Les Mills Kia Kaha : BODYATTACK®

VIDEO SIZZLERS

susanrenata — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:27:00 GMT

Everyone at Les Mills loves talking about the programs (sort of an obsession really!) So big thanks to our ‘bright ideas’ department (aka Marketing) for coming up with a way to get others talking about them too.

We’re now doing mini-interviews about each new class straight after DVD filming and putting them up on the website when the classes hit the clubs.

Check out these “Video Sizzlers” – they’re a great way to find out what is hot in each new release and put a face to the names of the program creators.

Sus.

Hi there steppers and attackers!

lisaosborne — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:09:00 GMT

As Jackie says, the new classes are all finished and I can’t wait for you to see them (here’s the BODYATTACK 55 filming team of me, Will, Bevan and Ute). Filming the new releases is always a highlight but then it all starts again and we’re already working on the 1/2007 classes for filming in November. BODYATTACK 56 is looking good and Mark and I have some great ideas for BODYSTEP 67. Meanwhile, all the program directors are traveling a lot and many of us will be going to Portugal for the Euro-training summit and Chicago for the first-ever North American training summit in the next few weeks. Then it’s back to Auckland to prepare for filming and more travel in November - Mark Sinclair and I are going to Brazil for quarterly workshops and that will be a blast, as always.

Love,
Lis

Ps – forgot to mention another little project I’m working on which is getting ready for a half marathon in October. Doing aerobics is great for your fitness but running is a different kettle of fish and this training is hard work, people!!

4/2006 RELEASE IN THE CAN

jackiemills — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:06:00 GMT

The 4/2006 release is safely “in the can” guys and the classes are simply fantastic!!! We filmed all seven on Sunday amidst incredible passion and energy in Studio One. Special thanks to Kili Marti for coming down from the U.S. to join the BODYCOMBAT and BODYJAM presenter teams and to Ute Wagner from Germany for presenting on BODYATTACK and our milestone BODYPUMP 60 class. Ute has been instructing BODYPUMP since it first came to Germany in 1997 and, incredibly, she’s the first German trainer we’ve ever had fronting in a filming masterclass. It’s been a delight having her in town with partner Uwe Hartert (Uwe is Sales Manager for our German agents, Bonsport, and he’s just about to take up a new job as Les Mills country manager for Austria. Good luck Uwe!) Thanks, too, to Pete Manuel, for coming over from Sydney to join the two other BODYPUMP “originals”, Emma and Steve.

This picture shows the BODYPUMP 60 filming team: Steve, Emma Pete, Glen, Susan and Ute. Check out the other shots of Kili, Ute and Ute with Uwe.

Jackie

Counting Down To The Big Day

Kylie Gates — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 21:23:00 GMT

Excitement levels are rising around Les Mills as we count down to filming the next round of masterclasses on Sunday, August 13. As always, the new releases are the climax of months of work by the Program Directors and their teams. The new classes are looking brilliant in last-minute trials and we’ve got two milestones to celebrate this time – BODYPUMP® 60 and BODYCOMBAT® 30.

Joining Glen and Susan on the BODYPUMP® presenter team will be Ute Wagner from Germany and the three “original” international presenters: Emma Barry, Steve Renata and Pete Manuel. Helping Dan and Rach celebrate BODYCOMBAT® 30 will be Kili Marti from the US training team. (Kili is also BODYJAM® Program Coach in the US and has been working with G on choreography for the new class.)

As with the 3/2006 Release, the new classes will all be filmed on one day so it’s gonna be huge!!!!

Kylie

10,000 Clubs

lisaosborne — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:03:00 GMT

Wow – we made it! As of last week, Les Mills is officially in more than ten thousand clubs in 63 different countries!!! What an amazing effort for a small company from a small country at the bottom of the world!!!! Huge credit also goes to our Les Mills agents, trainers and instructors around the world and it was great news to see new clubs in Spain pushing us over the 10K line to 10,011.

Congratulations to Cesar and Carmen and also to Jordi and Alejandra and the training and sales teams – and to everyone else in our amazing “global family.” All the agents are meeting for a conference in Spain next week so what a party that’s gonna be!!! And the work doesn't stop here, guys. Next target is to get to 25,000 clubs and be a top five global fitness brand by 2015. No pressure!!!

