Group fitness classes: not just for leotards
I heard some shocking gossip in the changing rooms yesterday. No, it wasn't that Amy Winehouse is back in rehab. I overheard two ladies chatting about how they would never do aerobics again because in the 80's the routines out there were too complex and intense.
This is a common misconception about aerobics and group fitness classes in general. But times have changed since then: complex routines, skin-tight Lyrca, leg warmers and concentrating on not tripping over your feet are a thing of the past.
This style of class still exists, catering for the old-school diehards, but the majority of group fitness classes are now simple and many are pre-choreographed. These pre-choreographed classes were developed by a company called Les Mills.
Les Mills was founded by four-time New Zealand Olympian Phillip Mills in the 1980's. The first Les Mills group fitness program called Body Pump was launched in 1990.
Mills developed the simple to follow programs after 'aerobics' numbers started to drop off with complex routines only catering for elite participants in the late 80s. Each week over six million people participate in a Les Mills group fitness class, in 13,000 clubs in 75 different countries.
Les Mills has revolutionised group fitness around the world. Each program is pre-choreographed which means you could be a Body Pump class in France and it is the same as in Australia. The theory behind this is to decrease complexity and increase intensity.
There are nine different programs from Body Pump (weight training), Body Balance (Pilates yoga-style) to Body Attack (high impact aerobics). With the diverse variety of classes, there is something for everyone.
There are many benefits to Les Mills group fitness classes. Each class has been developed by a team of exercise physiologist to achieve maximum results. Every class includes a warm-up, cardiovascular section, strength and core training and cool down. The instructor's role is to motivate, correct technique, inspire and push you to your limits. So all you need to do is to turn up!
So why don't you join into a Les Mills group fitness class? Over 6 million people each week can't be wrong!
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les mills
,body pump
,body jam
,body balance
,body attack
,gym
,fitness
,aerobics
,lycra
,women
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