Press Releases - Sit and Be Fit

Sit and Be Fit TV Host, Mary Ann Wilson, honored with President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award

[Spokane, WA, July 25, 2019]—The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition has selected Spokane native, Mary Ann Wilson, RN to receive the 2019 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award. The award is given annually to individuals or organizations who improve the lives of others within their community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activity, fitness, or nutrition-related programs.

Wilson is creator/host of the award-winning public television exercise series, Sit and Be Fit. The program, produced at Spokane’s KSPS-TV, has been airing on PBS stations nationwide since 1987. Wilson’s program helps viewers maintain or regain functional fitness and can be seen locally on KSPS public television, Monday-Friday from 11:30 am-12:00 noon.

“We are proud to recognize Mary Ann Wilson for the work she has done to consistently promote opportunities for individuals to lead healthy lifestyles through Sit and Be Fit” says Kristina Harder, acting Executive Director of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition. “Because of Mary Ann Wilson’s meaningful efforts and impactful contributions, we are one step closer to improving the physical fitness, health, and nutrition of all Americans. Her work reaches not only her community, but also serves as a shining example to inspire and motivate others across the United States to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.”

“Mary Ann has worked with dedicated passion throughout her entire career to represent the needs of senior adults and the value for fitness and wellness to be a lifelong and enjoyable pursuit as well as the need for safe fitness to be accessible.” says Diana Smith, a Spokane-based physical therapist. “It is wonderful to have such an excellent program to recommend for physical therapy clients as they look for an effective form of exercise to join, as a starting point to learn confidence and familiarity with fitness or as part of their daily exercise prescription goal. Congratulations and thank you to Mary Ann for her ongoing work!”

This year, the President’s Council presented the Community Leadership Award to 31 recipients across the country. These individuals and organizations have all made an impact by doing work in an area of the Council’s mission, successfully serving the people in their communities through sports, physical activity, fitness, and nutrition-related programs. A full listing of the 2019 Community Leadership Awardees is available on fitness.gov.

About the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition

The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) is a Federal advisory committee supported by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The mission of the President’s Council is to increase sports participation among youth of all backgrounds and abilities and to promote healthy and active lifestyles for all Americans. For more information about PCSFN, visit www.fitness.gov and follow us on Twitter @FitnessGov.

Spokane Regional Health District, Fall Free Collision, introduces the Mary Ann Wilson Award

Spokane, October 13, 2014-The Spokane Fall Free Coalition announced a new annual award, the Mary Ann Wilson Award, honoring an outstanding Eastern Washington community member who goes above and beyond to champion the cause of healthy aging and serving older adults. The first recipient for the annual award, named after senior fitness guru and television host, Mary Ann Wilson, RN, was presented to Wilson herself at last month’s United to Be Fall Free conference held in the Spokane Valley.

“When the idea came up to create a community champion award that would be presented annually, the coalition unanimously decided that we should call it the Mary Ann Wilson Award. We are very fortunate to have her expertise, passion and commitment right here in Spokane,” said AJ Sanders, Health Promotion Specialist at the Spokane Regional Health District.

Mary Ann Wilson, RN, is the Executive Producer, Creator and Host of the nationally syndicated television series, Sit and Be Fit, which has aired

Mary Ann Wilson, RN is the Executive Producer, Creator and Host of the nationally syndicated television series SIT AND BE FIT which has been airing for 28 years on PBS stations throughout the United States and Canada. Wilson has produced 34 home video products, and is the recipient of 24 national health and fitness awards.

“It will definitely be a challenge to find another champion who can measure up to the bar Mary Ann has set,” said Sanders.

For more information:

AJ Sanders, Healthy Communities Specialist/Health Promotion, Spokane Regional Health District, [email protected]

Sit and Be Fit Launches Neuro Rehab Workout

SPOKANE-February 20, 2011-More than 6 million Americans are managing some form of neurological impairment, as a result of but not limited to stroke, traumatic brain injury, MS and Parkinson’s. Each of these conditions affects the central nervous system resulting in challenges with movement, coordination, cognition and balance with various degrees of impairment.

Sit and Be Fit has released a Neuro Rehab workout, short for Neurological Rehabilitation. The workout addresses some of the physical issues of neurological impairment and is designed to be used in conjunction with prescribed formal neurological rehab program after consulting with a health care professional. It features sitting and standing exercises designed to improve function, range of motion, circulation, propriocetion, sensory awareness and balance.

