
Challenging Autism With Exercise, Featuring David Geslak
03/17/22 • 34 min
For those with autism, exercise goes beyond the health-related benefits. Today’s episode features David Geslak, a published author and subject matter expert who is passionate about educating fit pros about the benefits of exercise for people with autism.
The expanding research reveals that exercise can increase attention span, reduce stress, enhance language development and reduce stereotypical behaviors. And this community needs your guidance! Geslak, who has trained professionals around the world, will teach visual strategies, exercises and structured routines so you can have a profound and positive impact on this growing community.
In addition to speaking and writing on the topic, he also has a TV show called “Coach Dave,” on the Autism Channel. In collaboration with the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability, David created an autism exercise video series that now has more than half a million views. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in health promotion and is an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist and a NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Connect with David Geslak
- FB: David Geslak
- IG davidgeslak
- LI: davidgeslak
Connect with IDEA® Health & Fitness Association
IDEA upcoming events:
Enjoying our content? Become an IDEAfit Plus member and receive our award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal, the gold-standard publication of the fitness industry. We have membership options to meet your needs. Visit IDEAfit for more information.
Benefits included (varies by plan):
- Unlimited CECs
- Discounted health and liability insurance
- Digital publications that focus on current challenges, nutrition and behavior change, and the latest insider fitness trends
- Ungated access to over 15,000 fact-based articles from our award-winning editorial team
- Access to deals and discounts from IDEA’s trusted partners.
- Client NewsletterNewsletter - Hand curated email delivered monthly to your imported client list
- Discounted IDEA events
- FitPost - Hand curated content delivered seamlessly to your social channels
- Program Builder - Build and deliver custom workouts for clients
- 50% OFF Music Licensing with Vibes
IDEAfit Inspired Service: 800-999-4332
IDEAfit PRO SHOW is hosted by Madeleine McCormick, Digital Marketing Manager, ideafit.com; executive produced by Allyssa Ertz; produced and engineered by Michael Hilding. Copyright 2024 by IDEA Health & Fitness Association. All rights reserved.
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 42 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 FitnessTM!
For those with autism, exercise goes beyond the health-related benefits. Today’s episode features David Geslak, a published author and subject matter expert who is passionate about educating fit pros about the benefits of exercise for people with autism.
The expanding research reveals that exercise can increase attention span, reduce stress, enhance language development and reduce stereotypical behaviors. And this community needs your guidance! Geslak, who has trained professionals around the world, will teach visual strategies, exercises and structured routines so you can have a profound and positive impact on this growing community.
In addition to speaking and writing on the topic, he also has a TV show called “Coach Dave,” on the Autism Channel. In collaboration with the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability, David created an autism exercise video series that now has more than half a million views. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in health promotion and is an ACSM-certified exercise physiologist and a NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Connect with David Geslak
- FB: David Geslak
- IG davidgeslak
- LI: davidgeslak
Connect with IDEA® Health & Fitness Association
IDEA upcoming events:
Enjoying our content? Become an IDEAfit Plus member and receive our award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal, the gold-standard publication of the fitness industry. We have membership options to meet your needs. Visit IDEAfit for more information.
Benefits included (varies by plan):
- Unlimited CECs
- Discounted health and liability insurance
- Digital publications that focus on current challenges, nutrition and behavior change, and the latest insider fitness trends
- Ungated access to over 15,000 fact-based articles from our award-winning editorial team
- Access to deals and discounts from IDEA’s trusted partners.
- Client NewsletterNewsletter - Hand curated email delivered monthly to your imported client list
- Discounted IDEA events
- FitPost - Hand curated content delivered seamlessly to your social channels
- Program Builder - Build and deliver custom workouts for clients
- 50% OFF Music Licensing with Vibes
IDEAfit Inspired Service: 800-999-4332
IDEAfit PRO SHOW is hosted by Madeleine McCormick, Digital Marketing Manager, ideafit.com; executive produced by Allyssa Ertz; produced and engineered by Michael Hilding. Copyright 2024 by IDEA Health & Fitness Association. All rights reserved.
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 42 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 FitnessTM!
