Madonna heads into virgin territory: Workout DVDs
Whether you love her, loathe her or land somewhere in between, theres one thing about Madonna that everyone can agree on: The woman is in amazing physical condition.
Having turned 54 in August, the pop-music icon and lifelong fitness fanatic last month gave her followers, and fellow exercise enthusiasts, something many of them had no doubt long been clamoring for: a road map for replicating her taut, age-defying figure.
Actually, the road map comes in the form of a four-disc set of exercise videos titled Addicted to Sweat and hosted by Madonnas long-time personal trainer, and the choreographer of her current world tour, Nicole Winhoffer.
The workouts, Winhoffer explains, are a video extension of the unique, proprietary training classes that Madonna and Winhoffer constructed as the centerpieces of Madonnas recently opened, world-renowned Hard Candy Fitness gyms (hardcandyfitness.com) in Mexico City, Mexico; Moscow, Russia; Santiago, Chile; and Sydney, Australia.
On the night we opened the first Hard Candy Fitness, in Mexico City, Madonna and I led the class, and we all had an amazing workout, Winhoffer recalls. The entire gym was so inspired by the class that we made it an official Madonna signature class. Now we want everyone both members and non-members to have access to these amazing workouts.
Considering that Madonna herself does the workouts, wont they be too challenging or strenuous for the average person?
Not to worry, assures Winhoffer: These workouts are effective for all levels of fitness because they challenge all aspects of fitness including toning, conditioning, speed, agility, strength, flexibility and endurance. And even if youre a beginner, theres a great tutorial that includes instructions and modifications for all the moves.
Two of the workout disks are dance-based, designed to get the heart beating and the calories burning. In these DVDs, Winhoffer at times adopts her choreographer persona, as she teaches viewers proper fo! rm and rehearsal techniques before putting the moves into action.
We want people to feel creative, inspired and empowered when they do these workouts, Winhoffer explains.
A third DVD features a brisk, one-of-a-kind, full-body workout thats done simply with a few commonplace household towels. One of my colleagues here at The Palm Beach Post was so enamored of the effects this session had on her abs, arms, back and legs that this workout is now a mainstay in her fitness regimen. (She has also conveniently forgotten to return to me said DVD.)
The final DVD consists of another unique toning/sculpting/strengthening session for which your only piece of equipment is a standard chair. My colleague was equally impressed with the efficacy of this innovative workout (and similarly absent-minded about actually giving me back the DVD).
Winhoffer, whos been working closely with Madonna for more than a decade, says that the results theyve gotten from these workouts exceed all others weve done together. As Madonnas fitness philosophies have evolved over the years, were continually putting together new concepts. These DVDs are the culmination of that evolution.
Even well into her mid-50s, Madonna never sets physical limits on herself, says Winhoffer. Shes fitter, sleeker and stronger than shes ever been.
sdorfman@pbpost.com