Embracing Mistakes

There are no mistakes in life, just lessons. If you learn to accept mistakes, opportunities in life, and shortcomings, then you feel less stressful and fearful. If you do something wrong, you may get angry with yourself as most of us have a habit of beating ourselves up. Mistakes are gifts. We get to explore areas where we are deficient, need additional knowledge or training, or re-evaluate the approach. When something goes wrong, whether in your relationships, career, business, workout, or diet, there are ways to manage it, move on from it, and grow stronger in the process.

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” -Albert Einstein

Here are 10 ways to help manage your mindset when you feel like you’ve made some mistakes in life. Remember, NWMethod, is all about perception and resetting your mindset to re-focus you. The mind is connected to the body and any physical manifestation is always rooted in the mind first.

1. Be open to making mistakes: accept that you are human. Making mistakes is a part of experience. When you are open to making mistakes, you will progress faster. It’s usually in the failure, where the improvements can be made.

2. Be aware. Look for areas of improvement, be aware of what you are doing and how you feel, how you make others feel. Seek betterment.

3. Accept full responsibility for yourself and your life. Whatever happens, whenever you make a mistake or are involved in a misunderstanding, take responsibility. When you accept full responsibility for yourself, you can accept responsibility for making things right. If something was done poorly, you can fix it.

4. The first time you try something won’t be perfect. Ask yourself why it didn’t work the first time. Learn what went wrong, then apply the change to your next try.

5. The solution is in the mistake: typically you will fail the first time. It is a test to see if you learned something. The growth happens when you apply it to your next go around.

6. If it was meant to be, then it will be. So often we are hung up on our mistakes that we think that was supposed to happen; but it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Something bigger and better is around the corner waiting for you.

7. Mistakes humble you. They keep you grounded and keep your ego in check. Make it ok to make mistakes, your work ethic will thank you.

8. Without mistakes, there is no wisdom. Mistakes allow you to put your wisdom to use and give real advice. Wisdom comes from experience and mistakes, not pages and articles. Mistakes give us insight into our habits of thinking, behaving, and adjusting. Mistakes add meaning, color, and texture to our lives.

9. Taking on challenges build strength. No person in a position of success and power have not failed. They were willing to forget their own path to find the answer. Whatever challenges you are going through - with your body, diet, relationships, business, know that everyday requires practice. When you commit, you will always succeed. Stay committed.

10. Embrace messy learning. Success is non-linear and it’s a constant transformational journey for all of us.

“Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” - Samuel Beckett

Life is a journey. What is most important in your journey is your mind. When you learn, understand, and commit to your growth - each mistake and failure will be considered a gem. If you need 1:1 support and are interested in working with a coach, click the NW 1:1 Coaching Link to work with me. I am here for you and look forward to helping you on your journey to loving yourself deeper and deeper each day.

Love, NW <3

Being Unhappy Allows You to Live a Life you Desire

I often ask myself, "Am I living a life I desire?"

At times its "YES": those moments that are high, exciting, full of energy, and light.  You know those moments, where time stops, and your favorite song is playing, and you are so high on serotonin that you can't even realize that this is your life?!

And then there are the quiet times, when I'm alone: on the plane, in my hotel room, in my apartment, or writing in my journal... and the answer sometimes is "no".  Usually, when change has or is occurring, a challenge arises, I'm looking at my body in the mirror, after a late night room service order (ah-em), or something I wanted to happen so badly, doesn't.

I can't solve a problem of the mind, with the mind.  I ask myself, "What is it that I am unhappy with?  Why in this moment, am I upset, or being challenged?"  Then I turn to my Spirit Guide.  She is light, free, effervescent, and a go-getter.  She accepts any challenge, and turns mud into gold.  She is an alchemist and a sexy, intelligent goddess that guides me on every step of my journey.

In moments where I might not be enjoying a life I desire, or where I might be unhappy, my spirit is showing me who I am!  She is giving me life experiences that teach me where to move, what to do, and where to go.  

These unhappy moments are needed to show us the way.  They are in our lives to show us what little changes we can make to live a life we desire.  It takes some time to know how we feel, what is causing it, and what changes we want to make.  So be patient.  Making changes is not easy, because we are creatures of habit.  What we continue to do for long periods of time is comfortable and familiar to us. Of course it will be difficult to change things!  Imagine one day someone telling you that eating soup with a spoon was wrong, and you now had to train yourself to eat soup with a fork!

Difficult situations are golden ways your Spirit can show you who you are.  

Things don't always go as planned.  You know they say "You plan your life, and God laughs." There is something greater than you and I that is in control.  And it is our ability to connect with this higher source, that allows us a life of trust, freedom, and faith.  If we can step outside ourselves for moments at a time, and take a look at ourselves from another's perspective, maybe we can be a bit more easy on ourselves.  

