The ABC of Yoga (photo: ABC BookWorld)
When I was a kid in Canada during the 1960s and 1970s, some new health and fitness ideas were entering the mainstream, as they always do. At that time the “hot new” thing was yoga, which of course has been a spiritual and physical discipline in India for thousands of years, but it was being introduced to the general public in the U.S. and Canada, thanks to the miracle of television.
Recently I told my mom that seeing her in front of the TV learning yoga is one of my earliest fitness-related memories. My mom also experimented with vegetarian cooking, which she prepared for the whole family, and both Mom and Dad for many years have been fish-eating vegetarians (pescatarian). These days she prefers Pilates classes, and I have discussed my experience with a Pilates DVD in a previous post.
My mom told me those shows I remembered were hosted by Kareen Zebroff, a German-born author, actress, and early yoga pioneer on Canadian television. (She also happens to be about the same age as my mom!) The show was first called Yoga, then Kareen’s Yoga, and its first run was from 1971 to 1977. She had a half-hour daily yoga and nutrition show until 1986.
I’ve been searching for episodes or clips online. Here is a video clip (2012) of Kareen talking about an eagle’s nest located in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she lives. In two minutes, we see a flashback to her show, a summary of her current fitness priorities (yoga of course, but also strength training and walking), and the eagles as an example of her love for nature.
Kareen also appeared as an actress on some TV shows, including MacGuyver (Fire and Ice) and a Canadian classic, The Beachcombers (Mystery Tour).
OK, so maybe I lied a little when I said Kareen was “My first yoga instructor,” but my mom’s example was a fond memory which prepared me when I was re-introduced to the idea by P90X Yoga and Tony Horton.
Do you have any childhood home fitness memories to share?
Kareen Zebroff biography and books published (ABC BookWorld, British Columbia, Canada)
it was my mom as well who introduced me to Kareen Zebroff. I was a young mother, and because of Kareens yoga, my mom looked better, fitter than I did. My young daughter passed away when I was 24, that was when my mom bought me ‘the book’. The abc of Yoga. With the help of my friend, and that book, I believe it literally saved my life. I kept it up for a few years, bought a treadmill, and got away from yoga. Then my mom was in a horrific car accident, which should have killed her. She broke her back, her leg, one arm and her nose. The surgeon told her that if not for her years of faithfulness to Kareen, it would have been worse. She is 87 and still active and young! I’m 66 and back for the 3rd time with the same book, all because my daughter asked if she could now have the book. I found another copy, and loving how I feel.
I am so sorry it took me so long to read this, approve it for the site, and reply. Honestly, I get a lot more spam comments, and I apologize for the delay! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Kareen Zebroff book. I am so happy that it has helped three generations of your family! My mom no longer does yoga, but in her 70s she is still active and doing well too.