Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Bruschke.
Hi Lacey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve included my bio below as it summarizes my story. However, to give a few more details:
I am a registered nurse. I was working as a Burn Trauma ICU nurse and injured my back. I hired a personal trainer to help me with my recovery because I was a high school athlete and knew core training would be the most beneficial path to healing. Because of my injury, I was not allowed to do ‘bedside’ nursing. This was devastating to me as I had always wanted to be a flight nurse. Instead, I became a pediatric liver transplant coordinator. I continued to love health and fitness and became passionate about helping others on the preventative side of medicine.
I started teaching group fitness and became a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. During this time, I used a pro slide board and it quickly became the most popular piece of exercise equipment. Everyone loved the exercises so much the gym owner made us remove it from the gym altogether because it was deterring people from buying their other services. It was also very expensive and used for professional athletes, but not the general public.
I saw a need not just for fitness, but for a multitude of reasons. What made the workouts fun was the variety of exercises and the ability to get the intensity without the impact. I tested the product on family and friends, all of whom had incredible success! They all lost stubborn weight and saw significant improvement in injuries that had prevented them from exercising. Because of this, I opened my own fitness studio in 2009 to further test my concept. I was the first boutique studio in Utah! I offered popular classes and Obsidian classes as an upgrade. Obsidian® quickly became the most important feature of the studio. I then went on to sell the Obsidian® Slide Board and workout on QVC, Celebrity Apprentice, The Shopping Channel in Canada, and similar outlets in Australia.
Covid made the manufacturing and distribution much more expensive and complicated. Because of this, I have since put more focus into the studio itself offering classes, private and semi-private training, as well as small group training. I offer video on demand for those thousands of clients across the world that have the portable slide board as well. My passion and focus is in helping my clients love their body, realize their potential, and reach their health and fitness goals.
Bio
Lacey Bruschke, RN/BSN
Founder & Creator of Obsidian® Fitness | Certified Personal Trainer | Registered Nurse | Women’s Health & Wellness Expert
Lacey Bruschke is a registered nurse, certified personal trainer, and the creator of the Obsidian® Slide Board and Obsidian® Fitness. She owns and operates Obsidian® Fitness in Millcreek, Utah, where she specializes in helping women ages 30-75 overcome life’s biggest challenges, including perimenopause, menopause, weight loss, and post-baby fitness.
With over 25 years of experience teaching fitness classes and 18 years of training clients, Lacey’s approach combines her medical expertise with her passion for health and wellness. She invented the Obsidian® Slide Board 16 years ago to offer a safe and highly effective workout for people of all fitness levels, whether athletic, aging, or recovering from injury.
Her signature Obsidian® Slide Board workouts are designed to burn mega calories by targeting multiple muscle groups with a low-impact, high-intensity focus. Each class integrates cardio, strength, core, balance, and flexibility exercises, all while keeping workouts fun, challenging, and never boring.
Lacey’s clients experience remarkable results because of her unique, holistic approach—focusing on both physical fitness and overall wellness. As a mother of three girls, including twins, Lacey is a firm believer in the power of mindset, and she dedicates her career to helping her clients become the best version of themselves inside and out.
Her innovative work has been recognized on national platforms, including QVC and Celebrity Apprentice, and she has earned accolades like Best in Service and KSL A-List for three consecutive years. Nothing brings her more joy than empowering women to feel their best, no matter where they are on their journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road—far from it. I’ve faced plenty of challenges along the way, some of which I’ve mentioned before. But one I haven’t shared as often is the legal battle I had with a former business partner. That lawsuit dragged on for years and was both emotionally and financially draining. Thankfully, I was able to settle it just before getting the incredible opportunity to appear on QVC. Talk about timing!
I’ve also had to deal with difficult landlords—some of whom acted unethically and ultimately forced me to relocate my business. It was frustrating and expensive, but necessary.
And then there was the Pandemic. 60% of gyms went out of business during this time. I was able to adapt as I had my portable slide board and video on demand platform already in place. This literally saved my business. However, it wasn’t without setbacks. Manufacturing became extremely difficult and prices soared which in essence shut down my distribution. Also during COVID, I broke my ankle and tore several ligaments. It required surgery and took 15 months before I could teach again. That was tough—not just physically, but mentally. Teaching is such a huge part of who I am and in my absence class numbers suffered.
