Margot Robbie calls him a “legend.” Colin Firth says that it “delivers results I never thought possible.” Claudia Schiffer says it “made me want to exercise.” And Samuel L Jackson insists his methods are “nothing short of spectacular.” David Higgins is the fitness trainer Hollywood stars turn to when they want to feel flexible, agile, confident and pain-free during grueling filming of their biggest blockbuster movies.
The Australian-born trainer, who lives in London with his wife Cara and their three sons, Bailey, Beau and Coby, has built a stellar reputation for his smart conditioning exercises, which focus on functional movement, core strength and postural stability. By learning to move with greater fluidity and control, your A-list clients can handle tough shots, move more naturally, and look their best on screen. However, his methods are designed to work for anyone with bothersome joints or postural issues to address. And though he spends his days training Hollywood actors, Higgins says his movement-based training is perfect for sore office workers and stressed-out parents alike.
“This method is not just for actors, it is for everyone,” he insists. “Our bodies adapt to what we get used to. So if you sit a lot, your body becomes good at sitting, which means biomechanically it tightens the hips, rounds the shoulders and tightens the neck, so we have pain points in the body. Over time that causes bodily dysfunction. So one day you’re brushing your teeth or picking up a bag, and your back goes…”
Higgins’ training philosophy was inspired by his own traumatic experience. He was a talented state-level Australian rules football player until, at 19, he was hit by an illegal tackle that dislocated his shoulder and tore the ribs in his sternum. His career dreams were over, but his ordeal taught her how debilitating pain could be and illuminated the precious value of simple, functional movement.
She then completed a bachelor’s degree in exercise rehabilitation at the University of Victoria and studied Pilates and other training regimens. In 2004, she moved to London, worked hard to set up her own gym and soon began training celebrities like Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell.
“I originally settled in Notting Hill, not knowing it was the epicenter of celebrity, but one thing leads to another: you get recommended and you gain people’s trust,” he says. “So you build a little black book of people.”
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