Joanie Greggains (1944–2022) was an American fitness instructor.
Joanie Greggains | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 24, 1944 |
| Died | May 28, 2022 (aged 78) |
Greggains was the radio host of The Joanie Greggains Show, a weekend health and fitness program on KSRO Radio, Santa Rosa, California. She was also known for her long-running television exercise show, Morning Stretch. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco in spring of 1961.
Career edit
Greggains was a former school and physical education teacher. Her first television appearances were during the exercise segments on "People Are Talking with Ann Fraser and Ross McGowan", a locally produced talk show based at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, in the late 1970s. She continued to appear on the show until "Morning Stretch" made its national television debut in 1978. The show ran in broadcast TV syndication until 1995, moved to cable the following year, where it remained until 2000.
The show featured Greggains and her workout students in either a studio or outdoor environment (depending on weather conditions), with Greggains leading the exercises and bantering with "miked" off-camera crew members while working out. The show's success caught the attention of Elaine Powers fitness control salons, which was looking to expand its reach and strengthen its image. At the time, actress Suzanne Somers was at the height of her popularity and became well known for her health-conscious image. Because of Greggains' close physical resemblance to Somers, and her engaging, upbeat workout style, the company hired Greggains as its Fitness Programs Director. Greggains' role was to develop workout regimens and travel the country to promote Elaine Powers fitness salons when not working on "Morning Stretch" or her other line of fitness audio and video recordings.
She produced, choreographed and starred in 15 exercise videos, receiving two gold record awards, nine gold videocassette awards, and six platinum videocassette awards. Over 10 million copies of her exercise videos have been sold.[1]
Greggains was a special advisor to the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.[2] She was the founder of Fit Camps, which features the Fat Flush programs and taught exercise at her fitness center in Mill Valley, California.
Greggains resided in Northern California. She died on May 28, 2022.[3]
Publications edit
- Greggains, Joanie, Total Shape Up, New Amer Library Trade, 1985, ISBN 0-453-00455-5
- Greggains, Joanie, Twelve Minutes to Super Stomachs, Metacom 1988, ISBN 0-88676-300-2
- Greggains, Joanie, Ann Louise Gittleman, The Fat Flush Fitness Plan, Contemporary Books, 2006, ISBN 0-07-144502-1
- Greggains, Joanie, Ann Louise Gittleman, The Fat Flush Plan, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 2003, ISBN 0-07-143547-6
- Greggains, Joanie, Romanowski, Patricia, Fit Happens: strategies for living a healthier, happier, fitter life, Villard, 1999, ISBN 0-375-50036-7
- Greggains, Joanie, White, Arthur, Back Health, Parade Video, 1990, ISBN 0-88149-364-3
References edit
- ^ Library of Congress, Joanie Greggains biography
- ^ KGO AM radio station, Joanie Greggains biography Archived 2006-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wing, Kevin. "Joanie Greggains, Popular Bay Area TV Fitness and Exercise Host, Dies at 78; Starred in Popular "Morning Stretch" Program on KPIX". Media Museum of Northern California. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
External links edit
- Joanie Greggains show at the Wayback Machine (archived November 25, 2010)
- Shaping Up: Elaine Powers diversifies to build stronger corporate body
- Joanie Greggains at IMDb
- Profile: Health and Fitness