Focus On: Les Mills On Demand
Hiiiii 🙂 Happy Wednesday! We’re at the hump! I always like to tell myself it’s all downhill from here. 😉 I’m so glad you’re as excited as I am about the Lorna Jane giveaway! Keep those entries coming! Today let’s delve into at-home workouts with Les Mills On Demand.
At-Home Workouts
I’ve always had an appreciation for at-home workouts. There are many situations where it’s the most feasible option, whether you’re traveling, at home with a new baby, in a time crunch, or don’t have an accessible gym or classes near you. I really fell in love with at-home workouts while we were living in Valdosta. I’m sure the town has grown a ton since then, but when we were living there, they didn’t have a yoga studio, and class schedules were pretty sparse. I ended up teaching the classes I liked to take most at that time, but longed for the motivation, coaching and fitness magic from another instructor. This is also when I really got into power and hot yoga, and we didn’t have a studio for two hours. Enter the home workout.
I did yoga DVDs, Beachbody (here are my reviews for Insanity and Turbofire), podcasts, FitTV (anyone else miss that channel?!), and it was before the On Demand-type services really started to gain traction. Since then, I’ve used online and video workouts for when I’m traveling, when I want to get in a quick workout minus the gym travel time, or to try something new. I also anticipate using at-home workouts a lot later this fall, as I work to get back into my regular workout and teaching schedule.
On Demand Les Mills Workouts
I really like the new On Demand online channels, and am so stoked to do some of my favorite Beachbody (<— coach link. If you need help with any of the programs, please let me know!), Crunch Live, or barre (Physique 57 and barre3) workouts here at home.
Needless to say, I was STOKED when I found out Les Mills started offering On Demand workouts. I teach and love BODYPUMP, but usually don’t have time in my teaching schedule to play around with extra classes. Since I’m on a bit of a break right now -only teaching barre from now until the beeb is here- I’m using it as a chance to bring back some beloved workouts or try new things (while modifying appropriately).
Details of Les Mills On Demand
Cost: It’s $12.99/month with a 10-day free trial (They’re also very clear about when payment will kick in, which I like. You do have to enter credit card info to sign up)
Offerings: They offer a full mix of Les Mills classes to choose from-
BODYPUMP
CXWORX
RPM
SH’BAM
GRIT
BODYBALANCE/BODYFLOW
BODYCOMBAT
The Pros of Les Mills On Demand
-You get a Les Mills workout from their master trainers (<— top notch). I’m only certified in BODYPUMP, so I can’t speak on all of the formats, but the workout for BODYPUMP is the exact same master class that we received for our training. In other words, these workouts are taught and scripted according to Les Mills’ high standards for safe, effective, and motivational coaching. I’m analytical when I watch other instructors, and sometimes when I watch videos or On Demand-type workouts, I think to myself, “Wait. That isn’t right. Or why did they say that?” Cheesy jokes don’t bother me as much -they’re totally harmless and I sometimes laugh the first time- but when it comes to safety, I think it’s SO, so important. With Les Mills’ workouts, you can trust that they are going to teach safe form and avoid exercises that aren’t safe for the general population. I have huge respect for them as a company, and appreciate that they take so much care in the science and safety behind their formats.
-There are so many to choose from! I had a hard time deciding for my first workout, but ended up rolling with BODYCOMBAT. As always, the moves perfectly sync with the music, and it was such a blast.
(And I felt like a hardcore ninja afterwards. You know, the 8 months pregnant kind of hardcore ninja.)
-If you click the workout, it provides info on the equipment you need, the duration, a description, help resources and a full track list. This way, if you really like a song, you can download it later. 🙂
The Cons of Les Mills On Demand
-The workouts are shorter. I’m not sure if this is for copyright reasons (they don’t want to full releases accessible online?) or what, but most are 30 minutes instead of the full hour. You can always combine two workouts if you want the full hour.
-They don’t contain the most recent release. For BODYPUMP, I get the latest releases as part of my training (so I can practice to teach them on time!), but there is a bit of a delay with the On Demand selection. This is no big deal for the most part, but music-wise I think it can be kind of a bummer. Les Mills picks songs that are super fresh and new when they’re creating the workouts and filming, but sometimes by the time they’re released, they’re a bit overplayed. This means that for some of the options, there will be some older ear worms on there.
