Erin Maw Evolved

Run clubs have exploded in popularity recently – and you’ve just completed a marathon. What stood out most from the experience? 

Erin Maw (EM): The overwhelming sense of accomplishment! Training for a marathon takes perseverance, mental toughness, and discipline.

Which workouts do you think have had the biggest impact on your running performance? 

EM I’d say a combination of LES MILLS STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT™ and LES MILLS SHAPES™. LES MILLS SHAPES builds core strength – which is a powerhouse for runners. It also includes isolated glute work that builds a strong mind-muscle connection. Glute activation is crucial for runners when it comes to efficiency and injury prevention.

Then LES MILLS STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT adds another level of strength to the muscles. That helps increase power and stability, while strengthening ligaments and protecting joints.

Back in 2020, you spoke about struggling to connect with new people because you were naturally introverted. Has that changed over time? 

EM I think imposter syndrome played a big role in my confidence early on and made me feel like I couldn’t authentically connect with people. Over time, growing confidence has made connection feel natural instead of daunting.

I still set boundaries so I have the energy to be present, have purposeful conversations, and build genuine connections.

Les Mills often talks about authenticity over perfection – but do you think Instructors can sometimes hide behind the performance? Did learning to show more of the “real you” take conscious work? 

EM Performance can be helpful armor that carries you through low-energy days, but it can also become a mask if you never step out from behind it.

For me, authenticity became more natural over time, but at first it was definitely something I had to practice deliberately. It comes from reconnecting to your “why,” allowing vulnerability into the room, using people’s names, being approachable, and showing real moments instead of trying to appear perfect all the time.

You once said one of your biggest limiting beliefs was that people might prefer “stage Erin” to “real Erin.” Has that feeling softened? 

EM One hundred percent. I think that went hand in hand with imposter syndrome. Over time, the feedback and connections I’ve built have shown me that our community values what I bring not just as a creative and Presenter, but as a person.

I’ve always tried to be authentic – with the same values and tone on and off stage. “Stage Erin” is still a tool, but it’s no longer a mask.

A lot of Instructors describe you as “hardcore.” What would you say to someone who feels they could never match your level of discipline or training consistency? 

EM What people are seeing is consistency built over time. I don’t rely on motivation every day – it’s about building healthy habits and creating a lifestyle.

I’m very disciplined, and I talk about that often, but discipline is a skill you practice.

For anyone who feels they could “never be like that,” I’d say you don’t have to be. You don’t need my routine – you need something sustainable for you. Start small and let consistency do the heavy lifting. Over time, what once looked “hardcore” just becomes part of who you are.

DID YOU KNOW?

BODYCOMBAT™ was the first Les Mills program Erin Maw ever taught, and the reason she got into group fitness. She trained and team-taught for a year before landing her first class in 2009, often juggling early morning classes with late-night DJ sets.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, flat, or disconnected, what are the first signs you notice in yourself – and how do you reset? 

EM Haha! Usually my patience gets shorter – and I’ll be the first to admit I’m already an impatient person anyway! Everything starts to feel heavier and harder than it needs to be. That’s normally my cue that I’m outputting more energy than I’m restoring.

Fitness can be incredibly energizing, but it’s also energetically expensive. You’re giving physically, emotionally, and mentally – often all at once.

That’s usually when I know I need space from whatever is overstimulating me. Running helps me process my thoughts, and if I’m physically drained, nothing beats a salt bath, a good documentary, and an early night.

Do you ever feel like you’re presenting a different “character” depending on the program? For example, does your coaching style shift between the intensity of LES MILLS GRIT and the flow of LES MILLS SHAPES? 

EM I wouldn’t say I put on a character, but I definitely let different parts of myself lead depending on the program. Each format has its own essence, intention, and training effect, and my role is to reflect that honestly.

The common thread is that it’s still me. The difference is the lens I’m looking through. It’s not acting – it’s understanding what the program needs and what participants need from me in that moment.

What’s been the toughest LES MILLS GRIT release you’ve ever filmed?

EM All of them! Haha. But honestly, two stand out. Release 35 with the incredible Natasha Vincent – that workout was an absolute beast. Then Release 40 looked incredible on camera, but those lights behind us made it feel like we were doing HIIT in a sauna. Worth it for the aesthetics though!

How do you push through the mental stop sign when it feels impossible to do another rep? And does filming give you an extra layer of adrenaline or motivation? 

EM Haha – if you came to one of my regular classes, you’d see I’m exactly the same on or off camera. I work just as hard either way. That’s just my nature, and it’s also my training time, so I want to make the most of it.

When it comes to pushing through, I think it’s about curiosity. Instead of thinking, “I can’t,” I ask myself, “What do I still have left?” And when it gets really tough, it becomes about taking it one rep at a time.

DID YOU KNOW?

Erin doesn’t just present Les Mills programs – she's been a key creative force behind some of them too. She was instrumental in the development of LES MILLS SHAPES, working alongside physiotherapists Rob Lee and Maddie Dylan, and Les Mills Head of Research Bryce Hastings to create a mindful strength program that quickly became one of the most popular classes in New Zealand, and is now generating waiting lists in clubs worldwide.

More recently, Erin played a highly active role in the LES MILLS + HYROX partnership and the launch of two new race-inspired programs set to redefine functional training.

The fitness industry has shifted away from calorie counting and “no pain, no gain” messaging. Do you think that’s a positive change, and where does LES MILLS GRIT fit in? 

EM I do – I think it’s a really positive shift for the fitness industry. I LOVE that “strong, not skinny” has become the new catchphrase. Hallelujah!

It’s a much more sustainable approach – training to feel a certain way, not just to look a certain way.

GRIT is still a vigorous workout – intensity is part of its DNA – but I see it as intensity with intention. People still connect with GRIT because it challenges effort in a way that feels powerful and sustainable. It can push you to your edge, but it invites you to do it with awareness, not punishment.

Is there a point where doing more training stops delivering better results, and what are the warning signs of overtraining? 

EM Quality not quantity is my response. I’ve been there – stressing my body out, multiple workouts a day every day, back to back high intensity days because that’s what I thought would get me fitter... Spoiler alert – I just gave myself shingles! - and it wasn’t pleasant.  

Best thing to ever happen – forced me to slow down, reassess my training load, sign up with a running coach (professional!) who would look at my heart rate data and feedback on how stressed or responsive my body was.  

Doing more classes doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting better results. At a certain point, there are diminishing returns if the body isn’t getting enough time to recover, adapt, and actually build. 

What are your goals for 2026? 

EM For me, 2026 is about effort, growth, and consistency. I’m the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been. I said back in January that this would be the year of PBs!

You can follow Erin on Instagram.