Dear Exercise Friends, Please forgive this overdo newsflash! We finished taping 20 new episodes in August and are now knee deep into the editing process. I finally have the energy to reach out to you and update you on our progress. Truly, it is thoughts of you that uplifted me throughout this “labor of love” process. I’m excited to tell you about the new series! Read on….
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I thought it would be fun to capture screenshots from the new programs, taped this summer, and share the highlights with you. What makes this Sit and Be Fit series a little different is that we incorporated more guests than usual. Along with my daughter, Gretchen, we had five other special guest instructors you will meet in various segments throughout the series. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to them, one by one.
I was first introduced to Dr. Emily when I signed up for one of her online continuing education classes through ACE (American Council on Exercise). Among other things, Dr. Emily is a human movement specialist, podiatrist, and fitness instructor. On somewhat of a whim, I reached out to her toward the end of our shoot and invited her to tape some segments. To my delight she said, “Yes!”, and flew across the country from New York to spend a day with us. I’m so excited to share her expertise with you. Because her visit came about at the last minute, and at the very end of the shoot, it has been a real puzzle to figure out how to fit her segments in. But, miraculously, it is all coming together and I think you will really enjoy her.
The next guest instructor I am pleased to introduce to you is Tino. Tino has been teaching fitness and specializing in Tai Chi classes here in Spokane for as long as I have (I won’t give away my age by saying how long that is, but suffice it to say it’s been a very long time!) As colleagues in the fitness world, we have run into each other on and off throughout the years. After receiving many letters and calls from viewers requesting that we incorporate more Tai Chi into the program, I reached out to Tino. It was so much fun to be following along with him from the seated position during two different standing Tai Chi segments. I know you will really enjoy it too!
The third guest instructor I’d like to introduce to you is my granddaughter, Maddie, an accomplished dancer, who is now specializing in Flamenco Dance. Her natural grace and elegance are captivating. I am always riveted watching her dance, not just from a “proud Grandma’s” point of view but through the lens of a fitness instructor as well. In the new series Maddie leads a segment based on Flamenco Dance. She also helped us behind the camera as part of the production team. What a joy to have her on set with us. She did a wonderful job!
Another wonderful instructor who appears in one of the new episodes is my neighbor, Toni, who teaches fitness classes at a local studio. I just happened to run into Toni before the shoot started this summer and ended up talking about posture. She showed me some of the cues she uses when she teaches her students how to strengthen their postural muscles. I was so impressed with her technique and the way her scapula movements were perfectly articulated to demonstrate her instructions. Happily, I was able to recruit her to lead one of our weight segments!
The final guest instructor I’d like to introduce you to is Bradie Mae, the daughter of our Director, Angelia. Bradie Mae grew up exercising with Sit and Be Fit and is one of our biggest fans. Though she comes in a small package, she is as confident and composed as any adult. She choreographed five specific movement patterns and put them into a 3-minute exercise segment. It makes me smile every time I see it. During a follow-up interview I asked Bradie Mae why she thinks exercise is so important. It was heartwarming to hear her express how exercise lifts her spirits. Because of time constraints we won’t be able to include the interview in the series but hope to share a link with you in the next newsletter! I know her bright little spirit will put a smile on your face as well!
Along with our five guest instructors, Diana, a physical therapist joined us on an episode dedicated to lymphatic health. As a lymphatic specialist she was able to give a brief overview of the lymphatic system, in layman’s terms, and clarify the important role it plays in our overall health. I am grateful for her willingness to share her expertise with us.
As you can see, there are some exciting new episodes coming up soon. Expect to see them on-air later this year. I hope you enjoy them! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to all of our faithful supporters who made this series possible with their generous donations. We truly could not have done this without you!
Season 14 DVD!
The complete 20-episode Season 14 DVD is is a great way to add 20 full episodes to your Sit and Be Fit library! This 4-disc set is loaded with fun exercise routines designed to help you feel and function better.
