Elite Muscle Mechanics

07/29/2026

Arthritis?

“I didn’t think anything could be done about my arthritis.”

A client said that to me recently.

Arthritis was their greatest source of pain and frustration, but they believed it was simply something they had to live with.

The reality is that arthritis doesn’t appear overnight.

In many cases, the wear and tear associated with arthritis develops over years as the muscular system gradually loses some of its ability to do its job.

Muscles are designed to absorb force, stabilize joints, and protect your body during everyday movement. When they lose that ability, more stress can be transferred directly to the joints.

Over time, repeated stress can contribute to the wear and tear we recognize as arthritis.

Think of it like your car.

Arthritis is the car sitting broken down on the side of the road.

But the check engine light came on much earlier.

That check engine light is often muscle tightness.

Tightness isn’t always just an inconvenience. It can be your body’s way of telling you that the muscular system isn’t functioning as well as it should.

Ignore that warning long enough, and eventually the joints may begin paying the price.

The encouraging news is that there may still be something you can do.

By improving the function of the muscular system, we can work to reduce unnecessary stress on your joints and improve your body’s ability to tolerate activity.

At its core, Muscle Activation Techniques™ is designed to assess and improve the function of the muscular system.

That’s why, for many of our clients with arthritis, MAT is the first step.

We’re not trying to change the arthritis itself. We’re trying to improve the muscular system surrounding and supporting those joints, so the arthritic areas don’t have to absorb as much unnecessary stress.

And when we can do that, we may be able to reduce painful symptoms and help you become more comfortable and confident using your body again.

If arthritis is limiting what you can do, and you’d like to talk with us about your symptoms, simply reply to this email.

We’d be happy to have a conversation about what you’re experiencing and whether Muscle Activation Techniques may be an appropriate first step.

To your health and independence,

Josh Lewbel, MS, MATm/Rx, CSCS
Elite Muscle Mechanics

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07/24/2026

There's a Season for Starting Again

Most often, achieving something worthwhile doesn’t happen on the first try.

It takes patience.

It takes time.

It takes failure.

It takes trying again.

It takes interruption.

It takes getting started again.

Writing my book has been like this.

Last winter, I made some major changes to the book itself.

Those changes led to major changes at Elite Muscle Mechanics.

Then I had the opportunity to become part of Muscle Activation Techniques’ new Strength Regeneration Program (MAT43).

Over the past several months we’ve been implementing these changes at Elite Muscle Mechanics to significantly improve our clients’ exercise, capabilities and overall outcomes.

We have about two months left before all these updates and changes are complete.

Doing something significant often requires sacrifices in other areas of our lives.

For me, my book and my writing have been that sacrifice during this season.

I’ve dreamed of finally taking the last steps toward completing my book. It’s close—really close.

However, I’m going to have to schedule that work for the fall because I still have responsibilities that will require my time until then.

I’m sure you can relate. There is a season for everything.

If you’ve been thinking about exercise and wondering when your season will begin again, consider setting a date.

For me, that date is October 1st for my writing.

If you need structured guidance and an individualized program, consider working with us in the Exercise Lab.

We currently have three open spots in our morning labs and one in the evening. Reply EXERCISE if you’d like to get started by August 1st or let us know if you have another date in the future that you’re working toward.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your health journey.

Whether you’re beginning for the first time or simply beginning again, remember that progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about continuing to move forward.

Have a great week,

Josh Lewbel, MS, MATm/Rx, CSCS
Owner | Elite Muscle Mechanics

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07/16/2026

Important Update: Appointment reminders will only come the day BEFORE your apt via text message only.

Hey 👋 There,

I’ve been receiving MAT for over 20 years now.

Honestly, I don’t know what my life would have looked like without it.

Would I have needed one or two knee replacements by now?

Would I be living with chronic back pain?

Those thoughts are scary when I stop and think about them.

What I do know is that MAT has brought me out of some very dark places physically. More times than I can count.

The journey hasn’t always been perfect. It’s been a combination of relief and frustration.

I remember what it was like to train hard.

To lift heavy weights.

To chase strength and performance.

Yes, I still had pain back then, but I was young enough to tolerate it and continue making progress.

As the years passed, that became more difficult.

Maybe you can relate.

Or maybe your story is completely different.

Most likely, you’ve had your own unique experience with pain, stiffness, weakness, or discomfort that eventually brought you to MAT.

