Remembering Jack LaLanne
On January 23, 2011 the fitness industry lost one of its greatest icons, Jack LaLanne.
Jack LaLanne was presented with the lifetime achievement award at the 2003 IHRSA conference in San Francisco and we were fortunate to be in attendance. At that time, Jack was 88 years old, still working out two hours daily and following his strict nutritional regiment.
PFP founder, Jeff Russo grew up learning the majority of his body weight resistance and conditioning circuits from Jack Lalanne. In fact, The Jack LaLanne Show was the longest running television fitness show in history airing from 1953 to 1985. With simple equipment like books and chairs, North America was introduced to training and nutritional tips that still work today.
In 1936, at the age of 21, Jack opened up what is considered North America’s first health club in Oakland, California. At the time, doctors recommended their patients stay away from his clubs. They believed working out would promote heart attacks, make them bulky and lead to a loss of sex drive.
Fitness pioneers like LaLanne overcame the ignorance and prejudice of their time, staying the course. Jack was also instrumental in inventing several exercise machines and was one of the first to promote weight training for women, the elderly and for the disabled.
PFP Continues to Recognize the Contributions of the Founders and Icons of the Fitness Industry.
A message from Jeff Russo:
“In 2003 PFP presented a lifetime achievement award to Canada’s version of LaLanne, Mack Miya. Miya opened Canada’s first club in the late 1940’s. He was still working, selling memberships and training people when he retired from his facility at the age of 83. I took many individuals to Mack’s Gym over the years to hear his amazing stories. I would sit for hours, taking the old school ambiance of his hard core heaven on Dundas Street in Toronto. Please take the time to read the PDF article below on this amazing fitness legend and strongman that I wrote for Fitness Business Canada in 2007, two years prior to Mack’s passing. With heart felt gratitude I thank Jack, Mack, Charles, my father and all those who came before for making my business and my profession possible.” –Jeff Russo, Pro Fitness Program Founder
FBC_Mack Miya_JRusso_JulyAug07
