Ask pretty much any Canadian over 25. In all likelihood, they remember
BodyBreak, those breezy, 90-second TV spots featuring Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod, who showed Canadians the importance of staying healthy. The series ran throughout the 90s and 2000s, but in a lot of ways, it feels like just yesterday: the catchy theme song; the flashy, nostalgia-inducing graphics; the friendly hosts with 100-gigawatt smiles. Hal and Joanne were the original fitness influencers (long before social media), a one-stop shop for health information, whether they were rollerblading, making fat-free coleslaw or offering us advice on how to prevent a heart attack.
“I think we were ahead our time, giving people information in a quick, fast way. A friend of mine said to me, ‘You guys were YouTube before there was YouTube.’ I thought,
Oh yeah, I guess we were. We gave the audience short little clips with information. And then, boom, it was gone,” said Hal. “As society changed, with social media and a lot more gadgets in our lives, our message stayed the same. Keep fit and have fun.”
This summer, Hal and Joanne took part in the Mattamy Homes Bike for Brain Health in Support of Baycrest, which raised funding for the prevention, detection and treatment of dementia. As part of the fundraiser, participants had the opportunity to ride their bikes along the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway, zooming from lane to lane without any cars in the way, choosing between a 25km, 50km and 75km circuit. Hal and Joanne zipped along the 50km route, before mingling with the other riders.
For Hal and Joanne, the event was a big win-win, giving them a chance to support dementia research and show participants the importance of staying active. “As cyclists, we were very excited to do the ride. It was a great cause and Baycrest has so much history in terms of helping seniors,” said Hal. “As you age, you need to keep your mind engaged as much as possible. Physical activity does that—it keeps you alert, aware.”
Recently, Hal and Joanne became obsessed with cycling. After Hal had a knee replacement a couple of years ago, cycling became a key part of his rehab, because it was a low-impact way to strengthen his lower body and keep his joints moving. It came naturally for Joanne, who was already training for a triathlon. The couple plans cycling trips, whether it’s a week-long, 500km ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., or participating in a 100km charity ride in Halifax. (During the Pittsburgh trip, Hal and Joanne—avid baseball fans—caught a Blue Jays game versus the hometown Pirates.)
“Everyone needs to have things to look forward to, in order to be excited about life. Cycling has impacted us a great deal. It’s not just the physical benefit of getting out there, going for a ride, training. It’s also the mental aspect of it,” said Joanne. “Mentally, you feel really good after you’ve accomplished something, whether it’s a 5km or 40km ride. There’s an increase of oxygen to your brain. We have to think of physical and mental health as being connected.”
Just before the pandemic, Hal and Joanne sold their place in Oakville and moved full-time to their cottage in Muskoka, which they’ve owned for 20 years. That’s where they run their business. Nowadays, the
BodyBreak brand is still alive, albeit in a different form. Instead of pumping out fitness videos, Hal and Joanne focus on speaking engagements and brand partnerships, all while prioritizing their health and wellness.
“We mix a little bit of work with a lot of keeping fit,” said Joanne. “Most of our time is spent trying to stay as healthy as possible. We realize that you need to keep moving, challenging your brain and body. That’s what we’re all about.”
To stay fit, Hal likes to play hockey and take long walks with their dog, Chuck, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He usually eats a big salad every day—packed with beets, lettuce, beans and carrots. Joanne enjoys running and swimming, as part of her triathlon training. When it comes to diet, she places a heavy emphasis on protein, whether it comes from chicken, salmon or Greek yogurt. The protein helps keep her muscles strong.
“As we age, our muscles start to shrink, becoming less efficient at burning calories. That’s why people gain weight as they get older,” said Joanne. “By keeping our muscles strong, it helps with injury prevention, lessening the risks of a fall. And if you do get injured, the recovery time is much quicker.”
For Hal, diet, exercise and fun are the perfect combination for a balanced life. “Taking care of your health is the most important thing you can do in a day,” he said. “When you’re out and being active, the endorphins kick in. It’s a drug that you don’t need a prescription for. You just get out and move your body.”