Is the New Year bringing on new challenges? Are you a fitness person who sets goals and not resolutions to be broken? Are you trying 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 BODYVIVE^TM offer such an experience.

BODYFLOW^TM 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. BODYFLOW^TM 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!

For those who simply must break a sweat and feel muscular tension to enjoy a workout, there is another stress relieving alternative within the Les Mills system. BODYVIVE^TM is a one stop shop that provides fulfillment in every exercise. In less than an hour you accomplish cardio training at your own pace, moderate strength training, balance work, core strength, and a deep relaxing stretch. There is also a mind/body connection with this delightful class. In order to work at your own pace, one must identify the target muscle and focus on it. This eliminates the possibility of making your grocery list or planning your next project while in class. To truly achieve results, you must tune in to your body and the experience. Never mind that you will be singing along and dumping buckets of stress as you sweat. You will leave energized and invigorated, ready to take on the world.

We all need to manage our lives from time to time. Cardio and strength training must not be neglected, but including less intense recovery classes is necessary for our mental and spiritual health. Our bodies do not exist in a vacuum but are fully connected to both our thoughts and our feelings. Find your place, either in BODYFLOW^TM or BODYVIVE^TM, to make sure you are maintaining your health in all three areas. Kia Kaha.

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, BODYPUMP^TM.

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 BODYPUMP^TM, 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!

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 BODYATTACK^TM. Gold’s Gym in Gurnee, Illinois; Gold’s Gym Washington in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Lincoln Racquet Club in Lincoln, Nebraska debuted BODY FLOW^TM! BODYCOMBAT^TM 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 BODYJAM^TM. Body Boutique Women’s Fitness and Health Spa in Lawrence, Kansas and YMCA-Norfolk Family in Norfolk, Nebraska brought on BODYVIVE^TM. ADM Wellness Center in Decatur, Illinois and Powerhouse Gym in St. Clair Shores decided to get into the fast lane with RPM. BODYSTEP^TM 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!

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 BODYPUMP^TM and BODYFLOW^TM. 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 BODYPUMP^TM 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 BODYPUMP^TM workout!

And, at the end of the night, the classes for the whole month were packed, not just full at 10, but 15 or 20 signups per class hoping to squeeze in, and people begging me to add more class times! We are expanding into a larger space to accommodate the high demand of these classes, so we can make even more profit by having 30 participants per class instead of 10.

By the way, their website (www.lesmills.com) is a great tool with tons of information for figuring out when to have classes, formulas to find your cost per head to help create a budget and much more. Not to mention it gives you a description and a little demo of all 8 classes they offer so you can check them out for yourself. This was one of the best decisions we've made for our club, and we plan on becoming licensed in all 8 of their classes as we learn and grow!

Lauri Martineau ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Ladies Workout Express
Canton MI

THANK YOU LAURI! We are thrilled with your success and look for more from you in the future! Keep stepping it up!

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, Wisconsin
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.

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 BODYPUMP^TM 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, not just individual classes with individual instructors. We needed a system linked to the goal of making our club more successful.” Tracie credits the Les Mills Group Fitness Management system with a relatively easy transition to the new regime. “The Les Mills website has unbelievable amounts of knowledge, insight and resources to help any gym, I think, be successful,” she says. “We use a Les Mills spreadsheet to track attendance. We use a Les Mills tool to build the timetable. We use the online marketing materials to create posters and flyers. Further, she says, the system makes it so easy for any other person to come in and teach a class. If there’s a different instructor, the members still know exactly what to expect. They’re never lost in the routine just because the instructor is new.” Raymond says: “We have sold at least 20 memberships attributed to the Les Mills program within the first 60 days.” Tracie adds: “BODYPUMP^TM has touched everyone in the club, not just ‘aerobics clients’. Men, women, old, young – they’re all joining in, because they can adjust the class to their own level and potential. It’s getting people into the gym, giving them a comfortable and inspiring group to work with, and they see their fitness goals achieved. It’s a bonus offering that other gyms don’t provide.”

WOW Tracie! We are happy for you success and enthusiasm!

Keep taking it to the next level! Kia Kaha!