The Real Lives of Les Mills Instructors Part 2

Aaron Fleming MNZM

• City / Country: Queenstown, New Zealand
• Day job: Regional Director – Department of Conservation. Cast – The Traitors New Zealand (Season 3)
• Les Mills programs: RPM™ and LES MILLS SPRINT™
• Club: Alpine Health and Fitness

“As an extroverted larrikin, I love having fun at the front.”

When you live in New Zealand, surrounded by its grand and majestic landscapes, managing four million hectares is a dream job. I’m a Conservation Director, and I lead projects that help nature thrive, including managing cultural heritage sites for millions of annual visitors.

Leading a world-class team of 400 is an absolute privilege. I also get to work in untouched, remote places. Some islands are 800km offshore and can take two days to reach by boat. With a big, demanding day job, it can be all-consuming. Politics, media, and operations often throw my plans out the window. It’s reactive and fast-paced.

I also work in the entertainment industry as a professional speaker and I’m currently cast in the global TV phenomenon The Traitors (New Zealand). Tune in to watch!

Teaching Les Mills classes allows me to switch off and connect with myself, with music, and our club community. It gives me space to be creative. 

From being told I would never be able to physically exert myself again after major lung surgery to completing 22 Ironman races, fitness has always been part of my DNA. It has helped me not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. As a triathlete, I was always attracted to cycle classes, and for five years now, I’ve been teaching RPM and LES MILLS SPRINT. As an extroverted larrikin, I love having fun at the front of the class and making each class memorable!

Having been through my own health battles, I feel like I can connect with members at all ends of the fitness spectrum – from those training for everyday life to those working toward a specific stretch goal.

My own rollercoaster journey really helps keep the “why” for our members at the center of my teaching.

‍Amreen Ismail

• City / Country: Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Day job: IT / Assistant Manager
• Les Mills programs: BODYPUMP™, BODYPUMP HEAVY™, LES MILLS TONE™, LES MILLS CORE™, LES MILLS SHAPES™, LES MILLS PILATES™ and LES MILLS CEREMONY™
• Club: GymNation

“I turned those limitations into my superpower.”

I start my mornings with prayer and gratitude before the chaos. After that, a good breakfast and coffee are completely non-negotiable – they fuel everything that comes next.

As an assistant manager, my role is all about people. Between tracking deliveries, resolving customer concerns, and aligning teams, it’s fast-paced and mentally intense. You have to think on your feet and communicate constantly.

But the second I step into the fitness studio, everything shifts.

My fitness journey didn’t start with confidence; it started with necessity. I was once obese, and walking into the club was simply a step toward reclaiming my health. Losing 30kg in six months completely changed my life – a milestone later featured by LES MILLS Middle East.

Growing up, fitness wasn’t the norm for hijabi women, so the journey came with its own limitations. But I turned those limitations into my superpower. Today, I want to show women from similar backgrounds that you don’t have to choose between your identity and your strength – you can have both.

Becoming an Instructor was never the plan. I was introverted, shy, and terrified of being on stage. But as a participant, people encouraged me to step up. It transformed me into a confident communicator – a skill that now shapes both my classes and my corporate role.

Eight years later, I teach multiple Les Mills programs. I was nominated for Les Mills Superstar 2025 and won two GymNation awards: Instructor of the Club and Best Overall Instructor in the UAE. While these milestones are incredible, the real reward is seeing my participants grow, step out of their shells, and believe in themselves.

Balancing a corporate career and teaching isn’t easy. There are days when I leave the office mentally drained! But the moment the music starts, the exhaustion vanishes – it’s where I feel most alive.

Azaria Narine

• City / Country: Leeds, UK
• Day job: Player Support Specialist for Boneloaf / Gang Beasts
• Les Mills programs: BODYCOMBAT™
• Club: Morley Leisure Centre

“You never truly know what you’re capable of unless you try.”

I discovered Les Mills through Morley Leisure Centre when my mom and I were looking for new classes to try. We started with BODYCOMBAT, but after the first track, I wasn’t completely sold because I wasn’t instantly good at it.

After a few weeks, I moved from the back of the room to the middle, and I remember the Instructor, Steph, telling me I’d make a good Instructor one day. I didn’t believe her! I thought Instructors needed insane stamina and athleticism, which I didn’t feel I had. I also didn’t “look” like an Instructor; at 4’9”. I constantly compared myself to billboards and advertisements. What finally pushed me to go for it was shadowing an Instructor who ended up being off long-term. I qualified with BODYCOMBAT 100 and realized I didn’t need to be perfect immediately. Qualifying made me fall in love with BODYCOMBAT even more; now I stay up late waiting for new Masterclass releases!

