# Prancercise

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Prancercise
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Prancercise.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prancercise
> Source revision: 1308465052
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Prancercise** is a [holistic](/source/Holistic) fitness method based on "a springy, rhythmic way of moving forward" created by Joanna Rohrback.[1][2][3] It has been compared to the low-impact aerobics popularized by 1980s workout videos.[4]

Many parodies, which have accumulated hundreds of thousands of views,[5][6] were created in reaction to a Prancercise video Rohrback uploaded to [YouTube](/source/YouTube).

## History

Joanna Rohrback graduated from [Florida Atlantic University](/source/Florida_Atlantic_University) with a bachelor's degree in Health Services in 1978.[7][8] Around 1989 she became a "committed exercise devotee", regularly working out on the Boardwalk in [Hollywood Beach, Florida](/source/Hollywood,_Florida).[9] One morning, Rohrback began "nearly dancing" while [power walking](/source/Power_walking), which she cites as the inspiration for prancercise.[10] Later that year, she created the first video to feature the routine entitled “Funky Punky’s Prancercise Program.”[11][12][13] She coined the term to elicit the “strength and beauty of a [horse](/source/Horse).”[14][15]

In 1994, Rohrback wrote a book about prancercise but couldn't find a publisher. Then, Rohrback became her mother's live-in [caregiver](/source/Caregiver). In 2004, after her mother died, Joanna also began to suffer from severe health complications.[16] She was unable to Prancercise for almost nine years.[17]

By her 60th birthday, Joanna Rohrback was able to prancercise once again.[18] On Thanksgiving Day 2012, Rohrback successfully completed a [5k](/source/5000_metres) entirely in Prancercise.[11][19] In December of that year she [self-published](/source/Self-published) her [manuscript](/source/Manuscript) titled, “Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence.”[20][21][better source needed] [Christmas Day](/source/Christmas_Day) of the same year, she uploaded a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew) featuring her fitness routine.[22][better source needed] The video went [viral](/source/Meme) with over 10 million views and has attracted international attention.[23][24]

## In popular culture

Prancercise has also been the subject of negative attention, much of it mocking the regimen.[25][26]

In May 2013, Joanna Rohrback demonstrated Prancercise to [Al Roker](/source/Al_Roker) and [Natalie Morales](/source/Natalie_Morales_(journalist)) on [The Today Show](/source/Today_(NBC_program)).[27]

In July 2013, she starred in the official music video for [John Mayer's](/source/John_Mayer) hit single [Paper Doll](/source/Paradise_Valley_(album)).[28]

In September 2013, she appeared in a promotional video for Wonderful Pistachios[29] and [e-cigarette](/source/Electronic_cigarette) brand Bull Smoke.[30] She also appeared on the [Comedy Central](/source/Comedy_Central) show [Tosh.0](/source/Tosh.0)[31] with [Daniel Tosh](/source/Daniel_Tosh) and [The Steve Harvey Show](/source/The_Steve_Harvey_Show).[32]

In October 2013, she appeared on [The Dr. Oz show](/source/The_Dr._Oz_Show).[33]

In November 2013, she appeared on [South Beach Tow](/source/South_Beach_Tow).[34]

In December 2013, she was named the Surprise Star of the Year by the [CNBC](/source/CNBC)[35] and appeared in YouTube's 2013 Rewind Mashup video, which has garnered over 15 million views in less than 48 hours.[36][better source needed]

In 2013 Joanna Rohrback and prancercise appeared on [South Beach Tow](/source/South_Beach_Tow) where Joanna's car was repossessed and she taught prancercising to Tremont Towing dispatcher Dave Kosgrove who used it to help repossess a car.[37]

In March 2014 Joanna Rohrback appeared in the popular TV show [Glee](/source/Glee_(TV_series)) as one of the judges at Nationals.[38]

In November 2017, the YouTube channel [Jontron](/source/Jontron) made a review of the workout video.[39]

## External links

- [Official site](https://www.prancercise.com)

## References

1. ["Prancercise - a fitness revolution"](http://prancercise.com). 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-14.

1. ["Prancercise: New Exercise Inspired By Trotting Horses Becomes Viral Sensation"](http://www.hngn.com/articles/4114/20130531/prancercise-new-exercise-inspired-trotting-horses-becomes-viral-sensation-video.htm). 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-14.

1. ["Introducing Prancercise: The Horse-Inspired Exercise Trend"](https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/05/31/prancercize-horse-exercise/). Time. 2013-05-31. Retrieved November 13, 2013.

1. [""Prancercise" takes Web by storm, but is the exercise effective?"](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/prancercise-takes-web-by-storm-but-is-the-exercise-effective/). *CBS News*. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-14.

1. ["Prancercise Parody: Everybody PRANCE Now!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56l47Nvehs). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2013.

1. ["Unicorn Prancercising"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suau3znYlgo). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2013.

1. ["Coaching, Prancercise LLC"](http://prancercise.com/wellness/). 2013.

1. ["The Prancercise Lady Copes With the Dark Side of Internet Fame"](http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2013-07-18/news/the-prancercise-reg-lady-copes-with-the-dark-side-of-internet-fame/full/). 2013.

1. ["Coral Springs woman gallops into spotlight with 'Prancercise' video"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130602000503/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-30/health/fl-prancercise-viral-video-20130530_1_youtube-channel-gangnam-style-bucket-list). 2013. Archived from [the original](http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-30/health/fl-prancercise-viral-video-20130530_1_youtube-channel-gangnam-style-bucket-list/) on June 2, 2013.

