Exercise Benefits for Mental Health: What I’ve Learned After 30 Years in the Fitness Industry
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Exercise Benefits for Mental Health: What I’ve Learned After 30 Years in the Fitness Industry

I’ll never forget Amy. She came into my equipment store back in 2007, looking for a treadmill. Nothing unusual there—I sell dozens every month. But when I asked about her fitness goals, she didn’t mention weight loss or training for a 5K. Instead, she looked me straight in the eye and said, “My therapist says…

From Assessment to Action: Using Movement Screens to Guide Your Training
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From Assessment to Action: Using Movement Screens to Guide Your Training

Alright, so you’ve gone through a functional movement screening and now you’re staring at this scoresheet wondering, “What the heck do I do with this information?” Trust me, I’ve been there. After three decades of helping folks select and use exercise equipment, I’ve seen too many people get screened and then… nothing. https://www.rushwalter.com/top-15-functional-fitness-exercises-for-everyday-strength/ The assessment…

Understanding Functional Movement Screens: What They Reveal About Your Body
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Understanding Functional Movement Screens: What They Reveal About Your Body

After three decades in the exercise equipment business, I’ve seen just about every fitness trend come and go. But functional movement screens? They’ve stuck around for good reason. https://www.rushwalter.com/7-day-holistic-functional-fitness-program-for-beginners/ I remember the first time I encountered one back in the late ’90s. I thought it was just another gimmick to sell medical measuring devices. Boy,…

Seasonal Approaches to Outdoor Functional Training
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Seasonal Approaches to Outdoor Functional Training

I’ve spent over three decades watching some fitness enthusiasts hibernate indoors the moment temperatures drop below 60 degrees. Some of my friends used to pack away their outdoor training plans around Labor Day and wouldn’t dust them off until Memorial Day weekend. https://www.rushwalter.com/7-day-holistic-functional-fitness-program-for-beginners/ What a waste of eight perfectly good training months! It wasn’t until…

Nature as Your Gym: Outdoor Functional Fitness Workouts
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Nature as Your Gym: Outdoor Functional Fitness Workouts

Look, I’ve sold more treadmills and ellipticals than I can count over the last three decades, but I’m about to let you in on a little industry secret—sometimes the best gym is the one Mother Nature already built. https://www.rushwalter.com/how-to-design-your-own-holistic-functional-fitness-routine/ And it won’t cost you a monthly membership fee. I discovered this by accident back in…

Group vs. Solo Training in Holistic Functional Fitness
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Group vs. Solo Training in Holistic Functional Fitness

I still remember the first time I tried to convince a client that group training might be better for their goals than the one-on-one sessions they were dead-set on. https://www.rushwalter.com/how-to-design-your-own-holistic-functional-fitness-routine/ This was back in ’93, when personal training was all the rage and group fitness was still mostly step aerobics and spandex. The look on…

Creating a Holistic Lifestyle that Supports Functional Fitness Goals
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Creating a Holistic Lifestyle that Supports Functional Fitness Goals

When I first started in the exercise equipment business back in the early 90s, the approach to fitness was pretty much “no pain, no gain” and not much else. https://www.rushwalter.com/7-day-holistic-functional-fitness-program-for-beginners/ People would push themselves to exhaustion on treadmills and weight machines, then reward themselves with junk food and minimal sleep. And boy, did I make…

Beyond the Workout: Integrating Functional Fitness into Everyday Life
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Beyond the Workout: Integrating Functional Fitness into Everyday Life

I remember when fitness meant spending hours in a gym, pumping iron with no real purpose beyond building bigger muscles or trying to shed a few pounds. Man, how times have changed! https://www.rushwalter.com/how-to-design-your-own-holistic-functional-fitness-routine/ After three decades in the exercise equipment business, I’ve witnessed a complete transformation in how we approach fitness—and honestly, it’s for the…

Functional Training for Athletes: Sport-Specific Applications
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Functional Training for Athletes: Sport-Specific Applications

When you think about specific athletic training – understand it’s way more complex than just lifting weights or running drills. I’ve spent decades working with athletes from all kinds of sports, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that cookie-cutter approaches are basically useless. https://www.rushwalter.com/bodyweight-vs-weighted-functional-fitness-exercises-which-is-right-for-you/ Every sport demands its own unique movement language. I…

Holistic Functional Fitness for Seniors: Safe and Effective Approaches
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Holistic Functional Fitness for Seniors: Safe and Effective Approaches

Here’a a revelation – fitness for seniors isn’t about turning back the clock. It’s about moving better, feeling stronger, and maintaining independence. I’ve worked with enough older adults to know that aging doesn’t mean giving up. https://www.rushwalter.com/7-day-holistic-functional-fitness-program-for-beginners/ Heck, some of my most inspiring clients have been folks in their 70s and 80s who totally crushed…