“Strong muscles and bones defy the aging process. Margaret Richard’s Body Electric program offers you the spectacular opportunity to realize your fitness potential.”
-Miriam Nelson, Ph.D.,
Bestselling Author of Strong Women Stay Young
Margaret Richard
of Body Electric
Creator, Producer, and Instructor
Body Electric TV was the first televised fitness show to feature exercises using light resistance (weights) performed with popular music. In 1985, Shape Magazine wrote, “Many of us would like to strengthen and firm troublesome body parts, but we don’t want to spend hours lifting weights. Margaret Richard has developed the body sculpture program to take on this fitness challenge.”
Then and now, Margaret’s message—and workouts—go beyond strength and tone. Her exercises offer a way for aging bodies to feel fit without stressing joints, an especially relevant message for the baby boomer generation.
From Stage to Studio
Margaret’s indoctrination into fitness, dance, and show business came at the age of eight. While studying ballet at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Margaret auditioned for Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II for a part in the musical South Pacific. She was cast as Ngana, the plantation owner’s daughter, and sang Dites-moi Pourquoi. That was in 1956, and Margaret Richard hasn’t stopped moving since.
While pursuing her passion for fitness, music, and dance and starting a successful career as a fitness instructor, she was invited to produce a series of 26 shows at WFSU (Florida State University) to be uplinked to the PBS satellite. Thus, Body Electric TV was born in 1984.
In addition to producing 500 TV shows that continue to air on PBS, Margaret Richard has created 40 exercise videos and DVDs and written Body Electric, the book (McGraw-Hill; May 2008). In 1999, Margaret was invited to testify before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. She was also inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2008.
We baby boomers like to rock, but not in a chair!
Today, Margaret Richard’s approach to fitness is more relevant than ever, especially to her fellow baby boomers who want to maintain their strength and vitality throughout their lives. It’s a fact that muscles will always respond to exercise regardless of one’s age, fitness level, or percentage of body fat. You’re never too old to create muscle tone and stronger bones. We baby boomers like to rock, but not in a chair!