At its core, MAT helps restore communication between the brain and the muscles. When that communication improves, the body heals faster, moves better, and becomes more resilient.

For me, MAT has been one of the most valuable investments I’ve ever made in my health.

It has allowed me to do the things that matter to me now. Most notably spending pain free time with my family.

It’s also been a tremendous privilege to provide this service to others.

Watching people regain confidence in their bodies, return to activities they thought they had lost, and improve their quality of life is incredibly rewarding.

I truly feel blessed to have found MAT and to share it with so many wonderful people.

Thank you for trusting us with your health and allowing us to be part of your journey.

If you’ve been frustrated by pain, stiffness, weakness, recurring injuries, or the feeling that your body simply isn’t responding the way it used to, don’t ignore it.

The sooner you identify and address the underlying problem, the more options you typically have.

We currently have a limited number of MAT appointments available.

Reply “MAT” to this email and we’ll schedule a conversation to determine if Muscle Activation Techniques is the right fit for you.

Your body is an incredible asset.

Let’s help you protect it.

Sincerely,

Josh

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07/10/2026

The Exercise Bill

This morning, while taking my usual walk near Elite Muscle Mechanics, I saw something that made me stop and think.

A woman, probably in her late 50s, sped past me carrying dumbbells in her hands, while wearing additional wrist weights. She was moving quickly and continuously, performing different arm movements as she walked.

Now, before I go any further, I want to acknowledge something.

Everything that follows is my interpretation.

I don’t know her story.

Maybe she’s training for an event.

Maybe she’s trying to improve her health.

Maybe she’s been exercising that way for years and loves every minute of it.

I genuinely don’t know.

But as I watched her disappear down the path, I felt sad.

Not because she was exercising.

Because she was working so hard.

And after more than 20 years helping people recover from injuries, joint replacements, arthritis, and chronic pain, I’ve learned that hard work and good results are not always the same thing.

In fact, many of the people who eventually end up struggling with their bodies are some of the hardest-working exercisers I’ve ever met.

The fitness industry has taught us that more is better.

More effort.

More sweat.

More fatigue.

More exhaustion.

More suffering.

If you’re not exhausted, did you even work out?

But your joints don’t care how motivated you are.

Gravity is still gravity.

Overuse is still overuse.

As she walked, the shoulders, rotator cuff muscles, neck muscles, upper traps, and surrounding tissues were under constant stress.

Every step.

Every minute.

Every repetition.

The body can tolerate a tremendous amount of stress for a period of time.

But eventually, every exercise program sends a bill.

The question is whether that bill arrives as greater health and function or accumulated wear and tear.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people trying to solve stress with exercise.

Exercise can absolutely reduce stress.

Exercise can improve mood.

Exercise can improve mental health.

But when exercise becomes chaotic, excessive, or emotionally driven, it often stops serving the body and starts taking from it.

That’s why we built The Exercise Lab differently.

We follow Joint Protection Principles.

We control variables.

We restore communication.

We challenge muscles intentionally.

We build strength while minimizing unnecessary wear and tear.

We focus on creating a body that can continue doing the things you love for years and decades to come.

This morning, before my walk, I completed a handful of exercises that challenged my strength without exhausting me.

No punishment.

No destruction.

No trying to prove anything.

Just enough stimulus to encourage adaptation while respecting my body’s ability to recover.

Then I went for a walk.

My joints felt good.

My energy felt good.

My stress level dropped.

And I walked away feeling better than when I started.

That’s the goal.

Not surviving today’s workout.

Protecting tomorrow’s possibilities.

Because what good is losing weight, building strength, or burning calories if the process eventually takes away your ability to move comfortably and enjoy your life?

Health is not about what you can do today.

Health is about what you’ll still be able to do ten years from now.

One of the core tenets of The Exercise Lab is to “control the variables”. That means we are intentional in how we exercise; including every weight, set and reps chosen.

We’re adding a 10:15 Monday Exercise Lab so we have room for 2-3 new participants.

If you’d like to learn how we help people build strength while protecting their joints and maintaining their independence, simply reply:

“Exercise”

and we can set up an Exercise Lab Orientation to see if it’s a good fit.

To Your Health,
Josh Lewbel, MS, MATm/Rx, CSCS

The Exercise Lab
Stronger. Longer. Better.

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07/01/2026

Hey 👋

We did our summer races last week. Naomi ran fast so I’m sharing her race! I’m posting the video at the end after a little rant I wrote about ….

