Ever wonder who was responsible for the fitness conditioning of Rosie the Riveter? Who was behind the training of 150,000 REAL WOMEN of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during WWII? Indeed, beyond the iconic image of Rosie was “THE” Mabel Lee–an Iowa native Physical Education powerhouse who was one of the contributors and regional coordinators…… More
We recently acquired a portable aluminum Elite XL Free Standing Pull-Up Bar by www.TrapezeRigging.com in Florida. For our purposes of using the bar as a restorative tool, this portable rig is great because we needed something that assembles and breaks down quickly and is easy to carry. The whole rig in its carrying bag is about…… More
*Photo by Ron Jones/The Lean Berets. Copyright 2014 We have talked before about the “Golden Era” of American Physical Education and Fitness which was from about 1885-1920. America’s national interest in the physical culture reached into Christian churches as well. There was a time between 1880-1920 when Christians did not show up each Sunday for…… More
“Physical fitness can’t be faked. You are fit, or you aren’t. Strength, stamina, coordination, and stability do not come in bottles, pills, nor powder, nor in foundation garments, nor in diets.” –W.A.C Physical Training Manual & Mabel Lee (1943) What does today’s gym represent? Fitness, sweat, group classes, marketing of products, finding a date, or…… More
We recently helped CSU, Northridge organize a large restorative arts workshop focused on the historical methods of “Indian Club” swinging but also included inversion table therapy, classroom review of the history of physical education and the physical culture, the art of group assembly and formations, bars and calisthenics, mace training, Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy, Neurokinetic Activation,…… More
OK, we’ve sat idly by long enough, watching these god-awful commercials about a special liquid that will give you superhuman strength for say… 5 Hours. Well, action has finally been taken and you have been served the truth! If you’re looking for energy in a small can, make sure you know which one to choose.
More FUNctional Fitness demos by our own Lean Berets Fit Kids. Here’s a cool balance game idea we got from friend Joe Coughlin of Coconut Joe’s Beach Club in California. All it takes is two simple wooden disc you can find at the hardware store and one soft rope about 15′ long. It’s really a game…… More
Posture is boring; so is sitting on the sidelines during the game of life with chronic back pain…by the age of ten. Pre World War II, America did not have problems with chronic back pain. Now over 80% of American adults will suffer from back pain–even higher percentages are manifesting in younger generations coming right…… More
The Kraus-Weber Test was national news back in 1954 for exposing American children as some of the weakest in the world when it came to postural muscles and flexibility. The K-W Test results were so extreme, the report was called “The Report That Shocked The President” because of President’ Eisenhower’s reaction. Because of the Kraus-Weber…… More
Ever taken some “PICAS” (Pee-kas) for a fitness test drive? No? Neither had we until recently when we visited the Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy folks to research the history of Bonnie Prudden who was one of America’s most historic fitness professionals of the last century. The originals came in the 1950s we guess (likely would find…… More