Ever wondered what your fellow Instructors do when they’re not kicking ass in the studio? 

Muscular balance, better movement control and improved flexibility – it’s all within reach when you take a smart approach to stretching. So, what do the experts recommend? And which moves do the professionals favour? 

She’s danced with J-Lo, Rihanna and Parris Goebel and held a Vegas residency at Cirque du Soleil. LES MILLS INSIDER caught up with Bianca Ikinofo to discuss dance, determination, and why she loves creating choreography for SH’BAM. 

Are you sober-curious? Dry January, AKA going alcohol-free for the first month of the year, is a challenge that helps millions of people reset their relationship with alcohol for the year. Gandalf Archer Mills, Program Director for BODYJAM, has had an evolving relationship with alcohol and has been sober for almost two years now. LES MILLS INSIDER caught up with him to find out what sobriety has done for him.

Les Mills is changing the name of its group fitness class CXWORX® to LES MILLS CORE™. The new name will come into effect with Release 41, set for distribution from March 2021. 

Creative Director Kylie Gates says “LES MILLS CORE is a clear and simple proposition, meaning our club partners and instructors all around the world will see thousands more people doing the workout. This is an amazing and effective workout, and now more people are going to experience it. That’s a game changer.” 

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can be a killer workout. A good HIIT session will push you to the point where your thumping heart feels it may jump out of your chest and your lungs are gasping. You may feel like you’re on death’s door, but intriguing new research suggests you couldn’t be further from it. 

Les Mills Asia Pacific’s Business Partnership Manager Miriam Cohen (NSW) chatted with two of Melbourne’s leading fitness operators, Fiona Kriaris (YMCA Victoria) and Frank Lennard (Glen Eira Leisure) who explain the importance of offering at-home workout options. 

As digital fitness explodes into the mainstream and becomes a basic expectation among members, quality content is now crucial to a club's success. Here are six pitfalls to avoid when devising your club’s digital content strategy, plus some practical solutions to maximise your growth. 

With COVID’s continuation forcing clubs in many markets to limit operations or close completely, operators are embracing innovative solutions to stay in the game. From digital workouts, to new products and political activism, here are 10 ways your club can fight back.

How have clubs globally been impacted by COVID-19? And what steps are they taking to fight back to full fitness? A new 84-page report from ClubIntel has the answers – we’ve drilled into the detail to bring you seven key insights. 

If you’ve been considering getting together with other Les Mills Instructors to participate in the eWorkshops together, then consider no more! Because here’s how successful it can be… 

The Fit Station Caroline Springs is a family-friendly facility that’s been helping people of all ages and fitness levels improve their health, fitness and performance since 2011. 

Located in Caroline Springs (Melbourne, Australia), “The Station” as it’s often referred to, offers Les Mills programs including BODYPUMP®, LES MILLS GRIT® SERIES, LES MILLS SPRINT®, BODYCOMBAT® and BODYATTACK® (soon), with their most popular programs being BODYPUMP and LES MILLS SPRINT.  

Les Mills Asia Pacific asked Frank Lennard (Glen Eira Leisure) for his top tips to creating a high-quality live-streaming experience for members and participants. 

Fusing classic health club community values with lashings of new-school glamour, Coach Gyms is on a mission to bring boutique fitness to the masses. Founder and CEO Stuart Perrin gives us the lowdown on his bold new concept. 

Far from being a cost centre, a solid group fitness setup can be the backbone of your club and a major driver of revenue. Here are eight simple steps to turn your group fitness offering into a profit powerhouse. 

Spanning 1,500 facilities across 20 countries, ClubIntel’s 2019 global trends report offers fresh insight into what’s hot in the world of fitness and how clubs are evolving to meet new challenges. We look at five standout findings for the future of group workouts.

Determined to kickstart the busy new year period with a dynamic event to engage the community, The YMCA Association of Northwest North Carolina (USA) staged a group fitness rock concert, which left members howling for an encore. Here’s how they did it. 