1. Joanna Rohrback, *Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence*, (2012), p.5

1. Tolentino, Jia (June 4, 2013). ["Interview with Joanna Rohrback, the Prancercise Guru"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230827134412/https://www.thehairpin.com/2013/06/interview-with-joanna-rohrback-the-prancercise-guru/). *[The Hairpin](/source/The_Hairpin)*. Archived from [the original](http://thehairpin.com/2013/06/interview-with-joanna-rohrback-the-prancercise-guru) on August 27, 2023.

1. ["Legal, Prancercise LLC"](http://prancercise.com/legal/). 2013.

1. ["'Prancercise' Creator on Her 'Wacky' Workout and Being Too Famous to Prancercise"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/30/prancercise-creator-on-her-wacky-workout-and-being-too-famous-to-prancercise.html). *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*. 2013.

1. ["Prance like a horse to stay fit"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131203053332/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/fitness/39787715_1_workout-routine-prancercise). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. 2013-06-06. Archived from [the original](http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/fitness/39787715_1_workout-routine-prancercise) on 2013-12-03.

1. ["What Is Prancercise? How Effective Is Prancercise?"](http://www.mideastclinics.com/healthNews/17387/RC2/What-Is-Prancercise%3F-How-Effective-Is-Prancercise%3F.html#.UpvGk8RDt8E). 2013.

1. ["Prancercise, a celebration of self-expression"](http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/23/prancercise-a-celebration-of-self-expression/). 2013.

1. ["Coral Springs woman gallops into spotlight with 'Prancercise' video"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130602000503/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-30/health/fl-prancercise-viral-video-20130530_1_youtube-channel-gangnam-style-bucket-list). 2013. Archived from [the original](http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-30/health/fl-prancercise-viral-video-20130530_1_youtube-channel-gangnam-style-bucket-list) on June 2, 2013.

1. ["Prancercise, a celebration of self-expression"](http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/23/prancercise-a-celebration-of-self-expression/). 2013.

1. ["32nd Annual Tamarac Turkey Trot 5k Race Results"](http://www.splitsecondtiming.com/results/2012/tamrun2012.html). 2012.

1. ["You Can Prance If You Want To"](http://www.skybluewindow.org/indianapolis/you-can-prance-if-you-want-to/Content?oid=2179247). *Sky Blue Window*. 2013.

1. Rohrback, Joanna (December 2012). *Amazon.com - Prancercise: The Art of Physical and Spiritual Excellence*. WingSpan. ISBN 978-1595946904.

1. Archived at [Ghostarchive](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/o-50GjySwew) and the [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20130529143349/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew&gl=US&hl=en): ["Original - Prancercise: A Fitness Workout"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*

1. ["Forget Zumba and Sh'Bam, pony up for the latest fitness fad, Prancercise"](http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/forget-zumba-and-shbam-pony-up-for-the-latest-fitness-fad-prancercise/story-fnihsr9v-1226664638571). 2013.

1. ["Prancercise Website Introduces a New Horse Exercise for Humans"](http://topnews.net.nz/content/228027-prancercise-website-introduces-new-horse-exercise-humans). 2013.

1. Sam Laird (2013). ["'Prancercise' May Be the Weirdest Workout You'll Ever See"](http://mashable.com/2013/05/31/prancercise). *[Mashable](/source/Mashable)*. Retrieved 2011-09-05. "Much of the attention has been negative, full of snark and mocking Rohrback's unique workout regimen."

1. Photoshop Disasters (2013). ["Pracercise: Yes, Prancercise"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130619053519/http://www.psdisasters.com/2013/06/pracercise-yes-prancercise.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.psdisasters.com/2013/06/pracercise-yes-prancercise.html) on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-06-25.

1. ["Do you Prancercise? Fitness sensation goes viral"](http://www.today.com/video/today/52055556). 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-05.

1. ["John Mayer - Paper Doll"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=565tXd1UyYI). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2013.

1. ["Wonderful Pistachios - Get Crackin' with the Prancercise lady"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3lRp1vivSo). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2013.

1. ["Joanna Rohrback Prefers being around Bull Smoke E-Cigarettes to Dangerous Tobacco Cigarettes"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVzSsFGnU6M). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-10.

1. ["Tosh.0 - Prancercise"](http://tosh.comedycentral.com/video-clips/o0efj7/prancercise). 2013.

1. ["The Steve Harvey Show - Prancercise"](http://www.steveharveytv.com/prancercise/). 2013.

1. ["Dr. Oz Learns How to Prancercise"](http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/10-things-every-woman-must-know-about-heart-disease?video_id=2710789028001). *The Dr. Oz Show*. 2013.

1. ["Tow Yard Prancing Caught On Tape"](http://www.trutv.com/shows/south-beach-tow/videos/tow-yard-prancing-caught-on-tape.html). 2013.

1. ["The surprise star of 2013: The 'Prancercise' lady"](https://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/10/joanna-rohrback-reflects-on-a-year-of-prancercise.html). *[CNBC](/source/CNBC)*. 2013.

1. ["YouTube Rewind: What Does 2013 Say?"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7jtC8vjXw8). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2013. Retrieved 2011-12-12.

1. ["Dave's Dance Battle - South Beach Tow | Apple TV"](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/daves-dance-battle/umc.cmc.29t50zhf03fi87ouzryqlivhi). 26 November 2013.

1. ["Poptimal.com -'Glee' Review: The end of glee club? - Poptimal.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140315013124/http://poptimal.com/2014/03/14/glee-review-end-glee-club/). 2014-03-15. Archived from [the original](http://poptimal.com/2014/03/14/glee-review-end-glee-club/) on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2021-05-18.

1. Archived at [Ghostarchive](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/qXivpclxftM) and the [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20171125193406/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXivpclxftM&gl=US&hl=en): ["Weird Workout Videos - JonTron"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXivpclxftM). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Prancercise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prancercise) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prancercise?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.