Instructor of the month - James Conrad

LMAP: How did you become a Les Mills Instructor?

James Conrad: I used to work in a corporate office setting where my daily routine revolved around two places: home and the work office. I wasn't a healthy person, physically; I didn’t work out or do much exercise. When my younger sister passed away, my family and I were devastated. My routine still went on, but it felt different; like I was in a darker place. I was not able to focus at work or on anything, really. Carrying the grief made my day-to-day heavier and harder to live with.

I took out a gym membership; maybe I was looking for something different to do in my life back then; perhaps something to make me feel 'change'.

When I first saw a group exercise class, it was a BODYCOMBAT class, and I thought I was watching a cult! People were punching and kicking the air, all hyped up. I asked myself ‘What even are they training for?’ but I passed by the studio and moved on.

Since I was a gym newbie, I didn't know how to work out or even where to start, but I was too shy to ask for help. When I saw a group class where people were lifting weights to music, I thought to myself ‘maybe this can help me learn how to work out properly’. I checked the gym schedule and planned to attend the next BODYPUMP class, and it became my first love! I fell in love with the program and the Les Mills brand.

I started joining BODYCOMBAT too, and quickly fell in love with it – the program music became my daily playlist! I memorised some choreo and tracks by heart. I even tried to do BODYCOMBAT on my own. It gave me a spark. It made me feel genuinely happy, for the first time in months.

I became really into both programs, and I started regularly doing back-to-back classes of BODYPUMP and BODYCOMBAT. When I felt fatigued during a workout, I tell myself that I'm doing the last rep for my younger sister Molly, who passed, and that would boost me to finish and complete the workout.

Les Mills workouts became my new routine. Knowing that I can do these programs gave me something to look forward to in the day. Of course, the grief was still there but this helped me learn how to live with it and accept it. Working out helped make the burden of grief tolerable. BODYCOMBAT really made me feel like a fighter, not just during the workout but it let me release all sorts of life struggles that I'd been holding on to, which felt great.

I’d become a part of my local Les Mills community, and there I discovered a really great class and Instructor, Jatts, who later became my mentor.

I saw a local social media post about an opportunity to become a Les Mills Instructor. I wanted to try it because I believed in the program because of the way it made me feel and how it had helped me, both physically and mentally; and I was sure I wasn’t the only one, so I felt like I could help other people going through the same as what I had. And that became my purpose.

For the love and passion, I became an Instructor. Every Instructor experiences a change, or spark that leads them to decide to teach.

LMAP: What would you like to work towards in your career as a Les Mills Instructor?

James Conrad: I just want to show people that they can feel strong and be strong; and feel happy and fulfilled. I always try to tell my attendees that the good and positive energy they gave to the class, they should bring to outside too. I guess that’s also why ‘choose happy’ and ‘happy workouts’ are so relatable and are in the DNA of Les Mills programs.

As an Instructor, it’s amazing how much self-discovery you can find; there’s so much self-expression you can imprint in your own classes to make it unique. I would really like to explore and get to know myself more through the other programs too.

LMAP: What do you believe are the key benefits of attending Workshops?

James Conrad:Workshops provide Instructors with an international team experience. From how the Les Mills Asia Pacific Trainer and Presenter team study and dissect each Release, to give Instructors guidance and a better understanding of how to teach it; through to the different cultures and outlooks of Presenters who come from both regional and metropolitan… all of these elements can intersect at Quarterly Workshops. It's amazing when you think about it; how Les Mills maintains the quality of its Instructors through Quarterly Releases and Workshops. These things all keep us up-to-date with the modern and evolving world of fitness.

LMAP: What do you like most about In-Person Workshops?

James Conrad:I still believe nothing can top In-Person Workshops! Other than having a big get-together event to reconnect with fellow Instructors, you'll also be able to directly get in touch with the Trainers and Presenters from Les Mills Asia Pacific. It's just a big bonus that you'll be able to do the Masterclass with people who love the same programs as you! For me In-Person Workshops are very personal and special.

LMAP: What do you like most about Online eWorkshops?

James Conrad:It gives people with limited options to attend In-Person Workshops the chance to still take part. Les Mills Asia Pacific really understands the different lifestyles that Instructors have, where some teach full-time, others have a day job, some live miles away, others work night shift, and the list goes on. eWorkshops make sense because they open up more opportunities, and fill the gap for those people who can’t get to Workshops in person.

LMAP: What do you find most helpful about Quarterly Release Kits?

James Conrad:They have everything you need, from the choreo notes to the Masterclass video. I love how they give me a lot of ways to learn the Release. Some days I feel like learning by watching the Masterclass video; some days I just want to listen to the music to get the vibe and imagine how I will teach tracks; most days I like to learn using the choreo notes, which is our manual.

LMAP: What tips can you offer to other Instructors to help them learn new Releases efficiently and effectively?

James Conrad:I guess I am more musically inclined, so I always get excited by listening to the music and imagining the teaching moments that I can do. I try to find musical moments from the tracks that I think are special (music mapping), and from there I build my coaching focus through scripting. I always try to let my personality be part of how I teach.

I'm pretty old school when it comes to learning new Releases, so I do believe that practice and repetition really brings mastery. You might not know it but we're all doing the Feynman Technique of learning or some version of it (if you don't know about it, look it up!)

LMAP: What do you love most about being a Les Mills Instructor?

James Conrad:Being able to see the Release for my favourite program before anyone else – haha! Having a commitment to work out and at the same time fulfilling my sense of purpose. It's like a part of Ikigai (look that up too, if you need to!).

LMAP: What would you tell someone who is considering becoming a Les Mills Instructor, but does not feel ready?

James Conrad: All you have to do is to start! But where? Start inside the group class, If you like it – and you can finish it completely, that's one sign! If your daily playlist is the program music, that's another sign! If you have memorised some tracks by heart and you're confident that you can do it solo, then this is another sign!

But really, what you should ask yourself is, ‘do you feel and see yourself becoming an Instructor in the future?’ That's probably the first thing you need to answer. Then, ask yourself if you have the endurance for the training and if you currently do not, are you willing to get into shape for the training? Then, lastly, think about your level of commitment and purpose. If you have them, then you're ready for it. Also, talk about it with your favourite Instructor – they will be very willing to help!

To learn more, follow James Conrad on Instagram at @Jimmyconradjr or TikTok at@HoyConrad.

If you're ready to help more people fall in love with fitness, just like Conrad, then explore becoming a Les Mills Instructor a www.lesmills.com.au/instructors. Or if you or someone you know has a passion for teaching Les Mills programs and a consistent history of buying new Releases and attending Quarterly Workshops, then you can submit a nomination for Instructor of the Month. To do so, simply email your name and Customer ID to marketing@lesmills.com.au.