Dalton Fitness

07/30/2026

Hidden among the Atlantic City, NJ Casinos is the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Pipe Organ.

It is the world's largest pipe organ.

It was doing simple computing before the first computer.

One talented organist created Moog synthesizer sounds with it ten years before we heard the first synrhesizer.

All this with simple wiring and pneumatics.
Built from 1929-1932.

Great Depression aside, we were fitter then. Using simple equipment; gym apparatus, dumbbells, and calisthenics.

No wearables to tell us how many steps to take, how much sleep we missed, or if our heart rate is optimal.

It remains to be seen whether modern technology increases our well-being and longevity.

But looking at history shows us what is possible with basic resources. And begs the question of whether technology is only an unnecessary stressor.

06/04/2026

What appears to be an empty gym is one that's actually full of possibilities.

06/02/2026

It is one of our most fundamental . Avoid training to the point of failure, and you will get stronger. The lifts will become easier. The neural pathway has been "greased" (this is what Pavel refers to as "Greasing the Groove"). Conversely, your neurological system will ALSO "take lessons" from poor reps that you perform. It is counterproductive. Remember, only *perfect* practice makes perfect. Anything less is... well, less.

05/24/2026

The first professional to ever advise me on spinal flexibility was a trapeze coach. He was running an outdoor school in Montreal.

In strength training, specifically hip-hinge exercises, one is instructed to keep the spine stable during the lift.

The trouble is that, without regular mobility work, the habit of keeping a stiff spine results in that spine losing its ability to flex.

This particular coach had the chance to see me in an activity where my inability to lumbar flex was obvious and made for an ugly looking leg pullover.

In a static exam, this would not have been obvious.

The point, to health care professionals and coaches alike, is to observe and assess your patients and students in movement patterns as well as in static postures.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Catching a subtle immobillity or instability before the rigors of heavy work solidify the condition can prevent future injury.

(Photo courtesy BBC)

05/07/2026

The Dalton Dash 5 Miler is on Monday May 25, 2026.

05/05/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marcandresen_in-an-aging-population-interesting-phrase-activity-7453497392013766657-mz3w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAiPehQBHGDXRWeXu5haOhI9o7GoJv4bX3U

In an aging population (interesting phrase; everyone alive is aging) we see an increasing emphasis placed on balance training and preventing falls. In his Movement Podcast, Gray Cook talks about how the fear of falling is partially the fear of being unable to get up, stranded on the ground, once one...

03/24/2026

A man ahead of his time.
I think my grandmother invented virtual exercise, as she always had his show on but never followed along.

Your muscles are protective armor.

Wear them proudly.

They shield your joints.

They support your spine.

They help prevent falls.

They give you the strength to carry your life with confidence.

Muscle isn’t just about appearance.

It’s about protection.

Every time you lift, push, pull, or squat, you’re building armor for the years ahead.

Train it.

Maintain it.

Protect your independence.

03/05/2026

The average response for Emergency Medical Services in rural areas is 17 to 24 minutes. As such,
Dalton Gym is hosting Sandcut Outdoors to offer a Wilderness and Remote First Aid (WRFA) class,
combined with an Adult CPR/AED class, for American Red Cross certification. This class will teach
you the skills that you would need to be able to appropriately respond to a medical emergency in a
delayed care setting, if one should occur on your next adventure or in your own back yard.
This class is designed for giving care in any setting where access to EMS is delayed and is not just for
remote, third world, or alpine settings. The course will cover the fundamentals of wilderness
medicine and will include a combination of lecture and hands-on, skills-based scenarios. Topics
covered will include managing group dynamics during a medical emergency, evacuation
considerations, patient assessment, controlling bleeding and wound care, bone and joint injuries,
head/neck/spinal injuries, cold and heat emergencies, altitude illnesses, patient stabilization and
movement, cardiac and respiratory illness, allergic and metabolic emergencies and much more.
The class will begin with Adult CPR/AED on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 5pm to 9pm. All students
taking the WRFA class are also required to take this CPR class.
The WRFA class will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, 2026, from 9 am to 6 pm each
day.
The cost for the course is as follows: WRFA + Adult CPR/AED - $250/person (both courses bundled
for a substantial cost savings)
No payment is due until the first day of class. Cash or postal money order only, please. (No credit
cards/personal checks/Venmo, etc. will be accepted.)
This class will be held at Dalton Gym, located at 113 N Turnpike Rd, Dalton, PA 18414.
To register for the course, send an email to
[email protected]
For questions call Mike at 570)955-8391 or email the address above.
Registration for this class will close on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Space is limited. Register early to reserve a seat.

02/19/2026

Here is the latest example of why my profession can sometimes be embarrassing. Another 30-day program with outlandish claims.

If you're a beginner to kettlebells, here's the truth:

You will neither build muscle nor burn fat with this program. In order to generate the intensity necessary for those things to happen, you must first become proficient.

With kettlebells, and with any form of resistance training, a good amount of time needs to be spent on learning basics.

What Men's Health won't tell you is that 30 days is really just a start. If you can be diligent and practice, with kettlebells or ANY physical discipline, and invest 300 days instead of 30, you'll have established good habits and then you'll see results.

Good Health to You.