Prancercise

Last updated

Prancercise is a holistic fitness method based on "a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward" created by Joanna Rohrback. [1] [2] [3] It has been compared to the low-impact aerobics popularized by 1980s workout videos. [4]

Contents

Many parodies, which have accumulated hundreds of thousands of views, [5] [6] were created in reaction to a Prancercise video Rohrback uploaded to YouTube.

History

Screenshot from "Prancercise: A Fitness Workout" Prancercise Fitness Workout by Joanna Rohrback.jpg
Screenshot from "Prancercise: A Fitness Workout"

Joanna Rohrback graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor's degree in Health Services in 1978. [7] [8] Around 1989 she became a "committed exercise devotee", regularly working out on the Boardwalk in Hollywood Beach, Florida. [9] One morning, Rohrback began "nearly dancing" while power walking, which she cites as the inspiration for prancercise. [10] Later that year, she created the first video to feature the routine entitled “Funky Punky’s Prancercise Program.” [11] [12] [13] She coined the term to elicit the “strength and beauty of a horse.” [14] [15]

In 1994, Rohrback wrote a book about prancercise but couldn't find a publisher. Then, Rohrback became her mother's live-in caregiver. In 2004, after her mother died, Joanna also began to suffer from severe health complications. [16] She was unable to Prancercise for almost nine years. [17]

By her 60th birthday, Joanna Rohrback was able to prancercise once again. [18] On Thanksgiving Day 2012, Rohrback successfully completed a 5k entirely in Prancercise. [11] [19] In December of that year she self-published her manuscript titled, “Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence.” [20] [21] [ better source needed ] Christmas Day of the same year, she uploaded a YouTube video featuring her fitness routine. [22] [ better source needed ] The video went viral with over 10 million views and has attracted international attention. [23] [24]

Prancercise has also been the subject of negative attention, much of it mocking the regimen. [25] [26]

In May 2013, Joanna Rohrback demonstrated Prancercise to Al Roker and Natalie Morales on The Today Show. [27]

In July 2013, she starred in the official music video for John Mayer's hit single Paper Doll. [28]

In September 2013, she appeared in a promotional video for Wonderful Pistachios [29] and e-cigarette brand Bull Smoke. [30] She also appeared on the Comedy Central show Tosh.0 [31] with Daniel Tosh and The Steve Harvey Show. [32]

In October 2013, she appeared on The Dr. Oz show. [33]

In November 2013, she appeared on South Beach Tow. [34]

In December 2013, she was named the Surprise Star of the Year by the CNBC [35] and appeared in YouTube's 2013 Rewind Mashup video, which has garnered over 15 million views in less than 48 hours. [36] [ better source needed ]

In 2013 Joanna Rohrback and prancercise appeared on South Beach Tow where Joanna's car was repossessed and she taught prancercising to Tremont Towing dispatcher Dave Kosgrove who used it to help repossess a car. [37]

In March 2014 Joanna Rohrback appeared in the popular TV show Glee as one of the judges at Nationals. [38]

In November 2017, the YouTube channel Jontron made an ironic review of the workout video. [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack LaLanne</span> American fitness and nutrition guru and motivational speaker (1914–2011)

Francois Henri LaLanne, the "Godfather of Fitness", was an American fitness and nutrition guru and motivational speaker. He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was 15 years old. He also had behavioral problems but "turned his life around" after listening to a public lecture about the benefits of good nutrition by health food pioneer Paul Bragg. During his career, he came to believe that the country's overall health depended on the health of its population, and he referred to physical culture and nutrition as "the salvation of America".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Step aerobics</span> Form of aerobic exercise

Step aerobics, also known as bench aerobics and step training, is a form of aerobic exercise that involves stepping on and off a small platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Austin</span> American fitness instructor, author, and columnist

Denise Austin is an American fitness instructor, author, and columnist, and a former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Jeanette Jenkins is an American fitness trainer and author of The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan - 21 Days to Make Healthy Living a Lifetime Habit book and of various training programs on fitness exercises and healthy eating. She is the founder of The Hollywood Trainer company, which also provides fitness programs and personal coaching for athletes, artists, and entertainers. Jeanette has appeared in training videos on social media, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Tina Landon is an American choreographer based in Los Angeles who has worked with Janet Jackson, Prince, Anastacia, Mýa, Pink, Jay-Z, Marc Anthony, Kristi Yamaguchi, Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Michael Jackson, Ciara, Shakira, Pussycat Dolls, Tina Turner, Britney Spears, and Aaliyah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judson Laipply</span> American internet personality

Judson Laipply is an American internet celebrity from Bucyrus, Ohio. He served as the state president of The Ohio Association of Student Councils from 1993 to 1994. He is best known for his performance in the "Evolution of Dance" viral video clip, which became one of the most famous YouTube videos ever and was the most-viewed YouTube video over three time periods from May 2006 to October 2009. He has worked as a public speaker since 2000. For a brief 29 day period from June 4, 2006 to July 3, 2006 his YouTube channel was the most subscribed YouTube channel which made him the first male individual channel to officially hold the honor.

