Erin Maw: Practical insights from a training powerhouse

Erin’s journey began teaching group fitness in a small town at the bottom of New Zealand. Now she inspires millions all over the globe. An all-rounder, Erin is involved in shaping everything from LES MILLS GRIT™ and LES MILLS SHAPES™, to STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT™ and the evolving CEREMONY HYROX workouts. Behind every class are hours of creative design and relentless testing, matched by a mindset built on discipline. When she’s not creating new workouts, she’s running marathons, racing HYROX, and raising a toddler. Here’s your chance to find out what keeps her moving.

What is it that keeps you so driven?

Erin Maw (EM): “My ‘why’ has always been about representing strong athletic females and breaking down the stereotype that women are inherently ‘softer’.
If anything, I have leaned further into this ‘why’ since becoming a mother. My pregnancy and postpartum journey made me more steadfast in my belief that strength comes in many forms.

I believe athleticism and resilience don’t disappear with motherhood – they evolve. This experience has deepened my commitment to empowering women to embrace their power, no matter the changes their bodies go through.”

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How did pregnancy and postpartum reshape your perspective and priorities?

EM: “Pregnancy and postpartum were wild for me. I have kept this pretty close to my chest, because having my beautiful baby truly is the greatest gift, and I don’t want to come across as negative or ungrateful. But that being said, I definitely grieved my old rhythms, the easy spontaneity, the clear sense of who I was before midnight feedings and shifting hormones!

Returning to work gave me the structure I needed. And it was a reminder of my strengths beyond motherhood. Coming back into fitness reconnected me to my body – not as it was, but as it is now – that is strong in new ways and more resilient. The challenge and purpose I find in my job definitely helped refill my cup.”

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So, how did you rebuild your strength after birth?

EM: “Honestly, rebuilding fitness after my caesarean was humbling! The first few weeks, I was struggling to even walk. It made me fear I’d ruined my body, and the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be felt overwhelming. Those first few months were very up and down emotionally! But deep down, I knew what I needed to do. Navigating postpartum meant losing ego and listening closely to my body. I rebuilt from the inside out, adding load and impact slowly. With time, guidance, and patience, I learned my body wasn’t broken; it was rebuilding. Strength returned differently, but deeper. It now feels steady, resilient, and earned.”

How do you find the motivation? What would you say to someone who feels they’ll never match your discipline?

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.”

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What about motivation during a workout? Do you ever just want to give up?

EM: “I do feel like working hard is in my nature, and when it’s my training time, 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.”

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You clearly like pushing limits. What’s your take on the ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality?

EM: “There’s been a shift away from this type of thinking and 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.

Yes, I am all about pushing limits. That’s why I love the vigorous nature of LES MILLS GRIT. Intensity is part of its DNA, but I see it as intensity with intention. LES MILLS GRIT 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.”

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How do you recognize when your body needs rest, 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.”

You’ve learned first-hand about the need for a sustainable training routine. Tell us…

EM: “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.

But surprisingly, it was the best thing to ever happen – it 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 give feedback on how stressed or responsive my body was.

Now, my advice to others is to focus on quality, not quantity. 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.”

Let’s talk running. It seems like you’re always eyeing up your next race. Which workouts have had the biggest impact on your running?

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.”

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What are you training for now?

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! And I am chasing.”

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What are the next things you’re cooking up at Les Mills?

EM: “There are so many exciting things in the pipeline. Every three months, we have new LES MILLS GRIT workouts in production, there are spicy sculpt innovations in LES MILLS SHAPES, and we explore new progressions and ways to level up with STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT. And I’m loving working with the team to develop the new CEREMONY HYROX workouts! I’ve done two HYROX races now, and I think I am hooked. Whether you’re eyeing up a HYROX, or if you just want to get fitter for everyday life, the CEREMONY HYROX and CEREMONY HYROX MAX workouts are made to help make it happen.”

Stay tuned for more info about CEREMONY HYROX coming soon.  

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Keen to work out with Erin? Try LES MILLS SHAPES or LES MILLS GRIT on LES MILLS+.

Follow Erin at @instagram/erinmaw