On my trip to Denver this past weekend I’ve found myself thinking a lot about one word:

Discipline.

When you hear the word discipline, what comes to mind?

Most people are disciplined in some area of their lives.

Some are disciplined about keeping a clean house.

Others are disciplined at work, showing up every day ready to do their job.

Many of us try to be disciplined with our eating or exercise.

Interestingly, we tend to be disciplined in the areas where we feel the most confident.

But discipline has an enemy.

Emotion.

Fear.

Anxiety.

Stress.

Drama.

Excitement.

Even enthusiasm.

Emotions aren’t bad. They’re part of being human. But when emotions become too strong, they often pull us away from our long-term goals.

Discipline, on the other hand, keeps bringing us back.

This week I’ve been watching one of my colleagues. Every morning he’s awake by 4 or 5 a.m., reviewing everything we learned the day before before spending another full day in class.

I admire his commitment. His desire to learn is incredible.

But by the afternoon, he was exhausted. His thinking slowed down, and learning became more difficult.

It made me wonder…

At what point does enthusiasm override good judgment?

Sometimes discipline isn’t doing more.

Sometimes discipline is knowing when to rest.

Sometimes discipline is stopping before you create a new problem.

The same applies to exercise.

The same applies to nutrition.

The same applies to protecting your joints.

So I’d love to hear from you.

Reply to this email and finish these four sentences:

Disciplined Eating:
“I will…”

Disciplined Exercise:
“I will…”

Disciplined Joint Protection:
“I will…”

There are no right or wrong answers.

Just honesty.

I’m looking forward to reading every response.

— Josh Lewbel, MS, MAT,
Elite Muscle Mechanics

06/25/2026

Exercise Lab Updates

I want to thank all of you for your participation during the first month of The Exercise Lab.

It’s been fun, it’s been interesting, and we’ve certainly had plenty of changes along the way. I truly appreciate your effort, patience, and willingness to be part of this process as we continue striving to make The Exercise Lab the best experience possible.

Next week, beginning June 30, we will be entering Phase 2 of the program.

As part of that transition, your sets, repetitions, hold times, and training variables will change on each exercise. We look forward to continuing the progression of your strength, endurance, and confidence while staying true to our joint protection principles.

A few important scheduling reminders:

• There will be no Exercise Lab on Thursday, July 2.
• We will resume our normal schedule Monday, July 6.
• We are also adding a new Monday Exercise Lab session at 10:15 AM if you’d like an additional scheduling option.

Great work so far!

I know summer can be a busy season filled with vacations, family events, and plenty of competing priorities. But remember that showing up consistently is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

Every session matters.

Your body appreciates it.
Your health appreciates it.
And that simple commitment to yourself adds up to meaningful results over time.

Keep up the great work, stay dedicated, and we’ll see you all soon as we begin Phase 2!

To Your Health, Strength, and Physical Freedom,

Josh Lewbel, MS, MATm, CSCS
The Exercise Lab
Elite Muscle Mechanics

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06/23/2026

Happy Father’s Day.

Unfortunately, my neck didn’t get the memo.

For the last four or five days, it’s been slowly getting worse. Today, I can barely look up.

What’s frustrating is that I don’t think I did anything extreme. In fact, the activity that seemed to aggravate it is something I normally wouldn’t think twice about. But when there’s already a weakness or imbalance in the system, sometimes it doesn’t take much to push things over the edge.

The good news?

I’ve been here before.

After more than 20 years receiving MAT treatments, I’ve learned that pain is often less about what you did and more about what your body was unable to handle at that moment.

That’s why I’m actually looking forward to Tuesday.

I know there’s a very good chance I’m one treatment away from feeling dramatically better.

Until then, I’ll be doing what I can on my own—some gentle isometrics, moving within my tolerance, and trying to restore a little communication where I can.

It’s a good reminder that health isn’t something you earn once and keep forever.

It’s something we maintain.

Sometimes that means training.

Sometimes that means resting.

And sometimes it means asking for help when your body is telling you it needs it.

Thankfully, I was able to loosen up enough to enjoy the rest of Father’s Day with my girls.

I hope you enjoyed your day as well.