<i>Sit and Be Fit</i> American exercise television series

Sit and Be Fit is a half-hour television exercise program that airs on KSPS-TV out of Spokane, WA, broadcast throughout the United States to over three-hundred PBS member stations and eighty-six million households. The show focuses on toning and stretching from a seated position, beneficial to individuals who are restricted physically. The show's mission statement is—"Sit and Be Fit is committed to improving the quality of life of older adults and physically limited individuals through safe, effective exercises that are available through television, videos, personal appearances, classes, seminars, books, and the Internet. The show actively promotes functional fitness, healing, and independence, and is an effective resource for professionals in aging and fitness." Launched in 1987, it is hosted by Mary Ann Wilson.

Joanie Greggains (1944–2022) was an American fitness instructor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samwell (entertainer)</span> American singer-songwriter

Samuel Johnson, better known by his stage name Samwell, is an American entertainer whose 2007 video "What What " made him an Internet celebrity.

Harley Samuel Pasternak is a Canadian personal trainer, motivational speaker, author and television host. Pasternak is known for working with many celebrity clients as a personal trainer. He is also known as one of the co-hosts of ABC's 2012 daytime talk show, The Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heather Morris</span> American actress, dancer, and singer

Heather Elizabeth Morris is an American actress, dancer, and singer. She played the role of Brittany S. Pierce in the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee.

Jennifer Cohen is a fitness personality, author and body image consultant living in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

<i>Lynne Perries Alternative Workout</i> 1995 British film

Lynne Perrie's Alternative Workout was a VHS tape released on 15 May 1995. It starred Coronation Street actress Lynne Perrie, who had left the programme the year before after a twenty-three years of playing Ivy Tilsley. It was a parody of a fitness programme, aimed at the comedy/soft-porn market. The video was distributed by a small company, Mastiff World Productions Ltd, and was certified as a 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street workout</span> Physical activity performed mostly in outdoor parks

Street workouts are a physical activity performed in outdoor parks or public facilities. The movement behind street workouts became popular in Russia, Israel, Myanmar, Morocco, Eastern Europe, and the United States, especially in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago,Uzbekistan, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and other urban East Coast neighborhoods. It is a combination of athletics, calisthenics, and sports. "Street workout" is a modern name for calisthenics in outdoor parks. There are also street workout teams and organized competitions for exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, dips, rows, muscle-ups, sit-ups and squats. A street workout also involves static (isometric) holds such as the human flag, front lever, back lever, L-sit and planche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassey Ho</span> American social media fitness entrepreneur

Cassey HoVinh is an American social media fitness entrepreneur with a YouTube channel and a website that sells fitness apparel. In 2013, she received a Shorty Award in the category of social fitness, and was listed in Time's third annual list of "The 25 Most Influential People on the Internet" in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Kang</span> American fitness advocate, coach and blogger

Maria M. Kang-Casler, is an American fitness advocate, coach, blogger, and founder of the No Excuse Mom movement, a nonprofit organization which promotes a healthy lifestyle, centered on diet and exercise, for mothers. Residing in the Sacramento, California area, Kang began competing in beauty and fitness competitions as a teenager, winning several including Miss Petite Teen International, Miss Philippines USA, and Miss Bikini California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Wicks (coach)</span> British fitness coach, TV presenter and author

Joseph Trevor Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, is a British fitness coach, TV presenter, social media personality and author. His fitness method uses High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts. Starting off by posting 15-second recipe videos on social media, Wicks grew his brand to become one of the most followed fitness accounts on Instagram and YouTube. His first published cookbook Lean in 15: 15-minute meals was a best-seller in 2015, having sold over 900,000 copies. He has created a "90 Day Plan" with workouts and meals with portions tailored to the individual. Wicks was awarded a Guinness World Record for "most viewers for a fitness workout live stream on YouTube", after achieving over 950,000 viewers on Tuesday 24 March 2020 for his second live stream.

