Pop icon Madonna has hailed London-based Pilates guru JAMES D'SILVA as a "genius" after his techniques helped her overcome the injuries she suffered following her horse-riding fall last year (05).

The superstar had to give up yoga and her usual tough work-out regime after breaking bones and ribs in August - so she turned to D'Silva's gentle Pilates exercises to speed her recovery.

She says, "I used to be a freak about doing yoga, but I had to do a lot of Pilates to rehabilitate my shoulder joint and get the use of my arm back.

"I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I stopped doing (yoga) and you shock your body.

"James D'Silva, my Pilates instructor, is a genius.

"Now all of my girlfriends go to him and we're fighting to have appointments."