
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 20, 1994                   TAG: 9408230057
SECTION: SPECTATOR                    PAGE: S-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MARTIE ZAD THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TV EXERCISER DENISE AUSTIN MOTIVATES ESPN VIEWERS

Denise Austin, who bounces and bubbles her way around the world's top resorts each weekday morning on ESPN, doesn't stop after her 30-minute exercise show. Like the Energizer Bunny, she just keeps right on going, all day, all week, all month - all the time.

This week Austin releases her 17th video, "Yoga Essentials." The instructional workout is another accomplishment in the multi-faceted career of this exercise physiologist who strives to leave everyone with what she calls her four special words: "You are worth it."

Austin's motivational style is simple and successful, a positive pitch with plenty of praise. Asking people to be good to themselves, she cautions that "you live only once - this isn't a dress rehearsal." She reminds them that "you're doing this to feel good."

Her proof is simple, too. "People are happy and satisfied after a good workout," she said.

Austin gladly admits her age, 37, but she looks and bobs about like someone a dozen years younger.

Her answer for people who feel sluggish and need more energy is "some form of exercise. It makes them feel better and boosts their self-esteem. To get up and start is the hardest part. Once you've done it, you get a feeling of accomplishment that makes you feel good."

Her own daily routine includes a 30- to-40-minute workout and a brisk walk with neighbors three times a week. The other four days, she works out in the gym of her Virginia home overlooking the Potomac River outside Washington, using her Denise Austin FirmMaster and Denise Austin Treadmill and some yoga stretching.

During the rest of her week, Austin makes and promotes videos; plans and tapes her ESPN show, "Getting Fit With Denise Austin" (weekdays at 9:30 a.m.); does a CVS show to sell her line of exercise equipment; makes many personal appearances to talk about motivational skills as well as exercise habits; and has a 30-minute infomercial.

Austin is also a fitness consultant to many organizations. She is a national spokesperson for Reebok International and a National Ambassador for the March of Dimes Walk America.

In the video business, Austin is closing in on 5 million tapes sold. "TrimWalk," her 16th video, was released two months ago and already has sold more than 250,000 cassettes. Her video workouts are No. 1 at national chains such as Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target.

She said "TrimWalk" was born after she learned that 72 million Americans favor walking as an exercise, and that 65 percent of fitness walkers are women.

"Yoga Essentials," which was taped in Utah's picturesque Zion National Park, presents this form of exercise as an age-old science and not as a religious meditation.

by CNB