As Managing Director of Virgin Active Southeast Asia, Christian Mason has spent the last five years launching the global gym giant into exciting new markets, while simultaneously reinventing the club proposition to counter new challengers. He shares key learnings on scaling a gym business in a foreign environment and how big box gyms can fight back in battle against boutiques. 

The pernicious spread of COVID-19 means it’s likely a case of when, not if, an infected member will attend your club. Here’s how one major club chain dealt with a case, avoided community transmission, and even attracted new members in the immediate aftermath. 

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X. In today’s uncertain times, it can be tempting to sit on your hands and wait for a sign from above as to what your next steps should be. Here’s why taking action now and continuing to invest in your Instructor education will pay off in more ways than just having a better understanding of Layer 2.

New research shows being obese increases the risk of suffering severely from COVID-19 – yet another reason why your role as an Instructor is so crucial.

How are you feeling about returning to teaching post-lockdown? Excited? Nervous? Worried you won’t remember how to teach?! We’ve got you covered. With New Zealand being one of the first countries in the world to have their gyms reopen, we asked some of our local Instructors to share their tips.

The current situation is giving us all the opportunity to do things differently. Les Mills wants to ensure Instructors can still complete Initial Module Training, which is why they’ve transformed two of the three training days into an online format! Whether you’re brand new to teaching, or an experienced Instructor looking to pick up an additional program, read on for all of the amazing benefits of enrolling now.

Right now it seems like the whole world has jumped on social media and is clamouring to be heard. Beyond simply showing your lockdown lunch, there’s a real opportunity here to grow your own personal brand. Read on for how to make your voice a compelling part of the conversation.

Les Mills Ambassador Caley Jack returned home to her native South Africa and went straight into the country’s COVID-19 enforced lockdown. She shares her thoughts on self-isolation, pregnancy, and how she stays positive in the face of uncertainty.

Whether you’re currently teaching live classes or patiently waiting for your club to re-open, COVID-19 has significantly changed the studio dynamic. In addition to following your country’s guidelines and club policies, here are seven easy ways you can help look after your members’ health.

Want to know how Rach maintains that amazing physique and copes with the challenge of a life on the road? Here she is in her own words.

When the camera goes on, Program Director Rachael Newsham always delivers. However, her professionalism can belie the very relatable anxiety around doing that which is out of our comfort zone. Here, Rach shares the intense vulnerability she felt around letting the camera into her home to deliver her first live-streaming class, and how she tackled it.

Pioneering clubs are using the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to transform their offering. Through smart use of technology and an agile mindset, operators are future-proofing their offline business by building new online revenue streams and growing their audience. Here’s how. 

While many of the world’s gyms are currently in coronavirus-enforced lockdown, clubs in China are reopening and running classes. Les Mills China CEO Jane Jiang shares key learnings on how Chinese clubs have kickstarted their post COVID-19 recovery, what clubs around the world can expect to encounter, and explains why the current crisis represents a golden opportunity for operators to transform their clubs. 

While unprecedented for most, the COVID-19 enforced club lockdown poses many familiar challenges for fitness legend Carrie Kepple, who led the relaunch of Les Mills Christchurch after a devastating earthquake in 2011. In this Q&A she shares her carefully-honed leadership approach for putting clubs back on track and explains why COVID-19 represents a big opportunity to future-proof your business. 

Yan Li and Yu Xiaocao are a husband and wife TAP team duo who have spent months dealing with lockdown in the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. Here they talk about the challenges they’ve faced living in China’s worst-hit area and the steps they’ve taken to get though in good health.

Kylie Gates is Creative Director and Head Program Coach for BODYBALANCE® / BODYFLOW®, as well as a qualified yoga teacher. Here, she shares how yoga and meditation – as well as sleep – help her to maintain mental and physical equilibrium during times of high stress. 

A full yoga class in BODYBALANCE®, tuck jumps in BODYATTACK®, agility and a total switch up of BODYJAM®? The new releases are on their way and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on them! 

In these uncertain times all of us in the fitness industry are finding it tough.  We’re in this together and Les Mills want you to know that Instructors remain front of mind at all times. Read on to find out exactly how we are supporting you and your club right now. 

