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Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: February 17th, 2021

Originally from New Zealand, Les Mills was an Olympic athlete in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968, near the end of his competitive track and field career, he and his wife opened a gym in their home country, utilizing many of the training and fitness techniques Les used during competition. In the 1980s, Les's son, Phillip started the Les Mills program in U.S. gyms. The program gained in popularity and is now used in more than 15,000 gyms in more than 80 countries around the globe. Today, Les Mills is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and is one of the most popular workout programs in the industry.

Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of joining Les Mills.

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The Good

  • Accessibility and Flexibility
  • Additional Program Resources
  • Valuable Partner Opportunity 
  • Free 14-Day Trial
  • On-Demand Workouts 
  • Youth Classes

Accessibility and flexibility

Accessibility and flexibility is a major benefit of the Les Mills program; it's available in more than 20,000 clubs and gyms and more than 100 other countries across the globe. More than 100,000 certified instructors lead the classes at some of the most popular gym networks in the world, including Powerhouse Gym and 24-Hour Fitness.

A bevy of Les Mills classes are available to meet your personal fitness goals and workout preferences. Series like Body pump and CXworx focus on strengthening muscles through repetition to build a lean, strong body. If you like a high-energy, cardio-based workout, try Body combat, Body attack or Body step. If you prefer to burn calories during a dance class, try Sh'bam or Bodyjam. If you're a cycling enthusiast, try RPM. Or take a Bodyvive class for an equal mix of strength training, core exercises, and cardio.

Les Mills instructors are certified to ensure that their classes are both safe and effective, and many participate in follow-up programs to continue to develop and learn new fitness techniques.

To keep workouts fresh and challenging, the class programs are updated with new choreography and music every three months. Instructors also receive educational updates on the same timeline, which helps them stay up to date with the latest knowledge in the fitness industry.

Additional Program Resources

Nutrition and healthy eating is part of the Les Mills program — nutrition information, advice, and recipes are available in both the Knowledge and Newsfeed sections of the site. Les Mills has also published a book titled "Fighting Globesity," which details strategies to help you become more active, lose weight, and eat healthy.

Les Mills has regional community sections on its website, each including message forums, articles, FAQs, motivational tools, blogs, surveys, research studies, and educational materials. Through these online tools, you can stay motivated by learning more and connecting with others in the Les Mills network.

Valuable Partner Opportunity 

Les Mills partners with gyms around the world to spread its exercise knowledge and technology. If you are interested in a partnership, you can reach out to Les Mills through its online website. The partnership includes some perks that may help you increase attendance at your locations. Benefits include a customer support package, mentoring, certified instructors, outlined fitness classes, and access to online videos. You will also receive marketing materials to attract new customers. 

Free 14-Day Trial 

Finding the right workout regime takes time and experience. Les Mills offers a 14-day trial for its on-demand subscription. You can test out the online classes to see if the Les Mills workout is a good fit for you. Just remember that your account will automatically renew at the end of the 14 days, so cancel in advance if you don’t plan on continuing. 

Les Mills also has about a dozen free workout videos on its Youtube channel. You can try one of these workouts to get a feel for the tempo and structure of the workouts. 

On-Demand Workouts 

Les Mills just recently created on-demand workouts for home users. The on-demand workout program costs $14.99 per month. Customers can lower the subscription cost by committing to a three month or yearly subscription. Choose from a variety of workout classes including dance, yoga, cycling, strength training, and high-intensity interval training. Les Mills also combines workouts tailored to fully-body or specific muscle groups to help you improve your area of focus.

Most workouts are between 15 to 25 minutes, giving you the flexibility to workout wherever and whenever you need to. You can easily incorporate these workouts into a morning or evening routine. 

The on-demand workout subscription provides tutorials for beginners. These tutorials are meant to help members learn the basic moves before moving on to the full-length workouts. If you are new to a home fitness routine, you can start with some beginner workouts. 

Access on-demand classes through the app on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or TV.  You can also view classes through the Les Mills website.

Youth Classes

Les Mills has an on-demand library tailored to kids called Born to Move. These videos are meant to get your kids up and moving while at home. Videos feature kid-friendly music and themes. For example, one video is titled “Move Like the Avengers” and guides children in superhero-related moves. Each Les Mills instructor receives extensive training and must pass the certification process. Classes are tested for safety and fun before being posted. The online videos for children are included in a regular adult subscription. 

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The Bad

  • Poor Customer Service
  • Equipment Required for Some Classes 
  • Live Class Recordings

Poor Customer Service 

Multiple customer reviews highlight the poor customer service at Les Mills. Customer complaints include receiving charges after canceling a subscription and having difficulty contacting anyone in customer service. Before signing up, consider how long you plan on sticking with the program. If you are looking for a free trial, you may experience difficulty canceling and avoiding payment. 

Equipment Required for Some Classes 

Some on-demand classes require equipment such as light weights, yoga mats, resistance bands, steps, and a stationary bike. Buying additional equipment can quickly add up making the subscription more expensive than a gym membership. However, Les Mills offers classes that do not require any equipment for those who do not want to make another purchase. You may just not be able to get the full use out of the subscription. 

Live Class Recordings

Online classes usually have an instructor talking directly into the camera. Les Mills on-demand uses class recordings to instruct at-home participants. This can make it a little more difficult to follow because you are more of an observer than a participant. After a while, individuals get used to this style of instruction.

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The Bottom Line

The Les Mills program offers a variety of classes based on an established, accessible workout regimen - not to mention access to a thriving online community and nutrition information. In addition, its quarterly program updates and instructor education offerings demonstrate its ongoing commitment to providing a fresh, safe and effective way to get fit.

