Does a person who climbs tress at any age increase their flexibility? When you reflect back on the playground equipment or backyard playgrounds you played in, what exercise stands out? Were you agile at being able to climb the sliding board stairs and slide more than your friends? Were you like me and hung out…
Six months ago, I watched a complete fitness beginner have what I can only describe as a movement revelation. She’d come to me convinced she was “uncoordinated,” “weak,” and “too old to start exercising” at 57. https://www.rushwalter.com/holistic-strength-training-for-beginners/ Traditional gym environments intimidated her, and she’d failed at multiple fitness programs because they felt foreign and overwhelming….
Two summers ago, I had what I now consider an important realization while watching my 6-year-old grandson play at a local park. While I was mentally planning his “structured exercise program” to build coordination and strength, he was already getting an incredible full-body workout by simply interacting with his environment. He climbed trees with perfect…
Twenty-five years ago my enjoyment and activation of my personal exercise objectives was on a high. I owned a nice commercial exercise equipment store in Atlanta, and I cherry picked my equipment for my training studio. Fitness Rush Atlanta training studio offered the best options for iso lateral movement and I had chose Hammer Strength…
I’ll never forget the day that a simple conversation with my wife started to further expand my understanding of human physical capability. She had mentioned pain in her feet often. When I rubbed her feet at night with Vick’s vapor rub, she always had less pain during and hours afterwards. She told me that her…
You know, after more than three decades in the fitness industry, I’ve seen every trend come and go. From the Jane Fonda aerobics craze to CrossFit to whatever Youtube workout is popular this week. https://www.rushwalter.com/strengthening-body-and-spirit-faith-fitness-and-exercise-tips/ But somewhere along the way, I realized I was missing something huge in my approach to wellness – the spiritual…
A few seasons back, I found myself at a retreat in the Smokey Mountains where participants were encouraged to spend time walking barefoot each morning. As someone who’d spent decades in supportive athletic shoes, I was skeptical about the benefits and worried about injury or discomfort. By the third day, something profound had shifted. Not…
Several years ago, I experienced what I now call my “foot awakening” during a wilderness camping trip in Georgia. On day two, I made the decision to ditch my hiking boots and spend the rest of the week barefoot around camp. What started as an experiment in comfort became one of the most profound training…
Several years ago, I made one of the most humbling discoveries of my fitness career while helping an Atlanta trainer/friend working with a client from rural Kenya. Samuel had moved to the United States for college and was experiencing chronic foot and ankle problems for the first time in his life. He’d grown up barefoot,…
Five years ago, I made what seemed like a brilliant decision to help a friend completely outfit his garage with every piece of natural movement equipment I could find. Suspension trainers, parallette bars, gymnastic rings, balance boards, agility ladders, resistance bands, sandbags, maces, and kettlebells filled every corner. https://www.rushwalter.com/what-is-holistic-strength-training-guide-to-mind-body-fitness-in-2025/ He spent over $3,000 creating what…
Join our community of faith-driven fitness enthusiasts. Get exclusive workouts, devotionals, and equipment recommendations.