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
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
Superbowl Sunday! Americans will hear lots of warm fuzzies today about the NFL “Play 60” program. Michelle Obama will maybe even chime in with some Just Move too. While physical “activity” is part of the solution–know the differences between just being physically active and being physically EDUCATED. With today’s children who have developed severe postural…… More
“You don’t know how strong you are until you have to be.” –Evan Strong, USA ParaOlympic Team We had the honor of interviewing Para Snowboard Champion and Olympic Team Member Evan Strong recently for The Lean Berets Radio Show because his trainer Eric Kenyon of Form is Function in Nevada City, CA is a good…… More
January 1st 2014 marked seven full years of exercising at least 30 minutes per day for me–that’s only 2,555 days if you are counting. My quest to return to a more active lifestyle was a necessity after entering corporate wellness full time in 2005. By late 2006, I was really suffering from long days and…… More
I was watching my son in basketball camp the other day “running” speed drills. Well over half of the kids could not run with any sort of proper mechanics. I have coached cross country and track from 2nd grade through collegiate. I started thinking about running as a true complex movement skill that must be…… More
Imagine…a playground with real vertical plus kids that could handle it. This playground is actually SAFER than playgrounds today. Why? NO, it’s not the equipment. Think again. It’s the kids using the equipment–they moved better in these days. They had “real” physical education and real teachers–not someone who just threw the ball out. They were…… More
After a long week of playground angst at Lean Berets Basecamp watching American schools quiver and wimp out instead of supporting active play, cartwheels, and the those sinister off the ground pull up bars, we are taking a strong stand FOR physically ACTIVE children complete with rough housing, running, jumping, spinning, leaping, rolling, crawling, and…… More
“Indian Clubs, Teaching Methods, & Historical Highlights” Certification Workshop The Lean Berets have partnered with CSU, Northridge to bring Iowa Physical Educator and Fitness Historian Dr. Ed Thomas to California for a special one-time only certification workshop. This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the best in the fitness and physical education.…… More
We got some nice feedback recently about our new Functional Independence video on the “Chair Stand” technique. The tutorial explains some simple but effective biomechanics for standing up out of a chair more efficiently. Our video was able to help some seniors that we will never meet in person. That makes us feel good because…… More