Can becoming a group fitness Instructor make you better at your day job?

Fitness Instructors come from a broader range of backgrounds than you might expect. From aviation and engineering, to flower growing and corporate leadership, professionals across a wide range of industries are stepping onto the studio floor and discovering skills that translate directly into workplace success.

We spoke with Instructors balancing demanding careers alongside teaching fitness classes – and a clear pattern emerged. The experience of leading a room, motivating people, and thinking on your feet helps develop capabilities that are just as valuable in the boardroom, the office, or the field as they are in the studio.

Across these stories, five key career benefits stood out: stronger public speaking, clearer communication, sharper leadership, greater confidence under pressure, and a deeper ability to connect with people.

Want to learn more about how you can enjoy these perks? Find out about Les Mills Instructor training.

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Kirk Hamilton, Fargo, USA
Day job: Atmospheric Research Pilot & Director of Flight Operations
Teaches: LES MILLS CORE™ at YMCA of the Northern Sky

“Becoming a group training Instructor has helped me become more confident.”

My typical morning starts with checking the weather. If it’s a nice day, there won’t be much going on. If the weather is stormy, chances are we’ll be flying!

As an Atmospheric Research Pilot, heavy snowstorms, severe thunderstorms, strong winds, low visibility, and bad turbulence are all part of the job. I’ve flown missions all over the world and worked my way up to Director of Flight Operations, where I manage operations and train pilots to fly special mission operations. The camaraderie among my fellow team members really makes my job special, and I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with.

A team member at work invited me to one of her BODYPUMP classes. Group training is what really started my health and fitness journey and changed my life. I started attending LES MILLS CORE classes in addition to BODYPUMP and really fell in love with it. I felt it was my calling, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided it would be fun to become an Instructor! I was already a flight Instructor and loved teaching, so applying my instructional skills to fitness just made sense.

Becoming a group training Instructor has helped me become more confident in my day-to-day life. There’s a lot of crossover between being a certified flight Instructor and being a group training Instructor, and it really brings out the best in me in both areas.

When I step into the studio, put on the mic, and crank up the music, I instantly forget about all of my external stresses. Nothing else matters – we’re just living in the moment and having fun!

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Esther Olorunfemi, London, UK
Day job: Head of Engineering for London Trams / Transport For London
Teaches: BODYPUMP at Virgin Active Streatham

“I often joke that fitness is what keeps me going in my career.”

I work for Transport for London (TfL) in an engineering and operations role, where my work ranges from solving operational challenges, to supporting teams to make sure decisions are safe, practical, and effective.

I recently celebrated 25 years with TfL, and I’m passionate about helping more women build careers in engineering. I was proud to be nominated and shortlisted for Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Women in Rail Awards in 2024. I’ve also helped lead TfL’s Women in Engineering initiatives.

I discovered Les Mills at Virgin Active Streatham in 2004 as a member. After being inspired by some incredible Instructors, I completed my Initial Training in BODYPUMP in 2015. Eventually, I taught at the same club where I started my journey.

In BODYPUMP, my role is to coach technique, build confidence, and help people achieve more than they thought possible. In my day job, I lead and mentor engineers, helping them develop their skills, progress in their careers, and achieve their goals. Although the two roles may seem very different, the connection is clear. Both are about understanding what people need, building trust, and giving them the tools to succeed.

I often joke that fitness is what keeps me going in my career. I can leave work with my mind full of problems, but the moment I pick up a bar, get on a bike, or hear the first beat, everything else disappears.

My only regret about becoming an Instructor is that I wish I’d done it sooner.

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Emily Cleaveland (AKA The Dahlia Lady), New Hampshire, USA
Day job: Dahlia flower grower
Teaches: BODYCOMBAT™ and BODYPUMP™ at River Valley Club

"The confident, upbeat Les Mills Instructor in me takes over."

A day in the life of The Dahlia Lady varies tremendously with the season. In spring, the pressure is on to get the tubers in the ground so the plants have enough time to flower. Summer is for weeding and watering, fall is for picking and arranging, the best part. December and January are for recovery and dreaming about next year's garden. It's more than a full-time job, but I wouldn't dream of giving up my part-time gig teaching Les Mills classes!