Embrace unhappy moments.  Be unhappy sometimes!  It's healthy and part of being human.  It is allowing us to adapt and move with the flow of life.  What does it mean to adapt?  Being adaptable is the ability to adjust to new conditions.  According to Charles Darwin:

"it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself."

I find myself in the Happiest of moments and in the Unhappiest of moments --that's what makes me whole.  Check the Method.

Love, 

Nicole

Genius in Bottle!

Okay. I have a challenging job. I teach people how to move, in hopes that they will live a freer, happier and healthier life. I teach mind, body, soul connection using modern music and movement. I have hundreds of thousands of people that have studied with me. It's fun, challenging, and a great workout. 

To live happy, healthy and free is about having fun and being aware. My clients ask me for suggestions of what to drink. I tell them don't drink calories, stay away from juices and sugars. My go-to drink has always been sparkling water, fresh squeezed lime juice and vodka. Low in calories, no artificial sugars, and very refreshing. Skimping out on sugars relieves you of hangovers and calories. Fresh squeezed lime juice and lemon juice offer a great taste with no calories or sugars. Fresh lemon and lime are great for digestion. Going out and having fun is essential to living a happier and healthier life. Restriction is never a good idea - it deprives you of joy and doesn't make you feel free. I never wanted my clients to feel deprived or unable to go out and socialize. We dance and workout all day, and should be able to celebrate and have a fun time without feeling guilty.

I have been doing this for years- on global world tours with Madonna, dancing with Shakira, dancing on Broadway, training hard being as healthy as I can, but also having a good time. 

A couple of months ago, White Claw (whiteclaw.com) contacted me and told me about their product. I couldn't believe how genius it was and that it was a great version of my "go-to" drink - seltzer, a bit of vodka and a fruit flavor in a can! Low in calories and no after taste. I was amazed. I really liked the convenience of it because when we make ourselves a drink we need a lot of ingredients on hand - but this is so easy. I think everything should be done with intention and drinking responsibly is important. Drinking is a celebration and a way to bring people together. Having White Claw around makes it super fun, easy and convenient. Finally they have made a "go-to" drink with all of my needs throughout! I highly recommend this drink for people who want to have a good time, drink responsibly, all natural and great tasking, and love to work out but also have fun too!!

My claws come out for White Claw. :) 

xo - NW

Connecting with your inner self = Better Booty

Happy Monday Morning !  Even though it's still freezing out, I think the universe is giving us more time to prepare for our bikini bods :-)

I had the opportunity to sit down with Editor in Chief, Tiffany Godoy, of The Reality Show Magazine.  She is a wonderful lady and even hand delivered me a copy after my Friday 9am class !  She spends her time between Paris and China (super chic) and of course knew half of the amazing artists that attend my fitness classes in NYC!

Here is the full interview, where I share the importance of intention, energy, and what lies beyond fact. 

Newsflash: The more you connect with your inner self, the better the booty.  I inspire you to reshape your body and chakras for power house strength and confidence.

Enjoy !!

The Reality Show Magazine

Body Work

By Tiffany Godoy

“The body is a physical representation of your mental and emotional well being.”

Nicole Winhoffer

For Nicole Winhoffer, the fitness industry’s newest power player, sculpting the body, mind, and spirit is key.

We love her for a few other things that set her apart from the pack of body beautiful gurus: her workout fashions outdo any club kid’s look.  Her art fetish inspires her as much as Richard Simmons and Flashdance do. She’s danced on Broadway, and kick ball chained her way to coaching Madonna’s tour dancers to being personal trainer to the eternal goddesses herself.  With a freshly inked deal as adidas global trainer and ambassador for the adidas by Stella McCartney collection, and a new DVD series in the works, Nicole is ready to help target our problem areas, one chakra at a time. She joins us between workouts from her gym in New York City.

Tiffany Godoy: Your focus is on sculpting the mind, body, and spirit- can you describe the "The Winhoffer way to Strength and Beauty"?

Nicole Winhoffer: Women have a lot of responsibilities on this earth.  With the pressures to look good and be successful, I wanted to find a solution that allows us to feel beautiful, strong, calm, powerful all whilst looking good.  My philosophy targets the body, the muscles, the chakras, the skin, the mind, and the spirit.  As everything is connected, I wanted to create a workout that targets the problems areas that I heard all women complaining about and give the permission for women to be powerful  and free from negative thought.  Every woman deserves to feel and look like a goddess.  My philosophy is the solution.

TG: Tell us about your interest in chakras, and how you apply this to your fitness philosophy?

NW: The body is energy.  Each chakra, there are 7 total, focuses on certain areas of the body, mind, and spirit.  If one is blocked, it can cause disease, injury, infection or excess weight.  I noticed that a lot of women have excess weight around the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chakra.