Lisa

3/2006 Release - It's All Good

glenostergaard — Wed, 10 May 2006 16:15:00 GMT

No pressure – just the first time we have ever filmed all seven new classes on one day! And in a new studio!! And with the Les Mills New Zealand’s superquarterly going off on the same day!!! And with minor issues like having to carry 43 RPM bikes back and forth from their usual home!!!! And with this being my first class as BODYPUMP head choreo!*&^%$#@!!!!!!!!

The good news is that the 3/2006 Release filming just went off people! Studio One looked great. The presenters looked great. And best of all, the new classes are just fantastic. Watch out guys ‘cos these new classes are comin atcha and they are gonna blow you away with their energy and passion and unbelievable motivation.

Pictured here is the BODYPUMP presentation team of John and Peggy Cleland from Canada (these old friends of Les Mills were a delight to have in town and look great on the tape), yours truly and fellow kiwis Susan Tolj and Steven Renata.

Check out the pics of the other presenter teams.

Glen

Record Breaking IHRSA

emmabarry — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 04:49:00 GMT

The IHRSA25 convention in Las Vegas was the usual sensory implosion of business shifting from stocks to frocks and back again in the flick of a neon sign for four days solid. In its 25th year IHRSA broke every record: more people, more countries, more sessions and a combined attendance at the Las Vegas Convention Center in excess of 14000 people!

Without a doubt this was also the greatest IHRSA yet for Les Mills.

Over 300 people rocked to the rhythm of our morning classes with a record breaking 140 enthusiasts hitting a high with BODYATTACK™ – nothing, but nothing could contain the energy in the room. BODYCOMBAT™ and BODYFLOW™ also had knockout turnouts.

The booth team of Brent and Michelle, Josef, Lee and me was strongly supported by Joella (Mid-West), Kim (South East), Erin, Victor and Lynn (Mid Atlantic) and regularly frequented by the big guns of the industry. Never a dull moment and the undisputed place to hang out!

Non-stop program demos defined the 16 booth hours and saw a constant flow of admirers through. All in all a darned good show or to put it in business-speak: “the resource was operating at full capacity”

Convention highlights: hearing Deepak Chopra, Bill Clinton and Lance Armstrong speak AND watching Joella fall off the stage.

More pics here

A Day At The Beach

jackiemills — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 04:09:00 GMT

Finishing a new round of classes is a big relief for the Les Mills program directors – and a great excuse for a quarterly get-together and wind-down. So on completion of the 2/2006 Release off we went for a day of swimming, picnicking, walking and frisbee-ing at spectacular Piha beach near Auckland. This is one of the most beautiful spots in reach of the city and where Phillip’s dad, Les, has a lovely beach house - our base camp for the day.

Aside from yours truly and Phillip, the picnickers were BODYJAM ‘G’ with partner Ginny (and schnoodle Bentley); RPM (and BODYPUMP) Glen and Sarah; BODYSTEP Mark with daughter Kaylah-Blayr; BODYATTACK Lisa with Pita and son Jackson and BODYCOMBAT Dan and Rach – a full team except for RPM Dan who was off winning a bike race at Coromandel (see his posts below).

A great day out in a fabulous setting and a fitting celebration for another Les Mills release!!!!

In the photo above there's (left to right) Glen, Sarah, Rachael, Jackie, Jackson, Pita, Lisa, Phillip, Ginny, Mark, Bentley, Gandalf. More pics here.

USA Quarterly Workshops

Steve Renata — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 05:05:00 GMT

Kia Ora USA! Awesome quarterlies last weekend in Fort Worth and Baltimore and more to come this Saturday with a huge day lined up at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. It’s the first-ever quarterly run by the new Les Mills South East team and I’ll be there for the action, along with Les Mills master trainers Susan Tolj, Kylie Gates and “rockstars” from the US national training team.

Look out for great new classes and education sessions that’ll help you pack classes at your gym. And check out the great range of branded clothing our new US supplier is bringing to the gig.

