Today’s Guest – Jan Manning
1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
Jan Manning, fitness author, age 60. Retired dog trainer/Army officer, now an author of fitness books, and a volunteer dog agility trainer.
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
Jack Lalanne. He and my mother shared an intimate relationship every morning in the living room, and I was the inspired spectator.
3. What did they do to inspire you?
He exuded enthusiasm for a healthful lifestyle and he role modeled what a “fit” person was supposed to be like: energetic, positive, committed, disciplined and spiritual.
4. How did their lesson change your life?
His example set a standard that encouraged rather than belittled. In gym class I was a clutz and received bullying from the gym teacher and classmates. But Jack was my private coach at home who treated me with dignity and made me feel athletic.
5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?
I try to lead by example. At 60, I know I’m more physically fit and capable than many of my young dog agility students. Life is more fun, and agility courses are more fun to run, if you’re physically fit….and it’s never too late in life to set new fitness goals.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
Find joy in moving your body. The body was designed for movement, so just keep it in motion. The quality of your life will be rich beyond words if you find enjoyable ways to move. Discover a passion for an activity that involves movement, whether it’s dance, dog agility, running, or pickleball. It should be an activity accessible to you nearly every day. Learn to enjoy your body in motion, and everything else–diet, sleeping habits, lifestyle–will fall in line to support you.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?