★★★★★Jane Fonda’s Workout
Jane Fonda’s original Workout video, first released in 1982, and now available for free on YouTube, was what got your editors through a stint in (trigger warning) hotel quarantine. After a long day watching skiing accidents online and fantasising about how to seduce the security guard stationed on our floor, it was finally 5pm: Fonda time! We’d load her up on our laptop, which we placed on the ironing board in the centre of the room. The pallid walls of the Mercure Welcome—three stars, literally—would melt away as Jane, resplendent in purple leg warmers, guided us through a regimen of stretches, star jumps, crunches, leg raises, and hip thrusters that kept her svelte. It was as if we were there with her, in that light-filled aerobics studio, and not here, rationing the government-issued bottle of Sauvignon Blanc after dinner. After we got out, we had to take some time away from Fonda. But four summers later, when the average Pilates membership costs $10,000, we have returned. It is still a near-perfect at home workout. Challenging but not shattering, the balance of strength, flexibility, and aerobics is just right. The synth-drenched soundtrack is a work of genius. The cinematography, sublime. Jane is still the GOAT. She makes you feel bad in a good way. If she says “feel the burn,” best believe you’ll squeeze your bum just a little tighter. And when you reach the end of the workout, and she smiles directly into the camera and says, “you’ve done a great job, don’t you feel good?” you’ll find yourself nodding giddily. Yes, Jane. Yes, we do. All this for $0 (though we would recommend upgrading your ad blocker to avoid interruption). For an extra thrill, don a leotard and opaque tights, and do it with friends.
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