Couple Gets 'Health Wise' with National TV Series

Suzanne Andrews and Glenn Poyer perform routines during filming for the PBS exercise program "Functional Fitness" at The Estate on the Halifax in Port Orange, Florida on Monday, May 20, 2013.
By: News Journal
 
 
3 Levels of Fitness with Suzanne Andrews
3 Levels of Fitness with Suzanne Andrews
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - May 27, 2013 - PRLog -- By Ray Weiss (http://www.news-journalonline.com/personalia/rweiss)
STAFF WRITER

The Estate on the Halifax is a popular spot for weddings given the charming old buildings and quaint grounds.

Glenn Poyer and Suzanne Andrews found the setting desirable for a very different production — the filming of four 30-minute segments of "Functional Fitness" earlier this week.

Andrews, 50, hosts and Poyer, 57, oversees the business side of the exercise program that runs on 95 public television stations nationwide, including the first in 2009 at Daytona State College.

"Ours is unique, more medically based for the 45 to 75 age group," Andrews said of her program's focus, as she waited for filming to start. "They are exercises anyone can do using items from around the house."

Everyday items like water bottles, irons and brooms can find their way into sessions that deal with obesity, COPD, osteoporosis, even incontinence, "something that affects 13 million Americans," Andrews said.

Andrews, a one-time New York City makeup artist for "60 Minutes," soap operas and Geraldo Rivera's former talk show, went on to become an occupational therapy practitioner in 2006, and now lives in Ormond Beach with her husband of five years.

"These are all evidence-based exercises that I teach in therapy," she said. "But they are more pre-hab to keep people out of the doctor's office saving them money on health care bills.  

Andrews' overriding philosophy is "age is not a disease" and "you are your best health-care reform."  "I'm excited about exercise, to help people take charge of their health."

In many of her shows, Andrews offers three modes of exercise — sitting, modified and more active — to fit each person's level of fitness.  Medical professionals and certified fitness professionals demonstrate the exercises alongside Andrews. Kimberly Shapiro, Physicians Assistant and Certified Personal Trainer, Glenn Poyer are shown here alongside Andrews.

"I see too many people jerking a lot of weight, that's an injury waiting to happen," she said. "If you slow down, you get better results."

Next month, Poyer said plans call for additional episodes of the show to be filmed in Victoria, British Columbia, and in Boca Raton in July.

"The goal is to have 15 new episodes by early next year," he said. "There's post production and then everything has to be sent to PBS for approval."

Twenty-five "Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews" shows currently are shown at the discretion of each station's program director from Miami to Los Angeles. The Daytona State College station broadcasts the shows at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on weekdays.

"Some are daily and some are twice a week," said Poyer, a certified personal fitness trainer.

Mike Rentnelli, production manager at WDSC-TV Channel 15 in Daytona Beach, said the first two seasons of the show were filmed at the Daytona State College studio, where Andrews had done a previous yoga show. She and her husband helped cover production costs, working with students and volunteers.

"She had the idea for functional fitness, a realistic exercise program for middle age to seniors at different levels," he recalled. "I thought it was good programming."

Rentnelli said the National Educational Telecommunications Association distributed the show to member stations across the country.

To get Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews on your local Public Television Station contact your hometown station and request the show. You can learn more about the show at http://www.healthwiseexercise.com
End
Source:News Journal
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Tags:Exercise For Seniors, Functional Fitness, Suzanne Andrews, Pbs, Fitness For Seniors
Industry:Fitness
Location:Daytona Beach - Florida - United States
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