Alexis Batrakoulis, the GRAFTS Personal Training Education Director, nominated for the IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Award for 2nd consecutive year!

Among the top three Personal Trainers worldwide in 2018 you will find Alexis Batrakoulis, according to the world's largest organization for fitness, IDEA Health & Fitness Association.

The GRAFTS Personal Training Director of Education since 2007, is bidding to become the first European to receive the Personal Trainer of the Year Award at the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 IDEA World Convention, the world's largest conference for Fitness professionals, on 28/6 in San Diego, California, which is expected to bring together 14,000+ professionals from 55 countries.

Alexis has spent many years during his impressive career as a personal trainer and exercise professionals' tutor in both Greece and 25 countries worldwide, and now serves as an appointed member in Technical Expert Committees and International Working Groups for Fitness in Europe and the United States, through EuropeActive, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

The presence of Alexis Batrakoulis in the international podium for the 2nd consecutive year is a unique moment of recognition for him, a great honor for GRAFTS and the Greek fitness industry, and a point of reference and inspiration for the young exercise professionals!

For the first time in Greek, EuropeActive's 'Essentials for Fitness Instructors' by GRAFTS and SALTO

GRAFTS HELLAS, in collaboration with SALTO publications, is pleased to announce the publication and release of EuropeActive's book 'Essentials for Fitness Instructors' for the first time in the Greek language. The book was translated by GRAFTS HELLAS and is now available to anyone who would like to acquire basic knowledge of the Fitness & Group Fitness sectors at the EREPS EQF-3 level.
 
It is a basic reference manual that complements the Greek literature on Personal Training and Group Fitness in accordance with the European standards of education, training and certification of Fitness professionals as adopted by EuropeActive and the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS).
 
It contains the fundamental elements and the best practices of the methods and procedures applied by personal and group fitness trainers, along with an analysis of their duties and responsibilities. Their main mission, which is a key pillar of EuropeActive, is summarized in the triplicate "More People, More Active, More Often". The material included provides fundamental tools for the training and continuing education of fitness professionals wishing to promote physical activity, provide a healthier lifestyle and guide their clients towards succesfully achieving the goals they have set.
 
In its press release EuropeActive states: "GRAFTS just published the translated version of this particular book in order to raise the bar in the fitness education and training by enhancing the European standards to the local market and promoting the vision and mission of all involved parties (e.g. EuropeActive, EREPS, and GRAFTS) nationwide".
 
This book is not a GRAFTS course manual, but it can enhance the preparation of students in their respective specialties (Fitness Instructor - Group Fitness Instructor)

27th IHFC - The biggest Fitness event in Greece and Cyprus is over!

27th International Health & Fitness Congress by Grafts Hellas banner

THESSALONIKI - 21 MAR 2018 - GRAFTS Hellas announces the successful completion of the 27th International Health & Fitness Congress by GRAFTS Hellas, which was held in Thessaloniki, on 16-18 March 2018, at the 'Ioannis Vellidis' Congress Centre.

The 27th International Health & Fitness Congress (IHFC), bringing together more than 1000 participants and visitors from 10+ countries, industry experts from Europe, the US and the Middle East, and companies across the Fitness market spectrum, was the Fitness event of the year in Greece and Cyprus and one of the largest in SE Europe.

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The 3-day meeting of the attendees (exercise professionals, agencies, scientists, fitness market professionals, students and amateur exercisers) in a dynamic environment, and their participation in the 3 Conferences, the 7 Workshops and the Special Events of the Congress provided everyone with unique opportunities for knowledge and interaction and opened up new directions for professional and personal development.

The 27th IHFC featured among others Anthony Wall (US), Panos Pantas, PhD (ES, GR), Chatzimichail Giorgos (IT, GR), Gil Lopes (IT, BR), Patrick Bejjani (LB) και Brent Laffoon (US), and the whole GRAFTS fitness education team!

We want to thank all those who participated in this year's IHFC, as well as the Sponsors and Supporters of the Congress:

Fast Fitness/Miha Bodytech
Real Motion
Leos SA
Physiomart
Healthone Greece
I-Motion EMS Greece
Desport Innovative Solutions
Matrix
Fit Net - Dr Fit
Vacupower
Eldico Sport SA
All about Aquatics
Subito

We renew our appointment for the 6th GRAFTS Fitness Summit Athens this autumn!

GRAFTS Hellas


Greek Athletic & Fitness Training School

The Greek Athletic & Fitness Training School (GRAFTS) is the leading private Fitness Training Provider in Greece and Cyprus. It is an Education Partner of the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the first Fitness Training Provider in Greece with an educational program fully accredited by EuropeActive. GRAFTS is enrolled in the Lifelong Learning Record of the Greek Ministry of Education, providing certificates in the fields of Personal Training, Exercise to Music, Pilates Training and Yoga Training.

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Alexis Batrakoulis, the Personal Training Education Director of GRAFTS, presenter at the 2017 International Standards Meeting (ISM) by EuropeActive

Alexis Batrakoulis, Personal Training Education Director of GRAFTS and EuropeActive Professional Standards Committee Member, participated as a presenter in the 2017 International Standards Meeting (ISM) organized by EuropeActive in Rome on 23-24 November.

The International Standards Meeting (ISM) is held annualy since 2010 in a European capital with the aim of bringing together top experts from the Fitness sector in order to discuss VET standards, certification and ways to improve the educational process, and has become an important event for the Fitness industry both at the European and global level.

Batrakoulis' presentation focused this year on the possibilities of growing the Fitness market through highly specialized certification programs designed to educate the new generation of Exercise professionals. He stressed that Personal Trainers should be able to respond to the individual needs of customers both in terms of technical knowledge and in terms of the ability to inspire their customers to change their habits and improve their standard of living through Exercise.

Watch his interview, and download his presentation here.