As the remnants of holiday celebrations remain in our homes, we realize just how stressful the “most wonderful time of the year” can be! Add to that that we are fitness people who set goals and not resolutions to be broken, and we must ponder how to cope with the stress of mere existence. Of course, life will happen. Inevitable unforeseen events will creep into our schedules and threaten our peace. On days when your stress seems to be getting the better of you, look to a calmer place. Take on a workout that may be unfamiliar, but is sure to be pleasant. BODYFLOW TM and BODYVIVETM offer such an experience.

BODYFLOWTM is a blended class specifically designed to strengthen and lengthen the body while also focusing the mind and soothing the spirit. The glorious sound track and challenging, yet graceful movements take us to a place that other workouts cannot. It also works in. Taking a break from a “typical” work out can provide just the momentary distraction our stressed out brains and bodies need to rejuvenate, refocus, refresh, and remind us of our purpose on this little planet. The Yoga sequences allow us to feel strong in class even if we feel weak or broken in our daily lives. Pilates core re-centers our energy and helps us draw from within ourselves the strength to continue. Finally, the deliberate intense stretching provides a physical release that is often accompanied by a mental one. Those final meditative moments allow us to relish in our work out success and restore our weary souls. BODYFLOWTM is the solution to the hectic day, season, or lifestyle. After class take a long sauna, hot bath, or have a glass of wine. Your world will be in disarray again soon enough. This class is where you can find your peace!
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We have had a stellar year in the Midwest with fabulous launches and new clubs. Pictured here are Cassie Massolia, Instructor and Amy Petru, Group fitness manager for Gold’s gym in Howell, Michigan. These awesome pictures are from the initial launch of their very first program, BODYPUMPTM.

Amy says, “The owner and I visited 3 clubs in VA this past spring and we took several Les Mills classes and met with the GFM's from those clubs and... we decided to bring Les Mills to our club. We just brought it on in Sept., but our numbers, for that class especially have greatly improved.”

This club has approximately 1500 members who average 35-55 years of age. Amy tells us that Howell is “small town USA”. It is a bedroom community which feeds 2 major metropolitan areas which are Lansing and Detroit. To promote the launch, Amy and her team used radio ads a mailer, emails, posters and signs.

After the full implementation of BODYPUMPTM, Howell Gold’s Gym boasts increased participation and excitement about a new format. This club is still growing and has embraced the Les Mills philosophy with gusto! Keep up the good work team. We can’t wait to see what you do next! Kia Kaha!
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ANNOUNCING THE RETURN OF THE LAUNCH PAD! Les Mills Midwest (LMMW) is happy to once again provide recognition to each and every new launch. You deserve a pat on the back for the tremendous job you are doing with the programs! Remember to re-launch quarterly for optimal retention benefits!

November’s new clubs were: Gold’s Gym in West Des Moines, Iowa; Health Bridge Fitness Center #2 in Huntley, Illinois; Peak Fitness in Rockford, Illinois, and Performance Health & Fitness in Coralville, Iowa. WELCOME TO THE TRIBE!

We also had a number of new program launches in November. Gold’s Gym in Champaign, Illinois introduced BODYATTACKTM. Gold’s Gym in Gurnee, Illinois; Gold’s Gym Washington in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Lincoln Racquet Club in Lincoln, Nebraska debuted BODY FLOWTM! BODYCOMBATTM came to Core Fitness in Iowa City, Iowa; Core Fitness in North Liberty, Iowa; and Lifepoint Wellness Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Gold’s Gym in Marion, Illinois got a new beat with BODYJAMTM. Body Boutique Women’s Fitness and Health Spa in Lawrence, Kansas and YMCA-Norfolk Family in Norfolk, Nebraska brought on BODYVIVETM. ADM Wellness Center in Decatur, Illinois and Powerhouse Gym in St. Clair Shores decided to get into the fast lane with RPM. BODYSTEPTM was also added at Ringside Fitness & Boxing in Marquette, Michigan!

Congratulations to you all! We are proud of your growth and commitment to the programs. STAND STRONG!
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Lauri Martineau wrote us a beautiful letter about the success of Les Mills programming in a small Ladies Workout Express. We have excerpted it here for your information and inspiration. This last issue of 200 is to thank you all for a wonderful year and psych you up for the New Year!

We only have room for 10 participants in a class right in the middle of our circuit. We usually have about 12 classes per week on our schedule. Our classes were averaging 50% attendance and costing us money. I needed a solution. I looked into different programs and decided Les Mills' was the best.

Their programs are excellent! We have licensed our club to teach BODYPUMPTM and BODYFLOWTM. I was extremely impressed with how much you learn in training and how intense it was. They don't pass anyone unless they really know what they're doing. So, you can be sure a certified Les Mills instructor will be a quality instructor every time.

They've done their research and when they say they will fill your classes, they weren't kidding! We had our BODYPUMPTM launch party, another ingenious process created by Les Mills, complete with ideas on how to market it, silk banner for your club, class passes for members to give to friends, getting started brochures to explain the class, etc. The launch party was a huge success, we had to limit participants to one song each so every one had a chance to participate in the BODYPUMPTM workout!
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The culture of Les Mills and the beauty of the programs is that the system provides scheduling variety with integrity, innovation, and intelligence. When all 8 programs are properly implemented with the group fitness solution, the result is a group fitness department that is successful and revered much like a fine restaurant. The menu is limited in scope, easy to read, and every dish a delight!

We would like to praise the clubs who either achieved or maintained PLATINUM status during 2008. You have embraced the solution fully and we are happy to have you in the tribe. Our thanks and recognition go to:

Gold’s Gym Menasha, Wissconsin
Gold’s Gym Morton, Illinois
Gold’s Gym-Northland in Appleton, Wisconsin
Gold’s Gym Peoria, Illinois
Gold’s Gym Woodbury, Minnesota
JCC Kansas City in Overland Park, Kansas
Newtone Health & Fitness Lafayette, Indiana
Ozark Fitness Centers-South in Springfield, Missouri
SWAT Fitness Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Stay with the fight team! We are very proud of your accomplishments.
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Tracie Gajewski has been a group-fitness instructor for ten years, but she’s never seen anything like this before. Attendance at group-fitness classes doubled... and then tripled. By 8am on any given morning, that evening’s classes are probably already booked out. Group exercise is bringing new people into the club – and they’re signing up as first-time members just to get into the classes. And they’re telling their friends. And all of that only weeks after introducing BODYPUMPTM from Les Mills. “It’s not as if we even thought things were going wrong,” says Tracie, Group Fitness Manager at the Powerhouse Gym in St Clair Shores, Michigan.

“We had the usual range of classes, attended by a few people who seemed to like them. We had the usual problems with developing classes, keeping them fresh, and knowing how to make them better. Situation normal, in other words.” Then the owner of the St Clair Shores club, Raymond Lousia, attended a Group Fitness Management seminar hosted by group-fitness provider Les Mills. Raymond became convinced that group fitness at St Claire Shores could reach new levels. “Before, we never looked at the big picture,” Tracie explains. “Classes would be popular, and then become unpopular – and we never knew why. We would say ‘Let’s try this...’ or ‘let’s try that...’ but really without any structure or guidance. Now, group fitness is a concept and a program... "
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