Chloe Ting is a fitness personality YouTuber based in New York. She is known as the most subscribed fitness content creator on YouTube, and for her workout programs, particularly her "Two Week Shred Challenge" which went viral on TikTok and YouTube during the pandemic in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitness (Apple)</span> Mobile application developed by Apple

Fitness, formerly Activity, is an exercise tracking companion app by Apple Inc. available on iPhones running iOS 8.2 or above for users with a connected Apple Watch, later expanding to all iPhones regardless of Watch connectivity with the release of iOS 16. The application displays a summary view of user's recorded workouts from the Apple Watch or supported third-party apps and exercise equipment, as well as acting as the home for all Apple Fitness+ content.

Fitness Blender is an American digital fitness content publisher founded by personal trainers Kelli and Daniel Segars. The company offers free and paid at-home exercise videos through their website and YouTube channel. In 2017, it was the most-watched fitness channel on YouTube.

References

  1. ↑ "Prancercise - a fitness revolution". 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  2. ↑ "Prancercise: New Exercise Inspired By Trotting Horses Becomes Viral Sensation". 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  3. ↑ "Introducing Prancercise: The Horse-Inspired Exercise Trend". Time. 2013-05-31. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  4. ↑ ""Prancercise" takes Web by storm, but is the exercise effective?". CBS News. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  5. ↑ "Prancercise Parody: Everybody PRANCE Now!". YouTube . 2013.
  6. ↑ "Unicorn Prancercising". YouTube . 2013.
  7. ↑ "Coaching, Prancercise LLC". 2013.
  8. ↑ "The Prancercise Lady Copes With the Dark Side of Internet Fame". 2013.
  9. ↑ "Coral Springs woman gallops into spotlight with 'Prancercise' video". 2013. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ Joanna Rohrback, Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence, (2012), p.5
  11. 1 2 Tolentino, Jia (June 4, 2013). "Interview with Joanna Rohrback, the Prancercise Guru". The Hairpin . Archived from the original on August 27, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ↑ "Legal, Prancercise LLC". 2013.
  13. ↑ "'Prancercise' Creator on Her 'Wacky' Workout and Being Too Famous to Prancercise". The Daily Beast . 2013.
  14. ↑ "Prance like a horse to stay fit". The Times of India . 2013-06-06. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03.
  15. ↑ "What Is Prancercise? How Effective Is Prancercise?". 2013.
  16. ↑ "Prancercise, a celebration of self-expression". 2013.
  17. ↑ "Coral Springs woman gallops into spotlight with 'Prancercise' video". 2013. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Prancercise, a celebration of self-expression". 2013.
  19. ↑ "32nd Annual Tamarac Turkey Trot 5k Race Results". 2012.
  20. ↑ "You Can Prance If You Want To". 2013.
  21. ↑ Rohrback, Joanna (December 2012). Amazon.com - Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence. WingSpan. ISBN   978-1595946904.
  22. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : Original - Prancercise: A Fitness Workout. YouTube .
  23. ↑ "Forget Zumba and Sh'Bam, pony up for the latest fitness fad, Prancercise". 2013.
  24. ↑ "Prancercise Website Introduces a New Horse Exercise for Humans". 2013.
  25. ↑ Sam Laird (2013). "'Prancercise' May Be the Weirdest Workout You'll Ever See". Mashable . Retrieved 2011-09-05. "Much of the attention has been negative, full of snark and mocking Rohrback's unique workout regimen."
  26. ↑ Photoshop Disasters (2013). "Pracercise: Yes, Prancercise". Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  27. ↑ "Do you Prancercise? Fitness sensation goes viral". 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  28. ↑ "John Mayer - Paper Doll". YouTube . 2013.
  29. ↑ "Wonderful Pistachios - Get Crackin' with the Prancercise lady". YouTube . 2013.
  30. ↑ "Joanna Rohrback Prefers being around Bull Smoke E-Cigarettes to Dangerous Tobacco Cigarettes". YouTube . 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
  31. ↑ "Tosh.0 - Prancercise". 2013.
  32. ↑ "The Steve Harvey Show - Prancercise". 2013.
  33. ↑ "Dr. Oz Learns How to Prancercise". 2013.
  34. ↑ "Tow Yard Prancing Caught On Tape". 2013.
  35. ↑ "The surprise star of 2013: The 'Prancercise' lady". CNBC . 2013.
  36. ↑ "YouTube Rewind: What Does 2013 Say?". YouTube . 2013. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  37. ↑ "Dave's Dance Battle - South Beach Tow | Apple TV". 26 November 2013.
  38. ↑ "Poptimal.com -'Glee' Review: The end of glee club? - Poptimal.com". 2014-03-15. Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  39. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : Weird Workout Videos - JonTron. YouTube .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.