Our Team

Ms. Wilson is the creator and host of public television’s Sit and Be Fit™, the half hour exercise program designed for older adults and those needing slow gentle movement. The syndicated series has been airing since 1987 on PBS stations throughout the United States and Canada. Sit and Be Fit is recognized by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) as a “Best Practices” program in health promotion and aging.

Wilson began her career as a registered nurse, specializing in rehabilitation, post-polio care and geriatrics. Her pioneering work in the field of senior fitness programming has won her international recognition as a leader in the healthy aging movement. In 2017, Wilson was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. She has appeared on the Today Show and been the recipient of numerous national health, wellness and media awards.

Mary Ann is certified by the American Council on Exercise and is a member of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on the Aging. She served on the Fourth International Congress for Physical Activity, Aging, and Sports in Heidelberg Germany, and as a Region 10 delegate to the Health Promotion Institute on the National Council on the Aging. Wilson also served on the National Advisory Board for the American Senior Fitness Association.

In addition to the television series, Ms. Wilson is the producer of 36 home exercise products including workouts for those managing arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and stroke rehabilitation, as well as products for brain fitness, balance, lymphatic health, safe driving and caregivers. Wilson has appeared as a columnist on senior health matters and lectures across the United States on topics relating to senior fitness, caregiving, and workplace wellness. She has published 2 manuals: Caregiver’s Guide to Exercise and Chair Exercise for Seniors and authored the Sit and Be Fit Chair Exercise Basics continuing education course published by Human Kinetics. Wilson teaches senior fitness classes and is Executive Director of the Sit and Be Fit non-profit organization. 

Gretchen Wilson has been with the Sit and Be Fit team for 25 years. She produces and directs the Sit and Be Fit television series and serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the non-profit organization. Wilson is the host of the Boomer Be Fit Workout DVD and appears with her mother, TV host Mary Ann Wilson RN, on the Sit and Be Fit television series. She produced and appeared on a one hour television special, Successful Aging in the Northwest. Wilson is certified as a senior fitness instructor through ACE (American Council on Exercise) and the SFA (Senior Fitness Association). She is a trained SAIL (Stay Active and Independent For Life) instructor and facilitates train-the-trainer courses on topics related to senior fitness and workplace wellness throughout the country. Wilson is a contributing author to the Human Kinetics continuing education course, Chair Exercises Basics, and authored the BET course (Balance Enhancement Training). She’s an active member of the Spokane Falls Free Coalition steering committee, partnering with the Spokane Regional Health District. Wilson has a Bachelor of Arts specializing in business and television production studies from Washington State University and Eastern Washington University.