-Some of the workouts require additional equipment. Check and see what you need to have, but for BODYPUMP you’ll want a set of resistance (at home, I use dumbbells. We have a squat rack, but not happening for this haha), for RPM, you need a stationary bike. I’m excited to try an RPM workout with the iPad propped on the spin bike.
The Verdict
Love it. It’s another convenient and portable workout option, with so many formats to choose from: If you feel like cardio, you can try BODYCOMBAT; for boot camp and HIIT, go with GRIT; if you want to dance, there’s SH’BAM, and the list goes on. There are some awesome workouts depending on how you feel that day!
Have you tried Les Mills On Demand or anything similar? Are there any yoga subscription sites that you really love??
xoxo
Gina
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OMG! I literally just discovered this yesterday myself. I am moving to a new apartment, and the in-house gym is fully decked out. My current gym doesn’t offer Les Mills classes, so I am so excited to try the these to jazz up my exercise routine.
so awesome. love that they added this feature!
I am loving the Les Mills On Demand! I think it is great that they are offering their classes online. I too wish they were a full hour. I also wish some other programs were available. Personally I loved BodyVive when I was pregnant and BodyJam and Attack are two of my favorites! Also, I hope they keep adding more content! Great review.
Nice to have another online option accessible although how do you get the equipment? Do they give you an option to buy the weights, bars, etc.?
yep! you can purchase all of the tools through the site (but not the stationary bikes)
Thanks for sharing this!! I am moving this weekend and will take a little time to settle in before I get a gym membership, so this will be so nice. Body Combat and Pump are my current favs 🙂
i think those are my faves, too. i haven’t done grit enough (just at a fitness conference) but i think that would be up there, too
Thank you SO much for sharing this, I had no idea it was out there! I used to take Pump and RPM all the time before I moved, but Les Mills options are relatively scarce where I live now. It’s so nice to know I can find these workouts online!!
yay, hope you love it!
I will definitely try this!! I subscribe to yogadownload.com and right now am loving the prenatal yoga classes on there!
LOVE yogadownload.com. it’s been way too long since i’ve done one of their workouts
I have been loving Beachboy on demand, but excited to hear Les Mills offers on demand as well! I subscribe to The Yoga Collective for on demand yoga classes. The studio is based out of Venice Beach, but they have a great selection of on demand videos- differing styles, levels and lengths! You should check it out!
loooove beachbody on demand because i’ve gotten to try some formats that i wouldn’t have purchased. i will check out that yoga site- thank you!
This summer I’ve been using an Anytime Fitness that has this on demand system http://wellbeats.com/ in a little room with a couple spin bikes and whatever else you might use in a video. I want to try it sometime.
oh i’ll have to check it out!
I don’t think it’s on demand for individuals, just a system sold to gyms and such. But maybe that’s what you meant– check it out in the broader sense, not to give it a try in your living room or something. : )
Hi Gina! I need to test out On Demand. When I first heard it launched, I asked many of the same things you bring up – like are the releases the latest? Do they modify the instructor videos? (Because ATTACK videos are reversed for learning purposes, so you say LEFT and go RIGHT, but that wouldn’t work in this setting.) How often will they put out new releases? But overall, I love that this may get Les Mills programs into the hands of more people. And I don’t think BODYCOMBAT is good for preggers — heheh all that punching is bad for the joints, right? Hahaha But I bet you looked cute doing it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I’ll be sure to check it out.
Oh and I love online yoga classes via Grokker service! Check it out .. some are free but you have to pay for the premium ones.
oh i will definitely check it out!
they don’t have attack on there, so maybe that’s why? i think it’s a great way to offer les mills classes if they aren’t available near you. i would have gone crazy for this in valdosta
haha and body combat felt good on the ol’ preggy joints! (i modified a bit though)
I subscribe to fitnessglo to stream videos at home. Really feels like a class setting but in my comfort of my basement 🙂 And, allows me to try exercise formats I probably wouldn’t have otherwise gotten the chance to try.
i’ve been wanting to try that! i’ll have to check it out. they have a yogaglo, too
Thank you for this!! I really want to check this out. Sometimes I can’t make the gym time for the classes and this works out perfectly:) I feel that the cost is very good as well.
hope you love it if you try it! i think the cost is awesome, too.
