This is an article that appeared in Buck County Magazine April 2026

BODIES IN MOTION

by Vicky Paraskevas Waite,

Back in the 80s, life was defined by materialism, MTV driven pop culture, neon fashion, leg warmers, oversized shoulder pads, big hair and then there was the fitness craze! What really caught my eye back then were a few fitness programs. Bodies in Motion with Gilad Janklowicz, Body Shaping with Cory Everson and Getting Fit with Denise Austin. I really enjoyed watching the various exercising shows and the personalities that went with them. They were really motivated and inspiring to me.

I reached out to see what world renown fitness trainer Gilad was up to. I enjoyed watching him along with his group with constant movements. He's been seen on ESPN, Fox Sports, Discovery Health, Euro Sports and JLTV. A creator of an award-winning home workout, Gilad is an Israeli born fitness personality best known for the longest running fitness television series in the United States Bodies in Motion and for his series Total Body Sculpt with Gilad. Bodies in Motion aired in 1983 and was the first fitness show on ESPN. Gilad’s first television appearance was on the Jack LaLanne Show. Gilad told me that Jack encouraged him to start his own fitness show.

Gilad went on to say how it all started. Born and raised in Israel as a teenager he excelled in track and field. Then he became an athlete in the decathlon. He held a national record that inspired him to make it to the Olympic games. Gilad came to the United States at the age of 21 and started training in California under the supervision of a gentlemen world record holder that took him under his wing, and he started to become very good in his training but unfortunately got an injury on his achilles tendon which lasted for a couple of years and took him out of commission.

This is when Gilad started teaching classes for basic workouts, because he just couldn't do high-level training. He started teaching classes with his experience of the military where he taught the troops, and he combined that experience with his track and field experience and started his own little business. Gilad was now teaching classes all over Los Angeles, California and things kind of took off from there. As his reputation grew in LA fitness Studios, World for Men, Sports Connection and Gilda Marx Studio he attracted big names in the entertainment and sports industry.

In 1983 his television series Bodies in Motion began. Gilad will turn 72 in July and continues his active life. He says he believes in a variety of different activities.

People with chronic pain, Gilad says, it’s important to keep moving. There are ways to work around where certain exercises to do for one’s specific pain. He feels it’s not always about physical ability. It’s about mental obstacles. Sometimes just walking around the block is victory. Gilad TV brings Gilad to your computer, connected TV, mobile phone or tablet virtually anywhere you want him to be. Exercise with Gilad anytime you want to. Log in and choose between all of Gilad’s library of videos, shows and handpicked selections and special features. There is a workout for every day of the week. For more information visit fitwithgilad.com.

I'm summing things up by saying, “It’s not about having time. It’s about making time.” Your bed, Netflix, and Facebook will still be there in an hour. “I promise.” So get your body in motion! And, with any exercise program be sure to consult your physician before beginning.