I often hear: "Oh! You have my dream retirement job." I just smile. People romanticize flower farming, and that's good for business, but the idea that this could be a retirement job? I'm 56, and I hope I have a few more years in me, with the help of BODYPUMP. It keeps me fit, strong, and mentally sharp.

It also helps sharpen my people skills. After all, you never know if the bride who seemed so laid-back when you discussed color schemes is suddenly going to go full Bridezilla and insist the flowers that were the perfect shade of "Nantucket Red" last week are now far too bright a "coral red" (true story). That's when the confident, upbeat Les Mills Instructor in me takes over. I roll with the punches, solve the problems I can, and keep moving forward.  Or there are the days you arrive at the wedding venue to find the bride in tears after everything that could go wrong has. Then she sees the flowers in the back of your van and starts crying all over again. Thankfully, this time it's because they're exactly what she imagined.  

Then there are the moments that make it all worthwhile: the next release's music blasting through the Bluetooth speakers in the barn, the creative juices flowing, and bouquet after bouquet coming together, with colors that sing like Marlon dances.

And the best part? Bringing bouquets to delighted class members who love spotting their favorite fitness Instructor at the farmers' market, out of workout clothes and dressed instead in full flower-farmer splendor.

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Pablo Caramés Méndez, Leeds, UK
Day job: Associate Principal Scientist
Teaches: BODYBALANCE™, BODYCOMBAT™, BODYJAM™, BODYPUMP™, LES MILLS DANCE™, LES MILLS PILATES™ and LES MILLS SHAPES™ at The Village North Leeds and The Edge

"Being a Les Mills Instructor has shaped my career in three big ways"

The first reaction I get is usually: "You don't look like a scientist." My brain needs a jump-start every time. What does a scientist even look like? I smile and explain I design molecules on a computer, then synthesize and analyze them before they go off for testing. It sounds dry, right? The beauty of my work lies in its purpose: preventing life-threatening bleeding in critical situations, from postpartum hemorrhage to traumatic injury.

My mornings are simple: breakfast, coffee, and catching up with friends and family back in Spain. Then it's off to work, and I genuinely love what I do. A daily highlight is heading out with the research team for a coffee and a sweet treat. Then it's game time. We unleash the beast teaching group fitness in the studio.

I discovered Les Mills during my PhD, originally to support my mental health. I knew nothing about teaching, but with dedication, training, and plenty of self-learning, I made it happen.

Being a Les Mills Instructor has shaped my career in three big ways: public-speaking confidence, audience engagement, and adaptability, because science doesn't always go the way you want it to!

How do I keep balance? It's not always easy, but I stay realistic about what I can take on. Having a mental checklist and a focus on the "right here, right now" helps me keep track of my goals.

Every participant is unique, with their own story, struggles, and reasons for showing up. Being with them for one or two hours each day is a privilege, as we lift each other up, support each other, and, best of all, celebrate the wins.

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Lucy Alston, Perth, Scotland
Day job: Town Planner
Teaches: BODYCOMBAT™, BODYPUMP™ and LES MILLS GRIT™ at ASW Perth College and Bannatyne Perth

“It keeps me grounded and connected to my ‘why’”

In my role as a Town Planner, I review development proposals and negotiate infrastructure contributions – detailed work that requires focus, diplomacy, and, honestly, a fairly thick skin.  Shaping places takes time, often years, sometimes decades. But when it works, planning turns a space into somewhere that genuinely improves lives. That's where the connection to being a Les Mills Instructor starts to make sense.

At its core, modern town planning is about wellbeing at a community scale: clean air, safe housing, walkable streets, and green space. Teaching group training shares the same mission. One shapes environments, the other gets people moving and feeling stronger.

LES MILLS classes became a lifeline when I moved to a new city. I didn't know anyone, and I was neglecting my physical and mental health, so the gym became my starting point. Classes quickly became my space to switch off and be present. Becoming an Instructor felt like a natural next step, still leading, still communicating, just in a different setting.

