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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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