The 2nd chakra is sensuality and is located at the lower abdominal and hip region.  Women complain of excess fat, untoned abs, and a saggy bottom.  Women need to feel there sensuality and know it is ok to be sexy.  They must open this chakra and feel comfortable in their own skin.  My exercises around this region are targeted to open this chakra and tone these regions of the body.

The third chakra is the ego and self esteem.  It is located in the stomach region.  Women complain of their abdominal fat and often fat is stored there because they might want to "hide" and not be seen.  This area is crucial to my development of the women's body.  Through exercises and working the abdominals in many different ways, women begin to open up and find results in their abs and their life.

The 4th chakra is the heart located around the ribs-front and back.  This is where we block ourselves if we have been disappointed or feeling alone and abandoned.  The mid back is tight, we are unable to twist and rotate and women complain of their under arm fat and "bingo" wings.  I tell my clients to open their hearts, trust, and be love while developing exercises that tone these regions.

My clients see fast results because it is the intention behind the movement that gives them the power and precision to change their bodies and their lives!

TG: How does the mind affect the body, and the body affect the mind when it comes to weight loss, making changes, motivation for clients and for yourself?

NW: They are connected. What the mind believes the body will follow.  What you create in thought will manifest in life.  Yoga, meditation, and mantras are important to society - I agree.  But sometimes to control the mind only can be difficult for some in our fast paced world.  Some need action, motion, movement to feel like they are changing.

This is where I have adopted the philosophy of movement to change the mind.  Physicality can bring change to the mind.  Through specific movements and patterns, the body learns through action and repetition.  I want to re-teach the body and mind to reset old patterns of muscular and thought behaviors.

TG: What would you say is the body ideal people are looking for now?

NW: Of course all women want to be “skinny".  I see a beauty in curves. I like to mold and shape my women into beautiful hourglass shapes: the V shape.  Men need a bit of curves!  My workout follows this shape and aesthetic.  It's fun ! I'm like da Vinci sculpting the female body! My male clients love my workouts too, it makes them look fit. 

TG: What are your daily rituals?

NW: I love rituals.  I am a Scorpio!. I wake up. Meditate for 13 minutes with my tape.  Write down my ideas. Say thank you to the universe. Make my coffee and breakfast. Eat. Put on my gym clothes. Train myself. Answer emails for one hour.  Meet with my assistant. Train my clients. Practice, study, create for 2 hours.  Go to Yoga. Stretch at home.  Take a bath. Mediate before bed.  Write in my journal (I have my best ideas at night time.) and sleep well.

TG: Favorite workout music for pumping up your game at the moment?

NW: Love FKA Twigs “Two Weeks”, KlangRussell “Sonnentanz”, Basement Jaxx “Lights Down Low’”.

TG: Favorite fitness moments in fashion, film, music videos-looking at your instagram I feel a Flashdance vibe?

NW: Haha. Love the 80s!

Janet Jackson “Pleasure Principle” the best video ever.  This is what I feel like when I'm dancing in the studio and practicing on my own!

Janet Jackson - “Control” performance 1988.

Cyd Charisse movies - her legs and feet are epic.

Madonna Confessions on a Dance Floor,  “Sorry” and “Hung Up” tour performances.

Britney Spears’ 2000 VMA performance super amazing.

Mya - “Case of the EX” music video.

Missy Elliot - ‘She's a bitch’ music video.

Aaliyah “Are you that somebody?” music video - I will never forget this.

Flashdance the movie - J'ADORE! 

TG: One thing that sets you apart is your interest in integrating art and fashion with fitness (thank you!), what art, fashion you are interested in?

NW: Feelings and emotions are a huge part of my work.  Fitness is not just "Do this exercise and get this result". My process includes the idea and creativity behind it.  I gain my inspirations from fashion TV film music icons art and anything that moves me.

Salvador Dali, Alfred Hitchcock, Jeff Koons, Marilyn Minter are a bunch of artists that I love and that move my work.  Art imitates life.

 TG: The fitness industry may have more trends and it-body designers than fashion, what fitness videos, or fitness "gurus" have inspired you we are partial to the old Cindy Crawford videos…

NW: I owned every fitness video as a child. Billy Blanks Tae Boe, Kathy Ireland, Cindy Crawford, 8 Minute Abs, Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda. I did them all in my basement as a chile !

 TG: Do you think that in these times of intense stress people are using exercise to fuel a potential stress addiction- to harden with armor, rather than to escape and get in touch with the inside?

NW: I believe that people need something to turn off their minds.  The American way is to go go go - to work hard, take no vacation, and achieve the dream.  Having a grueling workout allows one of shut off their mind, focus in the NOW, and release the stress through physical activity.  This is what I create for my clients as well.  When you suffer in the room or are faced with challenges, it dictates how you will handle your life outside the studio.