While many of the world’s gyms are currently in COVID-19-enforced lockdown, clubs in China are already reopening and running classes. We look at how three leading operators in China weathered the storm and used agile thinking to turn chaos into opportunity. 

As the fitness sector is confronted with its greatest ever challenge, clubs worldwide are pulling out all the stops to keep their members active and engaged. But what should we be saying to them? And what channels should we be using? Here are 5 tips for keeping your club members engaged during the coronavirus outbreak. 

As Tribe Talk recently told you, we currently have a company-wide focus on BODYCOMBAT for six months. This involves promoting the program to both clubs and participants alike to encourage them to try the workout – with an overarching goal of helping you to fill your classes!

Have you ever experienced an Instructor who has an almost cult-like following? Perhaps you’re that Instructor in your club who inspires a Richard Simmons-like loyalty; you know that if that teacher left, it would have a massive impact upon the members

If you think that people who exercise at home aren’t our members, think again. Research* shows that 82% of people who attend classes are also working out in the home, and they are our current or future participants. With a NEW Instructor discount now available for LES MILLS On Demand, there’s never been a better time to get clued up on how this product directly benefits us. 

How many times has a member or client complained to you about their inability to lose body fat or improve muscle tone despite their healthy eating habits and consistent fitness routine? My guess is too many times to count.

Have you ever wondered exactly what goes into selecting the music for each release? What’s the difference between a Creative Director and a Program Director? We caught up with the team to find out!

Check out what’s in store for you and your members in the next releases.

Gandalf Archer Mills invites us into his studio.

Ever wondered how the music is magicked from the Program Director’s head to your playlist? We caught up with Josh James and Kendall Farmer from the Music team to find out.

For all you animal lovers, this one’s for you. In conjunction with International Cat & Dog Day in August, we have asked a few instructors to share their pet stories and some of them are pretty entertaining.

You know working out makes your members feel better. So does helping someone else. By combining the two, Workout for Water taps into hard-wired pathways that empower members to feel better as individuals and strengthen their sense of community. Here’s how to maximise the movement and bring the feel-good factor to your club.

We all have those days where the thought of having to teach makes us want to crawl under the duvet with a box of donuts and not come out until everything has gone quiet and dark, right? Well, rest assured, EVERYONE has those moments, even the Program Directors! Here, our global Tribe share their tips for lifting the energy when you seem to have left your mojo in at the door.

In the scientific field of personality testing where your character can be determined by the type of coffee you drink (long blacks are for psychopaths – who knew?) or this colour test will reveal your moral alignment (seems unnecessarily grim) – we would like to add our “expertise” and determine once and for all “your member’s personality based on where they stand in your classes”. Send this article link to your class members if you like! 

Back in August last year, I saw a link online for an organization called Women in Fitness. I thought, “Well, that’s got my attention because that’s me!”

Your favorite core class, CXWORX™, is being rebranded as LES MILLS CORE™. The name change will come into effect from the January 2020 release.

Oh yeah, it’s that time of year again! The brand new range from Reebok has just landed and we can’t wait to get our hands on the latest gear. I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of what’s hot this season, as well as share some insider goss from Masterclass filming. I’m talking about THAT haircut Ben Main…

On July 1st, Clive Ormerod is stepping into the role of CEO – or as Clive sees it, as a player coach. With a pedigree that includes roles in sales and marketing at Nike, he is trusted by Phillip, Jackie, Les and Diana to help play a role in shaping the future of Les Mills. We caught up with him to find out why we’re all leaders, how he found his LES MILLS GRIT™ IMT, and why live classes with Instructors will always be the pinnacle of the business.

Join the team from FitnessSG as they offer an opportunity to take your fitness journey to new heights! 

We sat down with Hylton Drake, Chief Operating Officer of Les Mills Asia Pacific and asked him a few questions on his take on being a father in this modern day and age. Hylton has a son named Ethan who adorably turned 2 years old in May.

