, Experience Life, in addition to its world-class fitness destinations.
NASM’s Optima conference offers certified personal trainers and fitness professionals new training methods, techniques, tools and resources, along with the opportunity to form relationships to help market and grow their business and careers for the long term.
“We are always seeking opportunities to elevate our offerings to certified personal trainers and the fitness industry overall,” said President of NASM, Laurie McCartney. “Having Bahram open up this year’s Optima conference, at which we also will be celebrating NASM’s 30th anniversary, will set the stage for an incredible third annual event. His expansive knowledge and holistic approach to health, wellness, nutrition, business and entrepreneurship will serve to inspire and encourage the future leaders of this industry.”
Under Akradi’s leadership, Life Time also developed Life Time Academy, a unique career school for fitness professionals utilizing NASM’s evidence-based curriculum and methodologies. A new opportunity being championed by NASM and Life Time Academy is to provide increasingly effective and impactful approaches to earning the certified personal training credential from NASM, along with a diploma from Life Time Academy. The new program includes:
- A six-month comprehensive health and fitness education curriculum.
- Hands-on work with clients at Life Time destinations with industry-leading instructors.
- Upon completion, graduates earn the NASM CPT and Life Time Academy diploma.
- Each graduate is guaranteed an interview with Life Time, where 75 percent of program graduates have been hired.
To register for the NASM Optima conference, please visit NASM Optima 2017 Conference. For more information on how to earn the NASM CPT and Life Time Academy diploma, visit Life Time Academy.
About NASM
Since 1987, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) has been the global leader in providing evidence-based certification and advanced specializations for fitness professionals. Academic institutions throughout the United States incorporate NASM’s leading fitness curriculum as part of exercise science courses and degree programs. The vision of NASM is to empower fitness and wellness professionals to successful careers, supporting them in their goal of motivating clients to lead healthier lives.
About Life Time® Healthy Way of Life
Life Time is a privately held, comprehensive health and lifestyle company and brand that offers a personalized and scientific approach to long-term health and wellness. Through its portfolio of distinctive resort-like destinations, athletic events and corporate health services, Life Time helps members achieve their goals every day with the support of a team of dedicated professionals and an array of proprietary health assessments. As of July 10, 2017, the Company operated 127 centers in 27 states and 35 major markets under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC® brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information is available at www.lifetimefitness.com.
