Kylie Gates on building a fitness career that lasts

Tell us about your current role at Les Mills.

Kylie: At Les Mills, I wear many hats as a Creative Director and Head Coach. During the pandemic, I also launched an integrative wellness coaching business, helping people take a more holistic view of their health.

At one point you were teaching up to 15 classes a week on top of everything else. Why so many?

Kylie: I just love teaching. Teaching is how I connect with people. I'm quite an introvert, actually. I don't go out socially that much, and I have a very small circle of friends. Teaching is a way for me to genuinely connect with people; it fills my cup.

What made you decide that was too much?

Kylie: You can love something, but if you do too much of it, you end up burning out. I knew I wanted a long career. For me, it was about making sure I was doing a mix of classes, getting strength, doing cardio, doing core and mobility, and keeping more balance.

It's very easy to say yes to everything. Have you learned to say no?

Kylie: Over the years, I've learned to say no without an excuse attached to the end. Just say no, and that's it.

You're always asked to do lots of things, join different groups, or take on new projects. I've learned that I need to be selective and make sure my energy goes into the right areas, particularly where my skillset lies. I want to focus on being intentional.

In your coaching you talk about the "root system." What does that mean?

Kylie: The root system represents the underlying habits and inner work you do in life to produce the shiny fruits at the top of the tree.

People often look at where I am today and see the fruit, but they don't see the years of work underneath: the self-development, understanding my values, clarifying my why, and consistently working on what's meaningful.

When you keep planting those seeds and nurturing the roots, consistency gets you there, just like physical exercise.

What don't you feel confident in?

Kylie: Skiing! There are lots of things I'm not confident in. If I have to do something I'm not confident about, I just practice like everyone else. That preparation builds my confidence.

Instructors can be so hard on themselves. How do you get them to stop beating themselves up after a class?

Kylie: It's a natural human tendency when we assess ourselves. The brain naturally focuses on the negative.

When I ask Instructors "How did it go?" they'll immediately tell me what they could have done better.

I tell them: "No. What did you do well? What was the magical moment in that class?"

You have to train your brain to focus on the positives and recognize what went well. You'll always have things to improve. That part never stops.

Instructors have to perform with energy, even when things aren't going well personally. How do you manage that?

Kylie: Vulnerability can feel difficult, especially in a culture driven by achievement and constant output.

We do have to perform. There have been times when I haven't wanted to teach, but it actually made me feel better once the class was finished.

Teaching can be a healthy distraction because your focus is entirely on the room, allowing you to temporarily step away from whatever is going on in the background.

In your coaching you talk about "glimmers." What are they?

Kylie: Glimmers are tiny micro-moments or pockets of joy.

It might be splashing cold water on your face in the morning, watching a sunset, or stepping outside and feeling the sun on your face.

People often take the small things for granted and constantly chase bigger experiences. There’s a lot of science around appreciation and gratitude, and what it does for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

You can still have goals, but if you aren't present, you won't enjoy where you are right now.

What would you say to an Instructor who feels totally unappreciated?

Kylie: If you don't look after yourself and fill your cup by doing things that make you feel good inside, you'll feel neglected. Self-care is essential.

I've worked for clubs that didn't value group training, but the members did. Sometimes staff don't value it, but the members do. Other places make you feel very valued.

It's important to work in places where you feel appreciated and respected for what you do.

Ultimately, it comes back to self-belief and knowing your values. Understanding what you stand for helps you create boundaries that protect your wellbeing.

Members often love their Instructor but are too shy to say it. How do you deal with that silence?

Kylie: It's not always their job to verbalize it.

You are appreciated, but it can feel like a thankless job because people simply come and go. That's why it all comes back to your why.

When you have a strong reason for teaching, it shifts your perspective. We are there to serve the people in front of us.

Our job isn't for them to make us feel better, although after teaching, you usually do feel better yourself. It's a win-win.

What does teaching give you that you can't get from a normal 9-to-5?

Kylie: You genuinely sense that you're helping people feel better about themselves. When they do, they're kinder humans. Everyone who comes to your class gets a small piece of something special – for many, it's the best hour of their day.

I love helping people realize they need to look after their bodies. When they do, they have more energy and make better decisions in life.

What's one thing about the fitness industry you wish would disappear?

Kylie: Comparison. When I started in fitness, social media didn't exist, so there wasn't that constant side-by-side comparison.

It can be a real downer when people measure themselves against what others seem to have.

People see you on stage and assume your life is 100% sorted. Do you actually have it all together?

Kylie: At this stage in my life, I'd like to think I have things reasonably together!

But there are plenty of dimensions people don't see. Across the different programs I teach, different sides of my personality come through, but I always strive to be as real and human as possible.

Even here at LES MILLS BANGKOK LIVE, people come up and speak to me as if they know me personally. I take that as a huge compliment.

After 36 years in fitness, would you do it all again?

Kylie: Oh God, yes. Absolutely.

It’s the best job in the world. Being in a service role where you give so much, and receive so much energy and connection back, keeps you healthy and surrounded by incredible people.