Workout for Water supports such an amazing cause, it can be easy to forget that helping others should be fun! It’s a big deal to ask your friends and members to fundraise with you, so we set out to discover some of the creative ways our Tribe are smashing it in the fundraising game.

Recognising its universal appeal, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

Forget the pay rise, all you need is a good workout! Find out how exercise makes you happier than money, why boys need structured physical activity, the brain-boosting power of fitness, and what’s killing 11 million people each year. This latest roundup of health and fitness research has it all.

Les Mills is partnering with UNICEF on an ambitious project to improve the lives of thousands of children in Ethiopia by uniting the global fitness industry. Here’s how your club can change the world while inspiring legions of new members to get active.

We bought – we taught – we moved on. You know how, when a new release takes so much time, effort and energy to learn, you genuinely contemplate teaching it for the next 37 weeks?! You may not have to go to those extremes – here are some ideas to extend the life and value of your latest release before you relegate it to your back catalogue…

Sometimes in life we think we are good, maybe even great, in a specific area. And then something happens that makes us realise there’s more work to be done before we are indeed truly great. This happened to me recently.

When Lisa Osborne went to Gold’s Gym in Issaquah, US, to meet the winners of her BODYATTACK 100 competition, she was overwhelmed by the care and respect between Instructors and members.

What does your push-up capacity say about your health? Could roundworms shape the fitness of future generations? Is it too late to start building your fitness? Check out this latest health and fitness research to find out the answers.

LES MILLS TONE™ can be adapted to suit all levels of fitness. Let’s talk about how you can tailor it for YOUR class.

Maybe you’ve been teaching for 10 years (or it just feels like it). Maybe you’re not feeling authentic, excited or motivated to teach. Or maybe you just need a regular ol’ shake-up to stay inspired. Here are 6 ways to reinvent yourself as an Instructor – and they are not as dramatic as you might think!

The Group Fitness creative team share their highlights of the “Workout for Water” releases, filmed exclusively on location in New Zealand.

Bevan James Eyles asks, what experience are you creating for your members?

Celebrated on April 29th every year, International Dance Day is a day that was created to increase the public profile of dancing as an art form. Our team has spoken to 2 of our very own Les Mills dance programs instructors, Edcel from Philippines and Winnie from Penang Malaysia, on how Les Mills has changed their lives through dance. Let’s read their stories below

With a company focus on LES MILLS GRIT, you’re going to be seeing lots more of this program over the next six months as we shine a spotlight on the many benefits of teaching and participating in HIIT. Last month, Erin Maw explained the benefits of coaching LES MILLS GRIT; today we catch up with the expert behind the science, Dr Jinger Gottschall.

Discover the surprising way exercise affects fat, how different workout routines influence eating habits and more evidence that physical activity lowers specific mental health risks.

Les Mills Trainers from around the world share their tips and tricks for learning and teaching the latest releases.

In the second of our two-part interview, Phillip Mills opens up on failure, resilience, and what he’s learned from his mistakes.

Head of Research and Development for Les Mills UK, Steve Tansey, explains how we can better look after ourselves to avoid risk of injury and keep teaching for years to come.

Honestly the next best thing to being at REEBOK LES MILLS LIVE in Singapore was following #ReebokLesMillsLiveSG2019. The 8th best thing is reading this review.

We speak to 2 incredible women from different walks of life on career, relationship, family and the future

The American College of Sports Medicine recently asked 2000 fitness professionals to rank 39 exercise trends by importance and popularity. Check out the seven that came out on top. Spoiler alert: they’re good news for all of us!

To acknowledge International Women’s Day on 8 March we talk to Sarah from the ACT who is not only an instructor by night (and early morning…and lunch) but a Trial Lawyer by day.

With a company focus on LES MILLS GRIT, you’re going to be seeing lots more of this program over the next six months as we shine a spotlight on the many benefits of teaching and participating in HIIT. Last month, Erin Maw explained the benefits of coaching LES MILLS GRIT; today we catch up with the expert behind the science, Dr Jinger Gottschall.