 TG: A new gym in New York, a new series of DVD's, and of course the new gig as an adidas global trainer and ambassador for adidas by Stella McCartney, basically you are on fire! Other ambitions?

NW: I have so much I want to do. And new projects are always coming up as well. Among others, I’m now working closely together with adidas. It is so exciting! I’m an adidas global trainer and ambassador for the adidas by Stella McCartney collection. So I’ll be involved in creating unique training sessions, testing product as well as attending events for the brand, where I’ll have a chance to share my knowledge in training exercises to bring its performance and style credentials to life. Can’t wait for it to go life as we have been working on really great content to be shared very soon. I am an artist so the ideas keep coming in.  Sometimes I have to tell my brain... Stop! One thing at a time!  What I am learning is to just go with the flow.  The universe has me and will guide me the right way.  I am listening more and talking less. 

NW™ Method is now at Gymbox!

Happy Wednesday!!

I am so excited to announce that the NW™ Method has officially launched at Gymbox!

The class is available 7 times a week, once a week at each Gymbox location.

I am so thrilled that Gymbox is where my program is launching. If you are in the UK go get a taste of the NW™ Method !

Don't forget to hashtag #NWMethod to show me your favorite NW™ move!

Check out the schedule at Gymbox

Love Yourself!

Nicole

The Art of Fitness: Net-A-Porter

I am so excited it is finally here!

Fitness is ART workouts are now LIVE ! Project is finished I created this special online workout for Net-A-Porter and Adidas by Stella McCartney. These workouts are a retrospective of my new work as it comes to life‼

Consciousness
Chakras 
Energy 
Chromotherapy 
Movement 
Art 

Fitness is NOT just physical... You are infinite

To view the workouts and get a taste of the NW™ Method click here.

 

Adidas Global Ambassador

Find here the Adidas press release announcing me as their new Global Ambassador!

London, HERE I COME!

So excited to be in London!!

I will be launching my  NW™ method at Gymbox!

Whats going on while I am there?

Friday: Master Class at Gymbox (Private)

Saturday: Appearance at Adidas by Stella McCartney (Private)

Saturday 3pm: Master Class at Gymbox open to the public, sign up under Train With Me!!

Look forward to seeing all of you in the UK!

Fiji water

Check out my blog post for FIJI

People approach me all the time and ask me:

“How do I get rid of this, how do I get rid of that?”

There is a pattern to the “problem” areas of the female figure: behind the arms, the waist, and the area underneath the glutes.  Challenges from droopy skin, excess fat, untoned muscles, and cellulite run rampant in these 3 points.

What’s also interesting is that the pathways of energy (in the Kundalini System for example) contain 7 chakras that align themselves with different parts of the body.

If I were to align the 3 problem areas of women to the corresponding 3 energy systems on its same level:

1) Back Arm Fat correspond to the Heart Chakra

2) Waist corresponds to the 5th Chakra / Ego

3) Saddle Bag area corresponds to 1st Chakra Root.

If your chakral alignment is off balance, the areas of the body that correspond can also be blocked.

My theory is that women and their 3 problem areas correspond to the blocked chakras that challenge and face our inner strength each and every day.

Our hearts are open, we are giving, comforting creatures.

Our egos represent our self-esteem and our worth.  And in our day and age, when we are faced with so many pressures to look beautiful, to act a certain way, and to dress a certain way… it leads to pressure and sometimes a questioning of who we really are and our role in society.  More so than ever, the woman is independent: both providing and taking care of the home and growing less dependent on a partner.  This can be confusing hormonally as (by nature) there is room for only 1 alpha / 1 beta in a partnership.  Often times, the woman is acting as both!

Our Root Chakra is represented by our territory, our footing on the ground, our worlds.  Women are challenged by speaking their truth whether its at work, professionally, at home, or in a relationship.  Our Root and our relationship with our foundation is extremely important in growing into the person we want to be.

So, for these 3 areas of the body… women can be challenged!  In response, we can have problems with the areas of the body because we are not freed in these three chakras!

Being aware and mindful is the first step.  When you are walking, at the gym, or speaking with a friend, bring awareness to these areas of the body and breathe.  We want to bring energy and life BACK in the areas and achieve our sexy balanced body.

Below are 3 moves you can do to target these problem areas!

1) Ab Pass – Pass alternating in between a wide 2nd position.  Use finger tips to squeeze and activate the arms.  50 reps.

2)  Tricep Fire – On all fours, lift your elbow parallel to ceiling at 90 angle.  Complete 50 reps each arm.

3) Saddle Bag Fire – Choose 2 targets and line them up diagonally from your hip bone.  Lie on your side, bend the bottom leg.  Extend top leg straight and create a half moon from front target to back target.  Complete 50 reps each leg.