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Star Rating

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3.9

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54 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

59%

4 grade

15%

3 grade

2%

2 grade

0%

1 grade

24%

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Alicia Red Hook, NY

I am reviewing only for the On Demand Les Mills program in all fairness. I want to say that I made certain that my issues are not user error problems before writing a poor review. The live classes might be awesome but the online program is ridiculous. The work outs are not labeled so users have no idea what the work outs consist of. There are 100's of work outs all conglomerated together randomly. The video quality is very poor and just a recording of different live sessions. I have participated in a similar program in my gym and loved it! This online offering is unorganized, not user friendly, frustrating and in my opinion not worth it. I paid for a full 1 year subscription up front and when I inquired about a refund they sent an email saying they will cancel however, I will have access to the program for the continuum of my subscription, and not issue a refund. That is a scam in my opinion. I could see if it was a monthly subscription but not an entire year.

7 years ago

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Lori Ann Martindale Castro Valley, CA

Not good. I have tried calling multiple times to get help with technical trouble with downloading my material. The representatives have told me to refer to a You Tube video that doesn't work. The second time I called I spoke with a customer service rep who's tone of voice indicated to me that I was a bother to her. Still having trouble and my workshop deadline drawing near, I tried calling again only to be disconnected at least five times. When I finally did get through and spoke with someone they once again spoke to me in a bothered , rude tone and connected me to "someone who could help" That someone was a voicemail stating that the "someone" isn't available. I was recruited to become an instructor by my local gym, paid $300.00 out of my own pocket for the Body Pump workshop, and can't receive adequate support for trouble shooting my study material. Unbelievable. Not happy.

9 years ago

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lois savell Katy, TX

I have been doing body pump for four years now and love it a lot. It is my addition, however, the current release has been horrible. Specifically the music namely the Burning Up for the back track. It is the most vile song and lirics ever. Our instructors cannot listen to it to practice when their children are anywhere around. Les Mills you forget that I pay for that class and I am deeply offended by it and have asked it to be removed from the class. This is not just my opinion but that of the entire class., I do not know what you were thinking but shame on you for disrespecting all of us with that filth.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11 years ago

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J. W. Ozark, MO

The programs they offer are fantastic. However, though they offer "club support" it is difficult to contact anyone EVER with questions or problems. Our studio has been bounced from one club support person to another, racking up an awesome tally of 12 in 6 years. We have certainly slipped through the cracks of client support. Super disappointed in this multi million dollar company. :(

6 years ago

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Alyson Schlobohm , VA

I read a lot of negative reviews about their customer service and billing and decided to try it anyway. Like so many other customers, I signed up for the free trial, cancelled before, provided proof of cancellation, and they charged me anyway. I tried to get a refund and they kept saying my account was still active even though IN THEIR SYSTEM it said "cancelled".

6 years ago

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Ella Tetrault Hamilton, ON

I only used the service once and did not cancel in time for the next month. Wrote them a message saying I could not afford it during Covid and they refused to give me a refund even though it was the day of the renewal. Really, really terrible company. Don’t sign up, it’s a scam. There are so many wonderful ones out there - this one is not worth it.

6 years ago

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Chris St. Petersburg, FL

Shady business practices. I contacted Les Mills to cancel my membership and they replied right away confirming my cancellation. Great. Then a month later I see a charge on my credit card for another month, so I emailed them again asking to cancel my account and reverse the charge. At that point they reply and say I actually needed to cancel through a third party vendor, and they didn't own my membership. So what exactly did they cancel the first time I emailed them?

7 years ago

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Row

This gym is good. The staff are nice. They are well educated. Gym equipment is kept in good order. etc etc However, if you need to talk to staff about anything to do with your account /membership/customer service issue, you are doomed. Very very difficult to get to talk to anyone at all . . . . ever. :( And when you do they are not aloud to help you - everything must be done via email and it is painfully slow.

9 years ago

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Lisa Winnipeg, MB

I signed up for a 30 day free trial, forgot to cancel, was billed $224, they refused to give me any refund after I told them I did not and would not use the service. DO NOT sign up. The online offerings are equivalent to what you can get for free on YouTube. Please save yourself $224.

5 years ago

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Lawrence

Boring repetitive routines that your body can adapt to. They don't really do much too alter it in any way. Even the grit series doesn't change much. They either reuse the workout you have done before or repeat the same one.

10 years ago

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Dan Krueger Stevens Point, WI

So boring. Routines are boring, repetitive and uninspring. Songs end before the routine is done and then comes back in mid-song using a pretty shoddy edit. Group Power is a much better alternative.

11 years ago

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Debbie Maize Costello Prosperity, PA

DO NOT LIKE the Les Mills classes. Doing same thing week after week is boring. Instructors are too busy worry about the choreograph their form is sacrificed and no time to correct participates form.

11 years ago

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Meg Pittsburgh, PA

I've done Pump since 2000, Step, Flow and Combat since 07. STOP TRYING TO BE WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS ARE DOING (SHORT TERM) and go bak to what you are. Pump--your music SUCKS!!! Stop with the Dub Step--pay some money (or not) and do song with lyrics. OMG, I WANT TO DIE WITH THIS CRAP!! Step--YOU ARE NOW UNSAFE!!! PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT. Stop it now!!! You can burn massive calories without hurting yourself. Combat--SAME THING! Flow, you still rock--give the choreographers a raise. They rock it and haven't left what the program started. BTW--Seen RIP'D?? It'll ***, if you don't go back to basics!

11 years ago