Outside the studio, I work as a Player Support Specialist for game developer Boneloaf and its game, Gang Beasts. A typical day involves speaking with players, resolving issues, gathering feedback, and creating social content. You need to adapt how you communicate depending on the player, whether that’s through social media, Discord, or email, and translate technical developer logs into something accessible.

That experience has helped tremendously with teaching classes. Finding your style takes practice and feedback, but learning how to cue moves, motivate participants, and adapt to different personalities came naturally through my work.

Some days are harder than others, especially during winter! Balancing work, hobbies, and life isn’t easy, and there’s no perfect formula. What matters is finding things that genuinely bring you joy and remembering to rest.

If you are thinking about becoming a Les Mills Instructor, don’t wait until you feel perfect – you never truly know what you’re capable of unless you try.

Sarah Hilton

• City / Country: Worksop, UK
• Day job: Bait distribution
• Les Mills programs: BODYBALANCE™
• Clubs: Killamarsh Active, Bannatyne Health Club Worksop, The Arc - Clowne.

“The manager suggested I might make a good Instructor, which I didn’t believe at first.”

My day starts at 4am when I head to the stable to feed my two horses – Maisie and Bailey. Next, I’m on the road traveling to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. I look after around 20 lakes, fisheries, and shops that we supply with bait weekly – many of them long-standing customers for over 35 years, going back to when my dad started the family business.

I’d resisted joining for years, but in 2015, everything changed when my mom sadly passed away. As a family, we rallied together, and I stepped into the business as my dad moved toward retirement. Having never fished (apart from once on a family holiday), I had to learn quickly. And yes – maggots do come from flies laying eggs on meat… and if you’ve ever smelled a maggot farm, you won’t forget it!

During peak season, we can sell up to 750 gallons of maggots and 150kg of worms a week – the angling trade is actually the UK’s largest participation sport.

My day usually ends around 2pm, then it’s back home to ride and muck out the horses.

In 2013, I joined the admin team part-time at my local Bannatyne’s Health Club so I could balance work, family, and horses. The manager suggested I might make a good Instructor, which I didn’t believe at first, as I’m one of the quietest people I know.

After some persuasion, I trained in BODYBALANCE, despite never having taken a class before. I quickly fell in love with helping people achieve their health and fitness goals, and it helped build my own confidence too. BODYBALANCE has become something really special – members love how it makes them feel, and it’s a privilege to teach something so calming and powerful.

Your story is your strength

You don’t need a typical fitness background to become a Les Mills Instructor. Like Amreen, Azaria, and Sarah, your experiences, talents, and personality can become your greatest coaching strengths – helping you grow confidence, develop new skills, and create an outlet beyond your day job.

Your unique background is your superpower – discover Les Mills Initial Training and start your journey to leadership.

Kirk Hamilton

• City / Country: Fargo, USA
• Day job: Atmospheric Research Pilot & Director of Flight Operations
• Les Mills programs: LES MILLS CORE
• Club: YMCA of the Northern Sky

“Nothing else matters – we are just living in the moment.”

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!

Esther Olorunfemi

• City / Country: London, UK
• Day job: Head of Engineering for London Trams / Transport For London
• Les Mills programs: BODYPUMP
• Club: 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, and hear the first beat, everything else disappears.

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

Erik Iltis

• City / Country: The Hague, Netherlands
• Day job: Program and Change Manager
• Les Mills programs: 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™
• Club: SportCity and others

“Les Mills shaped my personal life in a way I never expected.”

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!

Already teaching and want to add some variety like Erik?

Adding another Les Mills program is a great way to unlock new teaching opportunities, grow your earning potential, and keep your weekly routine fresh. If you are ready to grow, explore the full range of Les Mills programs to find your next challenge.

Maria Pearman

• City / Country: Los Angeles, USA
• Day job: CPA, CFO Advisor, and Partner at GHJ (Food & Beverage Practice Leader)
• Les Mills programs: BODYPUMP, LES MILLS CORE, and LES MILLS GRIT
• Club: EoS Hollywood (formerly Gold's Hollywood)

“It’s become a non-negotiable part of my life.”

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 despite never having taken a class before. 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.