To top it all off, our Instagram account of 13 years—full of history, content, transformation stories, and connection—was suddenly deleted. And why? Because the platform flagged me as being under 13 years old. No joke. I submitted everything—driver’s license, birth certificate, Costco card (yes, even that!)—and they still wouldn’t reinstate it. After 30 days, everything was gone. There’s no way to reach a live person, and I’m actually part of a class action lawsuit now because it happened to other businesses too.
I haven’t started a new account yet. Honestly, it still frustrates me, and I have little confidence it won’t happen again.
Through it all, the key to survival—and success—has been perseverance. That, and the incredible support of my family, my team, and my clients. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that resilience isn’t about avoiding hard things—it’s about moving forward anyway. Learning to pivot and adapt has been the lifeblood of my business!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As the creator of Obsidian® Slide Boards and Workouts I have learned that I have a creative side. I am passionate about creating workouts and developing a product that meets all of the needs of a great workout. Such as: core, cardio, resistance training, speed and agility, balance, and recovery all in one, all low impact. I love also meeting the needs of all types of clients. I am known for my tough, no-nonsense approach. My classes are known for being really challenging. I love to remind my clients (and children) “if you’re not challenging, you’re not changing.” And, “the comfort zone is a great place, but nothing grows there.” “Pressure makes diamonds.” Most notoriously, “If you’re not sore, you’re not satisfied.” All of this is in good fun. I am happiest pushing my clients, but also meeting them where they are.
I am also known for my nursing skills. I get calls almost weekly about medical questions. One of those skills I acquired was in wound care. This has been a skill I have practiced over and over as I get calls when someone needs my expertise and help. This is also true with nearly all friends and family that have medical needs or questions. I will find the answer and sit with them in the hospital, whatever is needed.
I am most proud of my children, my three girls. They were very involved in our family business. My girls have each experienced the highs/lows and know the value of hard work. They also know the value of dedication, integrity, and loyalty. Each of them are thriving. My oldest just graduated Summa Cum Laude in Criminal Justice and my twins are both serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
What sets me apart is a genuine, authentic love for health and fitness—and people can feel that right away. In an industry full of trends and surface-level appeal, authenticity stands out. I’m not here to chase fads or do what looks good on Instagram. What you see is what you get.
With a background as a nurse, personal trainer, business owner, and entrepreneur, I bring a deep, well-rounded perspective to my work. But more than anything, I believe this: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” That’s the foundation of everything I do. My clients know I’m in their corner, truly invested in their success.
I have a thirst for knowledge and am constantly pursuing new certifications—not just to check a box, but to better serve the people I work with. I keep my nursing license current, run my business, and train clients—all while staying up to date on the latest evidence-based practices.
You won’t see my degrees, awards, or credentials hanging on my wall, but you will see their impact in how I train, teach, and care. My clients trust me because that knowledge gets applied in meaningful, personal ways.
And finally, the loyalty of my team—many of whom have been with me since I opened—speaks volumes about the culture we’ve created. It’s not just about fitness; it’s about connection, consistency, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best is I have lived her all of my life. Most of my family lives within a few minutes of each other. I love the history of the city, especially the early Pioneers. Their personal convictions and willingness to sacrifice so much inspires me. I have done three pioneer treks with the youth in our stake over the years and have a deep appreciation for the Pioneers. I also love the community feel. I like to say, “Small Lake City.” It seems we are all connected in one way or another! We have so much diversity and culture now in Salt Lake City and endless opportunities in various endeavors. The mountains, lakes, and overall recreation are the best in the country!
I think it’s fantastic we are growing so much (for good reason), but I do not love all of the development. One of my clients had been away for two years on a mission and came back stunned at the changes…especially all of the apartments. I miss the views now that apartment buildings are as far as the eye can see. I also miss original downtown and Sugar House. I am sentimental, what can I say?
Pricing:
- Ranges depending on goals, whether you want classes, private training, nutrition guidance, and which level of trainer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.obsidianfitness.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obsidianfitness/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-bruschke-5a3a9b45
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dashfitnessstudios
