Manliness and money; these items have always been the motivating and deciding factors for strength and conditioning programs. At the beginning of strength training in the 1960s, as we know it today, there was the proper utilization of barbells. Innovators, then figured and assumed there was a better — more efficient way to strength train — started developing machines.

For sometime these machines were utilized, ultimately perfected and eventually commercialized. As Arthur Jones monetized what is today still the best machine and result producing workout, training “purists” doubled down on history — and due to a combination of ignorance, testosterone, fear of change, and fitting in — returned/continued on with free weights.

This is not to say that free weights and Olympic lifts do not serve a purpose at certain times, however when training for sport and trying to avoid injury and increase functioning results, there is no more efficient way than to use Mr. Jones’ equipment, perfected and built 30 years ago. Body builders and jocks have spent the last 30 years fighting against it “being that easy” (machine work), instead proving how many reps of 225lbs they can furiously rep out on the bench and explosively lifting heavy weights using momentum while wearing matching shoes and belts. While this may make you look cool to your teammates or in the gym for a moment, it ultimately leads to injuries and the premature ending of careers.

While strength training rooms have regressed over the last 20 years, commercial gyms and programs have separated and become complete niche markets. Most anyone that wanted to continue to lift real weights moved into the aforementioned weight rooms. As 95% of the American population doesn’t attend the gym regularly, gym and fitness facility owners were and are forced to produce a product that only answers one question, which is profit. As the standard consumer doesn’t understand (and therefore demand) physiologically sound machines like Mr. Jones’, which run about $10,000 a machine, commercial gyms are stocked with cheap — yet pretty and new — machines.

As these machines lead to injury and minimal results, compounded with initial indifference in attendance from the consumer, it is no wonder the commercial gym world constantly has to innovate a new product to excite the consumer to come back. The standard process for a commercial gym or product is “Keep them busy by demanding at least a 5 day a week schedule so as to distract them from their lack of results, money spent, and injuries”.

The programs I know best work for all sports and clients, have been slowly but surely squeezed out of commercial gyms and sport training facilities. After 7 years of searching and building, I have completed a private studio gym and training facility, located in Glen Mills, so as to be able to offer the only access to the proper machines, workouts, and therefore results, in hundreds of miles. Whether for money or manliness, I am certain gyms and training centers will continue on as history predicts. But for me and my clients, I felt an obligation to deliver the best combination of product possible, and now I can ultimately deliver.

If you want to reach the pinnacle of training, whether for sport or life, you will not find a better facility and education of trainer anywhere.

Andrew can be reached at:
Email: TrainHurst@gmail.com
Website: http://myfitnessstation.com/
Twitter: @TrainHurst