More than 30 years after the launch of Canada’s iconic fitness segment BodyBreak, Hal Johnson and Joan McLeod are back with a new workout that encourages people to get up and move after two years of the pandemic.
The couple – best known for their 90-second TV spots in the late 1980s and early 1990s – said they acknowledged the damage COVID-19 had done to Canadians, both physically and mentally.
“The pandemic really got us out of a disaster somehow – routines were ruled out, uncertainty. We felt on the edge, “said McLeod, who lives in Oakville with Johnson.
“And every time you feel that way or you have some kind of anxiety, the first thing that seems to go away is the foundation – your exercise, your eating habits.
The duo – in partnership with Action Alkaline water – now share the importance of mental health exercises, tips on how to stay active while working from home and watching your activities. For Johnson and McLeod, this is a personal message: two years ago, fear of health took Johnson to the hospital.
The damage from the pandemic
In the last two years, some studies have highlighted the link between high levels of stress and anxiety and reduced physical activity during a pandemic.
A recent analysis of 15 studies found that exercise, even in small amounts, can reduce stress and anxiety.
The couple – known for their slogan “Get fit and have fun!” – is launching new workouts that they hope will energize people who can sit for long periods of time while working from home, and will help reduce stress.
Joger flees Lake Ontario on the shores of Lake Toronto, June 28, 2021 (Evan Mitsui / CBC)
“In general, we have been working from home for the last 34 years. So this is an area we’re really familiar with, “McLeod said.
“These really short workouts will encourage people to just get up, move, increase blood flow, improve your digestive system.”
The couple says it’s a balancing act of eating, hydrating, sleeping and exercising, but also emphasizes the importance of listening to and watching your body.
Two years ago, while playing hockey, Johnson received a signal from his smartwatch – which monitors his heart rate – that told him he had to go to the hospital.
“So I was off the ice. I went and changed. I went to the hospital and they said, “Oh, your heart is in atrial fibrillation,” Johnson said.
Untreated atrial fibrillation can put you at higher risk for stroke and heart failure. A few weeks later, Johnson returned to the hospital for a procedure to return his abnormal heart rate to normal.
“I was lucky that way.”
Advices
As the pandemic dwindles, Johnson and McLeod are returning to a routine that improves both physical and mental health.
Johnson suggests including socialization exercises – something many have been deprived of while working from home.
Screenshot of the BodyBreak segment from the late 80’s / early 90’s for nutritious snacks. (Youtube / BodyBreak Hal and Joan)
“If you have the opportunity, even if you work from home, to say, you know what, I’ll meet someone for lunch or meet someone for a walk… I think that’s the biggest thing.”
“We always thought that if we took one person off the couch, we succeeded,” Johnson said.
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