It's also influenced my performance at work. Instructing builds confidence, helps you read a room, communicate clearly, stay calm under pressure, and adapt quickly, all skills that carry directly into meetings and presentations.

On tough days, teaching is my reset button. It keeps me grounded, connected to my "why," and reminds me why I do what I do.

And if you're wondering whether you'd fit as an Instructor, if you care about people, wellbeing, and showing up authentically, you already do.

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Erik Iltis, The Hague, Netherlands
Day job: Program and Change Manager
Teaches: BODYATTACK™, BODYBALANCE™, BODYPUMP™, BODYPUMP HEAVY™, BODYSTEP™, LES MILLS CORE™, LES MILLS GRIT™, LES MILLS PILATES™, LES MILLS SHAPES™, LES MILLS TONE™, and LES MILLS YOGA™ at SportCity and other clubs

“Teaching is one of the best training grounds I know for presence and communication.”

By day, I work as a Program and Change Manager. My focus is organizational transformation, which sounds neat on paper, but is often messy in real life. It means taking big ambitions, unclear starting points, different opinions, and a lot of moving parts, then turning them into structure, action, and momentum.

A lot of change work is not really about the plan itself. It's about people – helping them feel less overwhelmed, more confident, and able to move from endless discussion into action.

Outside of work, I teach around 14 classes a week. My first program was BODYPUMP, and from there I kept adding more. Apparently, I do not know when to stop adding things to my schedule, haha!

For me, the connection between work and teaching is obvious. In both, I need to stand in front of people, read the room, create calm, bring energy, explain things clearly, and help a group move through something challenging. At work, that might be a new way of working. In the studio, it might be the moment when people are tired, unsure, or mentally negotiating with themselves.

Teaching is one of the best training grounds I know for presence and communication. Every class gives immediate feedback. You know when people are with you – and when they are lost. You cannot hide behind a slide deck in a studio.

Balancing both worlds is intense. But teaching is the contract I have with myself. It keeps me moving, grounded, and connected to people. The energy I get back from participants makes it absolutely worth it.

Les Mills shaped my personal life in a way I never expected. In 2025, I met my partner, Daniel (also an Instructor), at a camp organized by Les Mills Nordic. We've just celebrated our first year together!

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Maria Pearman, Los Angeles, USA
Day job: CPA, CFO Advisor, and Partner at GHJ (Food & Beverage Practice Leader)
Teaches: BODYPUMP™, LES MILLS CORE™ and LES MILLS GRIT™ at EoS Hollywood (formerly Gold's Hollywood)

“Teaching sharpens my professional skills.”

By day, I lead the Food & Beverage Practice at GHJ, a national accounting and advisory firm. I spend my days advising founders on margin pressures and growth decisions, and speaking to audiences like the American Craft Spirits Association, Bar Convent Berlin, and the Brewers Association. It's a high-stakes environment that requires deep focus and strategic thinking.

I first discovered Les Mills as a BODYPUMP participant and was immediately hooked. I became an Instructor in 2014 and haven't looked back.

After some persuasion, I trained in BODYBALANCE. I quickly fell in love with helping people achieve their health and fitness goals, and it helped build my own confidence too. It’s a privilege to teach something so calming and powerful.

To many, these two worlds – the boardroom and the studio – seem like polar opposites. But for me, they are deeply connected. Both roles require the ability to lead people toward a better outcome. Whether I'm advising a $250M manufacturing business on a growth strategy, or coaching a packed class on proper clean and press form, the core mission is the same: helping people and businesses perform at a higher level.

The most surprising part of my job is how much teaching sharpens my professional skills. In the studio, you learn how to command a room, communicate with absolute clarity, and stay calm under pressure. You have to bring high energy even when you're exhausted after a long day of client work. Those skills translate directly to public speaking and leadership.

It’s become a non-negotiable part of my life – it keeps me sharp, grounded, and constantly reminds me that we’re all capable of more than we think.

Want even more inspiration? Learn more about the surprising lives of fitness instructors.

Think you might have what it takes to take to the stage? Check out 10 signs you’d make a great group fitness Instructor.

Find Les Mills Instructor Training near you.