As the saying goes, you’re either in or in the way! Don’t miss out. Lets get together in Orlando and turn it up!

Stay pumped.

BODYATTACK In The News And Filming Release 53

lisaosborne — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:08:00 GMT

Hey Check this out guys – it’s one of the best articles I've ever read about BODYATTACK.

Go USA!!! You will be leaders in motivating people to huff and puff again!

Thanks for your energy, and I LOVE the team teaching of the low and high impact options. WELL DONE!!!!

To keep things moving....we just filmed BODYATTACK 53 and it is another awesome class! Great music contrast from Rock to Pop, and moves that will push your fitness levels again!

Thanks to my fabulous co-presenters: Kendall Kimball from the US and Philip Andersson and Shaun Egan from the UK.

Lis

More pictures here...

2/2006 Release Filming

Steve Renata — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 09:04:00 GMT

Filming the 2/2006 Release happens soon and topping the list of highlights has to be BODYPUMP 58. A massive chapter in Les Mills history ends with this final release from the BODYPUMP guru Mike McSweeney and helping to celebrate Mike’s huge contribution to Les Mills will be a presenter "A team" of Alani Mala, Shaun Egan and Susan Tolj. If you want to book a barbell, turn up early - this release will be going off!

Meanwhile, joint RPM Program Directors Dan and Glen have put together a release that will have participants flocking to your studio. Arthur (the Flying Dutchman) Riker is coming along for the ride so watch out for an action packed delivery of coaching concepts and an awesome cycling experience.

Rumour has it the other new classes are also among the best ever from Les Mills and that’s great news for the big group of Frenchmen who’ll be in town for the fun. More than 60 are heading south for the week so watch out for them on the next round of DVDs. Fortunately, we'll have some Brazilians and Canadians joining the visiting party to keep the excitement level under control (just joking guys!).

Here's the filming dates for anyone else who happens to be in town (Auckland, that is) and wants to join the demo classes at the Les Mills gym.

Tuesday 7th February - BODYCOMBAT 28 @ 5:10PM
Tuesday 7th February - BODYBALANCE 33 @ 7:10PM
Wednesday 8th February - RPM 30 @ 2:30PM (by invitation only due to limited bike numbers)
Wednesday 8th February - BODYPUMP 58 @ 7:10PM
Wednesday 8th February - BODYSTEP 64 @ 8:30PM
Monday 13th February - BODYJAM 37 @ 5:10PM
Monday 13th February - BODYATTACK 53 @ 6:10PM

USA BODYATTACK Round Up

glenostergaard — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:38:00 GMT

Hey ya'all,

Well we are now back home in little old "kiwi land" after 6 weeks on the road! We have come back to warmth! Its summer here - how cold is it there?

Our trip was full of exciting and wonderful memories - we had a bunch of fun! One sticking in my mind was our 1st visit to Krispy Kream doughnuts! Jan, David and Amanda (trainers - see photo) took us there. They told the man that this was our 1st visit and next thing we knew we had hats and 4 dozen free HOT doughnuts in our hands! (Now that was a taste experience! - I have not stopped thinking about them ever since).

The people that we met over the 6 week period were amazing. Its so good to see that BODYATTACK will be safe in hands of the Americans! The modules and the quarterlies that we took were just fantastic. You guys are just so passionate. Don't ever stop!

From Momentum Fitness in Pennsylvania - Leighann and team! The Bricks in Baltimore - love those crabs! To Laurie and Robertson's team at Golds Gym in Virginia to Megans Body Plex team - thanks for the washing machine, their fantastic organisation & team work! And finally to the Lifestyle Family Fitness, Melissa and her team in Tampa, Florida!

Special thanks to our NJ friends - Angel, Tara, Rodney, Matt and Bridget! Keepin it real in the Big Apple! Not to forget the fantastic BODYATTACK trainers that we worked with, Laura, Darren and Amanda - Thanks for everything! Jan, Laura and David we will see you in February!

For those of you that have done the BEEP test - the record well..................159! Leo in Virginia took the title! AMAZING FITNESS!