Previous Episode

Leveraging Virtual for the Greater Good with Michelle Alencar
Feeling challenged as a fit pro in the evolving hybrid fitness model for which virtual engagement has become so key? In this episode we speak with Michelle Alencar, PhD, who is an associate professor in kinesiology at California State University - Long Beach, who also serves as co-founder and Chief Science Officer for inHealth Lifestyle Therapeutics, Inc. She is a certified clinical nutritionist, certified lifestyle therapeutics health coach, exercise physiologist and strength and conditioning specialist.
Michelle has a passion for and expertise in mobile health and virtual lifestyle coaching, among other critical wellness specialties. She has several research publications in the areas of health, mobile health, telemedicine and body composition. She has presented sessions at IDEA Events and she also has written for IDEA’s flagship publication Fitness Journal.
Connect with Michelle Alencar, PhD
- FB: Michelle Kulovitz Alencar
- IG @michellekalencar
- LI: Michelle Kulovitz Alencar
- Email: [email protected]
Connect with IDEA® Health & Fitness Association
IDEA upcoming events:
Enjoying our content? Become an IDEAfit Plus member and receive our award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal, the gold-standard publication of the fitness industry. We have membership options to meet your needs. Visit IDEAfit for more information.
Benefits included (varies by plan):
- Unlimited CECs
- Discounted health and liability insurance
- Digital publications that focus on current challenges, nutrition and behavior change, and the latest insider fitness trends
- Ungated access to over 15,000 fact-based articles from our award-winning editorial team
- Access to deals and discounts from IDEA’s trusted partners.
- Client NewsletterNewsletter - Hand curated email delivered monthly to your imported client list
- Discounted IDEA events
- FitPost - Hand curated content delivered seamlessly to your social channels
- Program Builder - Build and deliver custom workouts for clients
- 50% OFF Music Licensing with Vibes
IDEAfit Inspired Service: 800-999-4332
IDEAfit PRO SHOW is hosted by Madeleine McCormick, Digital Marketing Manager, ideafit.com; executive produced by Allyssa Ertz; produced and engineered by Michael Hilding. Copyright 2024 by IDEA Health & Fitness Association. All rights reserved.
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 42 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 FitnessTM!
Next Episode

Strong Client Connections = Long Term Loyalty, Featuring Dina Blair
In this episode, the IDEAfit Pro Show chats with Dina Blair about the importance of being a well-rounded business person in the fitness industry. Dina is an experienced fitness business consultant with a proven track record of coaching and leading teams to exceed monthly sales initiatives and improve the overall client experience through high-touch service and comprehensive programs. She is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor with an exceptional understanding of the balance between the business and service sides of the fitness health and wellness industry.
Connect with Dina Blair
- Website: dinablairconsulting.com
- FB: Dina Blair
- IG: @inspirefitspt
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dina-blair-b715372a/
Connect with IDEA® Health & Fitness Association
IDEA upcoming events:
Enjoying our content? Become an IDEAfit Plus member and receive our award-winning IDEA Fitness Journal, the gold-standard publication of the fitness industry. We have membership options to meet your needs. Visit IDEAfit for more information.
Benefits included (varies by plan):
- Unlimited CECs
- Discounted health and liability insurance
- Digital publications that focus on current challenges, nutrition and behavior change, and the latest insider fitness trends
- Ungated access to over 15,000 fact-based articles from our award-winning editorial team
- Access to deals and discounts from IDEA’s trusted partners.
- Client NewsletterNewsletter - Hand curated email delivered monthly to your imported client list
- Discounted IDEA events
- FitPost - Hand curated content delivered seamlessly to your social channels
- Program Builder - Build and deliver custom workouts for clients
- 50% OFF Music Licensing with Vibes
IDEAfit Inspired Service: 800-999-4332
IDEAfit PRO SHOW is hosted by Madeleine McCormick, Digital Marketing Manager, ideafit.com; executive produced by Allyssa Ertz; produced and engineered by Michael Hilding. Copyright 2024 by IDEA Health & Fitness Association. All rights reserved.
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is the world’s leading organization of fitness and wellness professionals and has been for more than 42 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 FitnessTM!
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