Oh I love their classes!Thank’s for sharing this!
http://www.2activelab.com
Signed up today! Love the option when my teaching schedule is light and working out around hub’s travel. Super easy to sign up. I did a pump and a Rpm today and loved the combo all in one hour! Passing info on to clients. Thanks so much!
This is awesome!!! I really love Body Pump but with a new baby on the way I want the option to do it at home, so I think I will buy a set online and do it!
I have just been testing out Beachbody online and am liking it so far. It’s fun to be able to mix it up and try a bunch of different videos.
Is this on the same website as insanity and the other beach body workouts? This is wonderful for a college kid like me!!
Saw your comment as I was writing mine so I thought I’d reply 🙂
Les Mills is a different company than Beachbody, so no it is not the same website. Insanity is part of Beachbody and BodyPump and the kickboxing Gina did is part of Les Mills. It would be awesome if they were the same company!
I’m glad you wrote this! The other week I was wondering if Les Mills had an on demand because I love BodyPump but I’ll be going to evening classes in the fall and won’t be able to take BP! I saw that they had it and thought the price is really reasonable but I wasn’t sure if it was good or not. Glad to see you enjoyed it!
I love OnDemand and fully recommend it to my challengers!
I can’t afford the monthly subscriptions, but I am all about home workouts. In the past, I’ve treated myself to Adriene Mishcer’s Find What Feels Good yoga programs, and I love them! I’ve also purchased some of Tara Stile’s longer videos that I love but cannot get through at 9 months pregnant. Maybe after baby girl gets here I’ll give them another whirl.
I am so excited about Les Mills on Demand I could cry! I ordered the bar and weights a few weeks ago for my birthday, they’re back ordered until the end of the month, but I was going to do my own Bodypump workouts at home. I have an LA Fitness membership, and although the Body Works class is decent, it is a long way from being the motivating class that is BP. I was going to download beachbody on demand to get the at home workouts, but I still was crying and moaning that bodypump was not available online. THIS IS THE BEST DAY.EVER.
Oh you got me all excited until I realised it’s not available in Australia! Boo hoo. Although it doesn’t include my favourite anyway – body jam, which I’m sure you live too? – so I guess I’ll survive even though it would have been perfect timing for me as I’ve just had baby #2 also. Finally les mills is catching up to the digital world.
Do you know how often they’ll release new workouts on demand? I am interested in SH’BAM especially, but there are only like 4 or 5 of them and I can see them getting old fast.
my guess would be quarterly, since that’s how often we get new releases as instructors and they’re using the instructor materials, but i’m not sure
They just released a Body Flow workout which is 59 minutes, and a Body Pump (89) which is 59 minutes. However, only the first 28 minutes of the body pump showed, so I’m guessing it’s a glitch.
I really hope I can get a full body pump workout. It would be awesome to be able to do it all at home.
Does the Les Mills On Demand offer the full 30 minute GRIT Cardio class, or has the GRIT series been shortened as well?
i haven’t done that one but i’m pretty sure it’s shortened
I signed up for the 30 day free trial. I really like Body Step/Attack so I won’t renew until one of those options is available.
So glad to see the Les Mills on demand, love the program. I requested and received Beach Body’s Core de Force for Christmas because I thought it would be close to the same since it was done by the creators. My problem with Core de Force is that the movements are much slower than what I do in Body Combat.
Hi…I am from Valdosta soooo thank you for mentioning home.. Thanks also for the detailed information on the Les Mills program.
Hi! Just wondering, I know that this post was from 5 years ago (roughly), so I was wondering…are you still using Les Mills OD? I’m so used to the structure of Beachbody, so trying Les Mills has had a bit of a learning curve on knowing where to start. I’m about two weeks in, and I finally realized that there was a section where they have plans that integrate a combination of their different workout programs, and I’m loving that, but I get confused on where to start if I just want to do one particular program (like Sh’Bam or yoga)…or if that’s even necessary. I know that BeachBody typically sets a schedule where you are building on what you did before, so I’m just trying to figure that out for if I just want to do one particular program. Do you have any pointers? Thank you!!