Angela Lansbury's Positive Moves: My Personal Plan for Fitness and Well-Being

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Delacorte Press released the book in 1990, following on the heels of Lansbury’s successful VHS workout tape of the same name that capitalized on the celebrity workout craze of the 80s and 90s. When Positive Moves came out, Lansbury was most recognizable as the star of Murder, She Wrote, which was in the fifth of its twelve seasons. Her clothes suited her age, but they were something that older women’s clothes hadn’t been for decades: they were becoming.

We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. It was so well-liked by senior citizens that it pretty much single-handedly changed the way older women dress. I read this in preparation of an "in memorial" episode about Lansbury for my podcast, Advanced TV Herstory.

Lansbury's philosophy was to stay positive about each new day: "I take these few moments to focus on the day ahead. Read all Angela Lansbury, successful film and television actress, stars in this documentary about her personal program for fitness and well-being. Some moments are amusing, such as when Lansbury introduces us to "land swimming", an exercise move she came up with herself, and "moving freely", where she manages to keep a straight face while dancing in a peach-colored jumpsuit to the tape's synthesizer background music. This is a delightful and quick read that one is able to do with the author's voice just saying the words in your head.

Her art shaped my life so I am definitely here for good and the old lady just got 96 (I think) so I assume she knows what's up.

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The tape gives us a look into a typical day off for Lansbury: in addition to exercising and stretching, she takes a walk, polishes her Mercedes, goes for a swim, kneads bread, does a bit of gardening, enjoys a cup of tea, and takes a bubble bath where she reveals that she believes "femininity and sexuality go hand-in-hand" and talks a bit about keeping romance alive after menopause. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) bestowed upon her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. The content and writing style are so breezy and light it feels like you are sitting down with auntie Angela for a good chat. Angela Lansbury, successful film and television actress, stars in this documentary about her personal program for fitness and well-being. But I love that she explains that this is what she does, and not necessarily what everyone should do, because that means that she is sensible enough to know that what works for one person won't work for another.Lansbury did exactly what she said she would do in this book - she answered fans who asked her "What do you do. Yes, the Murder She Wrote star followed in the footsteps of Debbie Reynolds by releasing a workout tape presumably aimed at women of a certain age, although the moves Lansbury demonstrates can benefit anyone. Then, there was the Time of Great Confusion when they all seemed to have gone to the mall en masse and bought parachute-fabric jogging suits. When I was growing up, women over 60 wore flowered house dresses or polyester twin sets — with a fat string of Barbara Bush beads, if they were being fancy. Published in 1990, Lansbury's thoughts on managing her weight, moods, effects of aging and staying mentally healthy are mostly timeless.