Mary Ann Wilson, RN, host of the TV show Sit and Be Fit has developed a specialized workout targeting those suffering from a Neurological impairment. In this brand-new workout Mary Ann leads participants through a variety of slow paced seated and standing exercises that include facial exercises, finger exercises and movements to improve the muscles of the pelvic floor. Mary Ann consulted with Neurological specialists to create this specialize workout.

A sample clip of this DVD is available at YouTube just click
Neuro Rehab Workout. Or you can visit our website sitandbefit.org.
If you would like a full length DVD to review please email
[email protected].

Sit and Be Fit is an award-winning program that has been on the air for more than 23 years. It airs on 369 PBS stations, reaching more than 66 million viewers age 50 and older. Sit and Be Fit is a non-profit organization and is recognized by the Nation Council on Aging (NCOA) as a “Best Practice” program in health promotion and aging.

TV Host Appears Live in Central Park

SPOKANE–July 20, 2011–Partnering with the New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Sit and Be Fit television host, Mary Ann Wilson, RN, will be the featured guest at two live events in Central Park on Friday, September 23 and Friday, September 30 at 10 am. The free events are part of the inaugural season of “The Scene @ Tavern on the Green” utilizing the iconic Manhattan landmark restaurant location of Tavern on the Green to be a part of “Fitness Fridays”. The live group exercise shows are part of a City-wide effort to draw older adults into the park to enjoy the scenic walking paths and the natural attractions that the 843 acre park has to offer.

Sit and Be Fit has a very strong following in the New York market, including on NYC life (channel 25), where the show has become a favorite among older adult viewers. Wilson’s gentle warmth as a host lends charm to the exercise program which features fun rehabilitative movements set to lively music. “I am excited to have the opportunity to exercise live with my NYC fans and to be part of these wonderful community events that promote active lifestyles!” says Wilson.

“Fitness Fridays @ Tavern” are part of “The Scene @ Tavern,” a partnership between the Central Park Conservancy, New York City Parks Department and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Sit and Be Fit airs weekdays at 3pm on NYC life. NYC life is the flagship station of NYC Media, the official network of the City of New York, and part of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. NYC life programming explores arts and culture, entertainment and lifestyle, history and education in NYC. Visit nyc.gov/media to learn more.

Sit and Be Fit is an award-winning health and fitness TV series created and hosted by Mary Ann Wilson, RN. The program has been airing for 24 years on PBS stations nationwide, broadcast to more than 82 million homes. Wilson has appeared on the Today Show and is the producer of 24 home workout videos. Sit and Be Fit is recognized by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) as a “Best Practice” program in health promotion and aging.

For more information, please contact: Nora Lucero, Newsroom Correspondent, [email protected]

Syndicated TV Series Wins 4 New Awards

SPOKANE–September 16, 2011–Sit and Be Fit’s COPD Workout won the prestigious 2010 Aurora Gold Award in the Fitness and Health category and the 2011 Silver Award from the National Health Information Awards in the Community Organization category. The Aurora Awards are an international competition designed to recognize excellence in film and video. And the National Health Information Awards program honors high-quality consumer health information for health professionals.

The Sit and Be Fit Brain Fitness Workout received the 2011 Merit Award from the National Mature Media Awards in the Healthcare category and the Prevent DVT Special was awarded the 2011 National Mature Media Bronze Award in the National Media category. The National Mature Media Awards recognizes the best materials produced for the senior market and is the largest award program of its kind.

COPD PRESS RELEASE

SPOKANE-January 30, 2010-For people with COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the fear of not getting enough air is very real. It is estimated that there are currently more than 12 million diagnosed cases and up to another 12 million un-diagnosed cases in the US alone.

COPD is an umbrella term used to describe chronic lung diseases that are characterized by progressive obstruction of the airflow into and out of the lungs. Diseases including Asthma, Emphysema, and Chronic Bronchitis fall into the category of COPD.

Mary Ann Wilson, RN, host of the TV series Sit and Be Fit has developed a specialized workout targeting those suffering from COPD. In this brand-new workout Mary Ann leads participants through a variety of slow paced seated and standing exercises utilizing a 12” ball, a towel and hand weights. Mary Ann worked with medical specialists in the pulmonary field to develop the workouts and techniques used in the COPD Workout.

Sample clips of this DVD are available at YouTube just click COPD Workout. Or you can visit our website sitandbefit.org. If you would like a full length DVD to review please email [email protected].