To your health,

Josh Lewbel, MS, MATm/Rx, CSCS
Elite Muscle Mechanics

06/16/2026

I’m so Excited to be sharing the latest updates to our office. We aren’t done yet but after weeks of designing, painting, planning, cleaning , purchasing and moving we are so much closer to being able to share our new services with everyone!

The Pilot for The Exercise Lab has been running even better than expected and our ability to offer Strength Regeneration (MAT43) is closer to being complete. Muscle Activation Techniques Muscle Activation Techniques is still the bedrock of Elite Muscle Mechanics.

These will allow us to continue to serve better and serve more people in their pursuit of exercise, protecting their joints ,living pain free, and physical freedom.

06/12/2026

Avoid potholes.

Hey 👋,

The other day I was doing dumbbell chest presses and discovered one.

My strength actually felt pretty good.

But the movement didn’t feel right.

My shoulder felt clunky.

The good news is that I didn’t overdo it.

I stayed within my capabilities, didn’t push through it, and didn’t notice any significant repercussions afterward. That doesn’t guarantee there aren’t long-term consequences, but in the short term, I lived to fight another day.

The real lesson wasn’t the discomfort.

The lesson was what to do next.

Joint Protection Principle #1 is:

Restore Communication.

Shortly after the workout, I had a Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) session.

Luanne started investigating my shoulder and she found weakness in my latissimus muscles and portions of my rotator cuff.

That’s important information.

Rather than guessing, stretching, forcing more range of motion, or changing my entire exercise program, we’re going to start by restoring communication and seeing what happens.

Next week, I’ll repeat the chest press.

Not more weight.

Not less weight.

Not a different exercise.

Just the same movement under the same conditions with more muscles activated.

Then we’ll see if restoring communication created a noticeable change.

If it did and the clunky feeling is gone then I’ll consider progressing in the following weeks..

If it didn’t, we’ll continue investigating the other muscles of the shoulder and the other Joint Protection Principles until we can come to a solution.

Too often people immediately assume they need a new exercise, a new treatment, or a more aggressive approach.

Sometimes the smartest move is to gather better information first.

That’s what I’m doing.

I’ll keep you posted on what happens next week.

If you think you’ve got some “potholes” in your movement or exercises and want to start down the path of investigating a solution let me or Luanne know.

Have a great day!

Josh

PS If you have a friend who might need help, share this email and send them this flyer!

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06/10/2026

“Stimulate, don’t annihilate.”

A mentor of mine, Tom Purvis, said something years ago that has stuck with me ever since:

“Stimulate, don’t annihilate.”

I finished my workout a few minutes ago.

Five sets of five dumbbell chest press.

Five sets of 15-second isometric deadlifts.

Total workout time: about 15 minutes.

I gradually increased the intensity with each set, but never pushed beyond what my body could handle.

When I finished, I felt great.

No overwhelming fatigue.

No aching joints.

No feeling like I needed a nap to recover from my workout.

I followed it with a 20-minute walk and I’ll be ready to exercise again tomorrow.

And that’s the point.

Somewhere along the way, many people were taught that a workout only counts if you’re exhausted, sore, or barely able to move the next day.

But what if that’s exactly backwards?

What if fitness isn’t supposed to leave you broken down?

What if the goal isn’t to survive exercise, but to use exercise to improve your life?

At the Exercise Lab, we believe your workout should build you up, not wear you down.

A great workout isn’t measured by how tired you are afterward.

It’s measured by what you’re still able to do tomorrow.

Can you walk comfortably?

Can you enjoy time with your family?

Can you play golf, hike, garden, travel, or simply move through life without feeling like your body is holding you back?

Your workout is only as good as your ability to recover from it.

If today’s workout creates so much fatigue, soreness, or joint stress that tomorrow suffers, then the cost may be higher than the benefit.

That’s why the Exercise Lab focuses on:

• Protecting your joints

• Building strength safely

• Controlling exercise variables

• Progressing at a pace your body can actually recover from

• Preserving your ability to do the things you love for years to come

Because independence isn’t built in one workout.

It’s built through thousands of successful workouts that your body can recover from.

The goal isn’t to annihilate yourself.

The goal is to stimulate adaptation while preserving the health of the system.

That’s how you stay active.

That’s how you protect your joints.

That’s how you preserve your independence.

If you’d like to learn more about the Exercise Lab and see if it’s right for you, reply with the word “Exercise” and we’ll schedule a free consultation.

To your health,

Josh

The Exercise Lab - Protect Your Joints. Preserve Your Independence.

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