Obstacle Mud Runner - issue 15

12 RACE: FITNESS Les Mills Future of Fitness Women are driving ‘Fitness 2.0’ – where workouts fit in your pocket 2020 has spun us into strange times but there are also great things to have come from a year most of us would prefer not to be reminded about. The digital fitness boom being driven by COVID-19 restrictions means people are using smart devices from phones to TVs to workout in unprecedented numbers, according to new data from Les Mills. The group fitness expert behind classes such as BODYPUMP™ and BODYCOMBAT™ has reported a 900% increase in sign-ups to its LES MILLS™ On Demand (LMOD) digital fitness platform since January 2020, as hundreds of thousands of new users rush to stay active in the face of COVID-19. Women are overwhelmingly driving the digital workout trend – dubbed ‘Fitness 2.0’ – making up 92% of LES MILLS On Demand users. Meanwhile, the science-backed workouts with options for all ages are also proving a hit with families as more than half of platform users (54%) have children. “At a time when health is everyone’s top priority, the COVID-19 outbreak is ushering in Fitness 2.0 – an age where people can work out wherever and whenever they want,” said Jean-Michel Fournier, CEO of Les Mills Media. “This trend has been building for a while. We knew that 85% of gym members were already working out at home as well, but digital workouts have exploded in the past few months, with women really driving this trend. “We believe gyms will always be the pinnacle of live fitness experiences and I’m sure everyone will be desperate for social workouts once lockdowns are lifted. But the digital fitness boom is helping to break down barriers to fitness for people you might not typically see in the gym and that’s really exciting.” LES MILLS On Demand is currently offering a free 14-day trial for all new subscribers. The platform enables users to stream, cast or download over 900 world-leading workouts at home or on the go, including BODYPUMP™, BODYCOMBAT™, and BORN TO MOVE classes for kids. While 77% of LES MILLS On Demand users say they want to improve their fitness, the mental health benefits brought by the workouts are deemed equally important. Stress relief (76%) and boosting mental health (72%) were both cited among the main reasons why people are using the platform. This is reflected in the thriving LES MILLS On Demand online community of 184K, with users sharing their fitness journeys and motivational tips in the fast-growing LES MILLS On Demand Facebook Group and on Instagram. There is currently a FREE 30-day free trial (£11.95 per month thereafter). You can get involved here: https://www.lesmills.com/uk/ondemand/ You’ll most likely have heard of Bodypump, Bodycombat, Bodybalance or Les Mills Core, as well as Grit Strength, Grit Cardio and such, but these don’t even scratch the surface on the number and variety of classes LMOD offer. Did you know they even offer ‘Born to Move’ classes from children aged 2-16? NO, I BET YOU DIDN’T.