Fox on fitness: the newest news and views on exercise from a versatile leader in the industry - Molly Fox - interview

Houses of worship can take many shapes. For the disciples of The Molly Fox Studio, only one sacred sanctuary exists-the shrine of shape.

A leading aerobics professional on the East Coast for nearly a decade, Molly Fox stars in her own fitness video"'Fat Burning," The Total Body Workout' and "Abs, Thighs and Buns." Recently, American Fitness caught up with Fox in her spacious New York City studio. American Fitness: Would you call yourself a fitness trainer or an aerobics instructor? Molly Fox: Well you know I do both. I instruct aerobics and I train people in fitness. I like to think of myself more as a fitness professional-someone people look to for new trends and new things that are happening.

I'm also a businesswoman-I own a business. I just finished my first book. I wrote a book on step" (Molly Fox's Step On It). Avon will publish it in April. I also plan on doing more videotapes, so I'd like to be known more as an authority to the general public-whom people can look to for what's new, what's upcoming. I'd also like to be known more as a personality. Everyone wants to come and see it if I'm doing it.

AF: Teff us a little about the origins of the studio and your background.

MF: The Molly Fox Studio began about eight-and-a-half years ago. I had originated at the Jane Fonda Studio in San Francisco. I moved to New York for the theatre. I wanted to be an actress and started studying in an acting school on 19th Street. They had a dance room available and I started teaching exercise there. And that's how the studio began. I was there for four years and then my partner Rebecca Thomas and I united, and that's when we incorporated and moved. We started our first studio on 21st Street. We were there for two years and we have been here for two-and-a-half years.

AF: Every studio has a distinctive stamp. Do you think the public has become so aerobic sophisticated you have to cater to too many styles-like the "step" for example?

NU: You know thats a good question. I don't think so. Our clientele are upwardly mobile, professional people. Their general attitude is we want to work out right. So I don't care if I'm stepping on the step," or doing hi/low combo or yoga. I want to know that ifs aU going to make sense and that irs with the best intentions in mind from the studio. As opposed to other places that are high-impact oriented, which is a small part of the market, and that has-in my opinion-a very short fife span.

AF: What is your view of the tape marketing industry?

MF: Well, there are a lot of flash-in-the-pans. Right now selling videotapes is pretty much like buying paperbacks. Theyre so cheap. If you pick one up, like it for two weeks, what did you just spend-$9.99? Who cares?

It's like, OK so you have a collection of videotapes. Now, if someone can sell say, 20,000 units of them, he can make a little bit of money. So it's just so ... out there in that respect.

AF: What was the concept behind Fat Burning?"

MF: It's a protracted workout that's long. It goes on for 40 minutes. After about 20 minutes you kick into the fat-burning phase. So it's a slower pace. There are modifications given throughout the tape. If you're feeling a little too winded, bring it down, modify the movements a little until you recover your breath. And then kick it in again. The idea is that irs a longer workout, a little slower pace.

AF: In The Total Body Workout" you caution viewers about undue stress on backs and knees. What are some of the hazards?

MF: Well, poor form, poor body alignment when the arms are reaching back. Improper alignment with the neck, in the hip and knee joint when the knees go too far forward with the weight, and inappropriate lower back alignment. Every time you add weight to something you're just going to compound it. If there's too much stress on a joint, there's that law of diminishing returns-the more you do it, the less benefit you get.

AF: Tell us about your international work and seminars.

NU: I go to Italy a lot. In fad, I February to teach. I went to the first Italian aerobics instructor convention.

AF: When you do celebrity training, do you find their needs are different?

MF: I would say so. They need to be catered to more, coddled more. I work with Kathleen Turner privately, because she's never felt comfortable coming to a studio. Although oddly enough, years ago when I was in acting school, she did actually come-right after Body Heat came out. Mchelle Pfeiffer, on the other hand, was here at the studio working out two weeks ago. For her it's no big issue.

AF: What is the Molly Fox philosophy?

MF: Do what makes you feel good. Create a body that you feel good with, and enjoy what you're born with. It's never going to change. Have fun with it. Ifs like a game, you know? Put it in perspective. Ifs only exercise.

AF: Can we expect to see a silver-haired Molly Fox 30 years from now giving her students a big hug?

MF: Absolutely! I'll be there

COPYRIGHT 1991 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
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