Stephen Holt, CSCS, Named 2026 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year

Stephen Holt, owner of 29 Again Custom Fitness in Timonium, MD, has been named the 2026 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year. The award recognizes Holt’s work with clients, his leadership in the fitness industry, and his focus on helping people build strength that carries into everyday life.

The IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year award honors a certified personal trainer who works with clients at least 15 hours per week and demonstrates excellence in coaching, business management, and professional leadership. Finalists are selected for the quality of their instruction, the results they help clients achieve, and their contribution to the profession. Holt’s selection places him among a small national group of trainers recognized for both client outcomes and industry impact.

At 29 Again Custom Fitness, Holt works exclusively with women over 50 who want to get stronger but often feel held back by joint pain, past injuries, or years of being told to avoid challenging exercise. His coaching combines structured strength training with practical nutrition support that fits real life and gives clients a clear path forward.

“I’m honored to be named the 2026 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year,” said Holt. “This recognition has my name on it, but it reflects years of work from clients who kept showing up and doing the work. They’re the reason it means anything. They proved that women over 50 can train hard, rebuild strength, and make real progress.”

Holt’s coaching is built on strength training fundamentals, sensible exercise selection, clear technique standards, and progressions that match each client’s starting point and recovery capacity. He also makes practical adjustments when a joint gets irritated or life gets busy, so progress does not depend on perfect weeks. The goal is a repeatable process that helps clients build strength they can actually use.

Clients at 29 Again Custom Fitness learn how to train with more purpose and less guesswork. That includes understanding how to increase load safely, how to structure training so joints tolerate it, and how to make smart substitutions during flare-ups. Nutrition coaching follows the same standard, focusing on realistic habits clients can follow and maintain.

IDEA Health & Fitness Association selects finalists based on client results, professionalism, and influence within the fitness profession. Holt’s recognition reflects the coaching standard he brings to his clients and the broader industry.

The award was announced on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA World Conference & Expo, held April 7 through April 10 in National Harbor, Maryland.

For more information about Stephen Holt, visit stephenholt.com, MuscleRebuildPlan.com, or follow @stephenholt on social media.

About

Stephen Holt is a fitness and wellness expert with over four decades of experience. He's a winner of both the IDEA Health & Fitness Association's and ACE (American Council on Exercise) Personal Trainer of the Year Awards, a nominee for the National Fitness Hall of Fame, and was cited by Men's Fitness magazine as "One of America's Greatest Trainers."