Is there anyone in the entire world who isn’t astounded by the preternaturally youthful Jennifer Lopez? At 52, the singer’s body remains as toned as ever as she takes on athletic feats like the Super Bowl halftime show and learning pole dancing for her role in Hustlers.
One celebrity trainer she works with is the New York-based David Kirsch. “Whether you’re working with Jennifer Lopez or with someone else, there’s an old Biblical phrase that says, ‘look, listen and teach’, which are very powerful words,” he says of his process over Zoom. “It’s all too easy to put a series of exercises together in a cookie-cutter way. Before you go out and try and impress a client, you want to listen, observe and see what they need, plus what they want and are willing to commit to.”
With 35 solid years in the industry—and a client list that also includes Kerry Washington and Kate Upton—Kirsch says that the difference between a good trainer and one who’s doing it for the Instagram followers (an approach he notes is rife in his industry), is understanding intuitively what an individual needs physically, mentally and spiritually. “That is what is often missing—it’s frustrating that this aspect of training is glossed over,” he says. The “secret sauce” for a successful trainer-client relationship is 360-degree results, he adds.
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So how do you get the sort of results that add up to a body like Lopez’s? Kirsch is emphatic that no two bodies are the same, and that all manner of different factors come into play, including lifestyle, diet, stress and even the kind of people someone is surrounded by. “Jennifer is meticulous about her eating, sleeping and generally about everything in her life,” he says. “It’s not just a physical thing—it’s about transforming every aspect of your life.” He mentions using clever fitness devices that can measure the quality of your sleep (the Oura ring springs to mind), as well as the body’s ability to metabolize proteins, fats and carbs. “The common denominator is always sleep. Resting and restoring is so important for your recovery and overall wellness,” he points out.
A session with Kirsch involves his trademark moves, like platypus walks, sumo lunges, sidekicks and plyometric squat jumps. “Jennifer and I do a lot of platypus walks with a wide stance. Also known as a sumo walking squat,” he says. “It’s great for your inner thighs and butt.” Single leg deadlifts and boxing are also key, plus, Kirsch always incorporates elements of Pilates into the training session.
“We mix some cardio, plyometrics, full body, core and lower body into her workouts—they are very, very intense and she takes it very seriously, which is exciting for someone like me. You say, ‘we’re going to do this’, and she’s like, ‘great!’,” he says. “Her workouts are fast paced. She’s very focused and high energy.” Kirsch, who marvels at Lopez’s work ethic, says the star simply gets “more beautiful” as she gets older.
The pair has also worked together on Kirsch’s not for profit charity, Just For The Children, which came about as a result of the pandemic, after Kirsch and his friend noticed children were spending a worrying amount of time immersed in technology. “Our work is about striking the balance between healthy tech and mindful movement,” he says. “And tackling childhood obesity—Jennifer wrote the foreword to my book and she’s a very big proponent of integrating a healthy lifestyle into one’s home.”