No doubt our paths will cross - thanks again everyone - your the best! Come downunder and visit anytime - we would love to see you all again.

Most importantly thanks to Lorissa, Betsy & Julie for helping us so much! Making sure that we got where we needed to be.

Glen and Sarah
XXX :)

Thanksgiving Day

Sarah Murdoch — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:26:00 GMT

Well Thanksgiving day.........................
OUR VERY FIRST THANKSGIVING!!!!
Glen and myself were lucky enough to be invited to Angel Santiago (soon to be one of the US trainers) home for a thanksgiving dinner! We were among all their friends and family - what a great time to spend together over a meal!

Arriving at their home just before 12pm, I then realized what actually went into preparing for a thanksgiving dinner! Angle's wife Theresa did a wonderful job! Firstly the turkey - how big was that bird? 18lb!!! Huge - it took over 4 hours to cook! There was also ham, lasagne, special spanish rice, vegetables, salad -you name it.

AND THEN dessert - our first taste of real pumpkin pie - how good does it taste? Amazing - for us kiwis - pumpkins are to be roasted or cut up for soup - never it is sweet. The first thing that Glen said when we got back to the hotel - can we go and buy some pumpkin pie?

Our very first thanksgiving - one that we will never forget!
Also we are over half way through our module trainings. Attack is going to be wicked awesome (slang from New Hampshire) here, the people we have trained are fantastic role models for the program. And boy are there some fit people in the US! Atlanta & Florida are our next two trainings - over 50 people training in each! Watch out USA - attack is coming!

Sarah

Colleen Mills 1933 - 2005

emmabarry — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 15:46:00 GMT

Sad times for all of us at Les Mills with the recent death of Les’ wife Colleen from illness at the age of 71. Colleen was simply amazing. Larger than life, a straight shooter and famous for those enormous, all encompassing embraces that left you breathless. Everyone has a famous Colleen story – she was memorable and saw through everything! She left her dent on the world!

Like Les, Colleen was an outstanding athlete, representing New Zealand in her specialist event, the 400m. She also worked closely with Les on the gym business they started in 1968 and was brilliant as Mayoress of Auckland in the eight years Les was Mayor – colorful, spirited and strong.

Colleen was also very much involved in the creation of the Les Mills group fitness programs. She worked closely with Phillip on developing the “jazzercise” program he introduced in the early 1980s and made a huge contribution in discovering and training our first instructors. She was responsible for talent spotting a promising young instructor by the name of Mike McSweeney (our BODYPUMP Program Director) in the Wellington gym in 1987. Colleen was always prepared to roll her sleeves up for the donkey work too – she’d spend hours drawing figures for the first choreography manuals – no fancy graphics packages in those days!!!

Colleen was a down-to-earth person who called it as she saw it. She was kind to a fault and shined a special light into all our lives. She’ll be sadly missed and our love goes out to Les, Phillip, Donna and family XXXXX.

Gearing Up

rachaelcohen — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:01:00 GMT

Hullo there peeps

Gearing up to the next round of filming – its getting hot in here!!! What about coming down and joining one of the next filming classes??? If you happen to be in the neighbourhood!!! Seriously though, it’s great when the internationals join in (or just watch) when we film the new classes for the instructor DVDs. So if you’re a Les Mills nut (which you probably have to be to be reading this!!) and you can arrange to be in New Zealand at the right time, grab your gym gear and join the fun in Studio One at the main Les Mills club in Auckland.

Here are the filming dates for the next release but just be aware – they can change and we can’t absolutely guarantee them. Also, RPM is a bit different – it’s invitation only ‘cos of the limited number of bikes, sorry. Provisionally, then, dates for the 1/2006 Release filming classes are:

October 31 BODYCOMBAT (8.30pm);
November 2 for BODYJAM (6.10pm) and BODYSTEP (8.30pm)
November 7 for BODYATTACK (6.10pm), BODYPUMP (7.10pm) and BODYBALANCE (8.30pm).

Just send an email to Carla (carla.fitzsimons@lesmills.co.nz) at Les Mills New Zealand to let us know if you're coming and I’ll post again here if any of the dates change.

See ya there!
Rach