Mice in the studio, wedding proposals, and getting choreography wrong in front of the Program Director! Les Mills Instructors from around the world share their most hilarious, embarrassing, emotional and powerful moments from class.

Long-time filming presenter Bevan James Eyles shares his thoughts on having longevity in your Les Mills career.

LES MILLS GRIT™ is the ultimate in HIIT training, delivering transformative results in record time. The recent changes made to the program mean it’s now even more affordable and accessible to teach. ERIN MAW explains why she loves coaching LES MILLS GRIT.

The latest releases are about to land, so what are the biggest innovations this round? We outline the highlights of a few of our favorite programs.

It’s the new year and suddenly our classes are jam packed with all those “January joiners” who have made it their resolution to lose weight and tone up. This is a key moment for us as Instructors to make that connection with our new people and ensure they’re still with us in six months’ time. We asked you how you look after your new people...

There is no doubt learning a new release takes extra time and energy. Below are some ideas to extend the life and value of your latest release.

Some days we’re lucky to have simply survived the daily grind with our pants on the right way let alone having the time to up-skill in one of our programs.

Struggling to know what you can and can’t include in your tax return?

There is much said about the detrimental effects of over-training (a google search finds over one million results), but a different side of the same coin, and a rarely discussed one, is the subjectmatter of over-teaching.

Jako Michael Misic is not only one of the nicest humans you will encounter but he is Les Mills Asia Pacific’s (LMAP) most prolific Trainers having trained and up-skilled over 1,500 Instructors across BODYPUMP, RPM, CXWORX and GRIT SERIES.

Also known as Digital 3.0, the Les Mills App is (almost) ready for download from the App Store and Play Store.

Would you travel 36-hours to do a BODYATTACK class?

The process of identifying talent for the Les Mills Asia Pacific Presenter team has undergone an overhaul

Have the numbers in your classes suddenly swelled? If you have been teaching more than a couple of years you will recognise January as one of the busiest times in your classes: no surprise really as “get fit” is consistently at the top of the New Year’s resolution wish list.

This is the final part of the series, how is a Les Mills Release created

The year of Despacito. The year of the brand new Taylor Swift. The year of La La Land not winning the Best Picture at the Oscars

2018 IS set to be a big one

One minute we’re self-righteously spending hours on the gym floor, the next we’re doing HIIT and even 30-minutes seems like an eternity.

No longer the exclusive domain of boutiques, we are thrilled to launch LES MILLS BARRE in Q1/2018

Normally we would go to the LMAP Trainer team for their top teaching tips, but this month we have done a 180 and decided to go straight to the coal-face

This article is rouge.

Les Mills Asia Pacific (LMAP) is committed to the continued development of Instructors with the ultimate goal of achieving Instructor Greatness.

How wonderful it is to not only have an impact on the people in front of you doing what you do – but also the opportunity to help those on the other side of the world: literally saving lives.

The slick editing, the comprehensive choreography notes: these are just some of Post Production efforts you see when you download your Quarterly Resources.

Q1/2018 will be a special time for fans of BODYATTACK with the release of BODYATTACK 100

Here at the Les Mills Asia Pacific (LMAP) HQ, we have a dedicated team of people whose sole purpose and mission in life is to help out instructors.

A professional musician with career highlights including performing with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Ben Folds and playing tribute to David Bowie

Covers can be a tough gig.

The final product you see as the masterclass when you get your new release resources

The pressure of creating a release worthy of a milestone.

Methods to further elevate Les Mills instructors as leaders in the industry are in constant development.

The benchmark of a great timetable is to attract the equivalent of your membership base into weekly GX attendance.

In 2018 we are excited to introduce a new approach to initial module training.

Thanks so much for your passion and your responses to our announcement about the Les Mills Releases App coming to LMAP

One part of the Les Mills Asia Pacific mission is “supporting instructors to achieve greatness”.

The science of the resistance band

For some, being a group fitness instructor is a full time gig – running from class to class, rapidly changing from sweaty clothes to non-sweaty clothes to rinse and repeat day in day out. For others, being a group fitness instructor is their other job.

Part 2: Choreography