LES MILLS LAB RESEARCH
Significant investment in research is an important part of Les Mills’ business and ensures our club partners and their members know that our group fitness programs are safe, effective and powered by science.
We partner with internationally-renowned university research teams to test the effects of our programs on key community health factors such as obesity and heart disease, along with investigations into the motivational and behavioural aspects of fitness. Les Mills Lab research is independent, peer-reviewed and industry-recognized.
Strength Development: The Progressive Approach To Training
February 10, 2023
For fitness enthusiasts that are ready to lead the next generation of strength training. LES MILLS Strength Development is progressive approach to training. You will be upskilled in a boutique-style format and will be trained faster and easier than ever.
25 years since BODYPUMP was launched in the Nordic region, what has happened since then?
February 6, 2023
It’s been 25 years since BODYPUMP was introduced to the Nordic market and a lot has happened since then. That's why we took the opportunity to ask Per-Anders Dagborn to share his story since he was involved in the launch of the concept and Les Mills in the Nordics.
Targeted core classes offer antidote to modern back pain pandemic: Research
February 6, 2023
Up to 85 percent of us will suffer lower back pain in our lifetime, but new research suggests targeted core workouts could hold the key to prevention as well as treatment, using neuromuscular control strategies to maintain dynamic trunk stability
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7 ways to raise revenue through your club’s studio
January 16, 2023
A well-executed group training strategy could be the difference between a good year and a great one for your facility’s bottom line. Here are seven simple steps for driving additional revenue through group training.
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Our team
Bryce Hastings
Head of Research, Technical Advisor, Les Mills International
Bryce Hastings drives the science behind the sweat, leading world class research that shapes how millions of people train. Working alongside internationally renowned research partners, Bryce bridges the gap between the lab and the gym floor, ensuring every LES MILLS™ program is safe, effective, and powered by science.
He has developed numerous research programs and co authored reports across a range of fitness and scientific publications. These include the landmark Get Fit Together trial, alongside research into core conditioning, high intensity interval training, and exercise strategies for sedentary individuals.
A certified Physical Therapist since 1986, Bryce’s academic work is supported by extensive hands on experience. He owned a private practice within the original Les Mills World of Fitness in Auckland and holds an Advanced Diploma in Manipulative Therapy and a Master of Philosophy from Auckland University of Technology, where he serves as a Research Associate and lectured part time for eight years.
Jinger S. Gottschall, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor, Columbia University, U.S.A
Dr. Jinger Gottschall is a leading authority in exercise physiology, blending academic rigor with real world fitness application. She earned her Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado Boulder, followed by postdoctoral research in neurophysiology at Emory School of Medicine.
Jinger has held academic roles as an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at The Pennsylvania State University and currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor in Biobehavioral Science at Columbia University. Alongside her academic work, she co founded FITOLOGY, a LES MILLS group fitness studio, bringing science directly into the studio environment.
A passionate advocate for physical activity, Jinger’s work focuses on programs that support balanced, sustainable lifestyles while delivering measurable results. Her unique combination of research expertise and hands on industry experience helps ensure fitness solutions are both evidence based and accessible.
Gillian Hatfield, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology, University of the Fraser Valley, Canada
Dr. Gillian Hatfield is a biomechanics and injury prevention specialist with a deep focus on how exercise supports long term health. She earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Dalhousie University, where her research developed predictive models for knee osteoarthritis progression using walking biomechanics.
She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia in Physical Therapy, examining how exercise interventions influence knee loading and muscle activation. Gillian is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley, teaching Biomechanics and Athletic Injury.
Her research explores the benefits of physical activity across diverse populations, including older adults, people with knee osteoarthritis, those with lower back pain, and postpartum women. As a Les Mills Instructor, she is particularly interested in the real world effectiveness of LES MILLS™ group fitness programs.