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This class is set to shape the future of fitness.

Updated: Feb 25

Get set to build your strength without lifting. And boost your mood without trying. Erin Maw, the fitness mastermind behind LES MILLS SHAPES, explains why it's is the smart way to push your body – and what to expect when you give it a go.




LES MILLS SHAPES fuses Pilates, barre and power yoga. What happens when you blend them together? Are there exponential benefits?

It’s fair to say we’ve taken the most challenging aspects of Pilates, barre and power yoga, synergized them and fused them together in a way that’s brought out the best of each.This means there are unique Pilates movements, the principles of barre (a.k.a. lots of pulses) and innovative additions such as sliders and weight plates during power yoga. The intensity of the power yoga is great, and the movements are athletic and great for toning, conditioning and working on strength and stability. I really pushed the boundaries and my own level of creativity. I challenged myself to make something unique and the result is a boutique workout like nothing you’ve ever done before.


Tell us about the testing and development that went into creating LES MILLS SHAPES.

When this was just a seed of an idea, I started working with two physiotherapists: Rob Lee, who was a Les Mills technical consultant and Maddie Dylan, a physiotherapist and mat Pilates Instructor. I also worked with Head Trainer and presenter Sarah Baron, who comes from a professional dance and ballet background and is a reformer Pilates and barre Instructor. Bryce Hastings, a physiotherapist and Les Mills Head of Research, also fed into the development. Having this expertise and credibility was essential as I wanted to create something innovative but needed to ensure it was something that Pilates purists would still enjoy.

After lots of testing and refining in the Les Mills Lab, we did months of live testing in Les Mills gyms across New Zealand. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and attendance numbers were super strong. In fact, at Les Mills Dunedin (a club in a university city where membership skews towards younger movers), LES MILLS SHAPES quickly attracted fans, accounting for three of the top four busiest classes on the timetable.


What can you expect during a typical LES MILLS SHAPES workout?

This workout sculpts and strengthens all areas of the body through small, controlled movements and repetition. Low-impact and grounded, but high intensity – it hits four out of five on the intensity scale.

Each workout starts with a focus on breath and mobility, to bring awareness to our neutral spine and gentle warming of the body. We then go straight into our core series to activate the core, and we stay grounded throughout the glute series to activate the glutes.Then, when we’re nice and spiced up and warm, the standing series begins. This low-impact cardio feels more dynamic and integrated. There is a focus on the legs, and then the upper body.

When we land at the strength series there are two options, so you can choose based on the equipment you have on hand. Strength series option one makes use of sliders, mimicking the movements you do with a Pilates reformer. There are three tracks; the legs, the upper body integrated with core, and then the glutes, so we end up working the whole body.

Strength series option two is a power yoga-inspired strength block where we mix power yoga moves with weight plates and pulses to add more resistance and really challenge stability and strength. Each workout wraps ups with some serious glute burn, and ends with some quick glute stretching.

What makes LES MILLS SHAPES so effective?

Because it’s so targeted. When you do other exercises, sometimes you can miss a specific muscle group. But with this workout, we target the glute max, then we target the glute med, then we target the inner thigh, so we don't miss anything. We’re fatiguing one specific area, then we’re fatiguing another specific area. And we’re engaging lots of intrinsic and accessory muscles that we wouldn't work doing compound exercises like squats on a rack. The other reason this workout delivers is due to the high-rep moves being sequenced to the music. The moves are intense, but they feel fun. And that’s what keeps you coming back.


Who will love LES MILLS SHAPES?

I know not everyone loves the idea of strength training with a barbell. Barbells and weights can be quite intimidating and there is still the misconception that lifting weights will build big bulky muscles. LES MILLS SHAPES is great if you want to avoid the intimidation of the barbell, but still get that full-body strength feeling.

Young movers who are looking for boutique on-trend workouts are going to love LES MILLS SHAPES. But they’re not the only ones. This workout has options for everyone and you can progress at your own pace. It’s really all about finding your hot spot and making it work for you.

I have heard so many times “This is the workout I never knew I needed” and also “These are the exercises my physio always tells me I should be doing.” And I’ve been surprised by the number of men enjoying it. The workout targets the areas where males aren’t always strong, such as the glutes, glute med, and adductors. Because the movement patterns really focus on these areas, males will really notice the benefit.





What are your tips for getting started with LES MILLS SHAPES?

First up, know that you have full autonomy over your workout and there are options every step of the way.

When you first try the workout, go for either no band, or a very light sculpt band. You don’t need to choose weight plates, and if you do, go for very light – like 1kg. Remember you can ditch the equipment anytime you like.

You can stop and shake out whenever you want. If you want to move slower and off beat of the music go for it. There’s no pressure to stay on tempo with the Instructor, you can slow down and stop as you please.

You’ll be surprised by how quickly you find the hot spot. And expect to feel a little sore in the morning! You’re going to feel things you haven’t felt in a long time.


How should you add LES MILLS SHAPES to your routine?

As a full-body strength workout, we recommend you do LES MILLS Shapes each week. Each workout will fatigue your core and your glutes, so it’s important you don’t do any weight training after a LES MILLS SHAPES workout.


 

This piece originally appeared at https://www.lesmills.com/fit-planet/fitness/erin-maw- explains-shapes/>lesmills.combining the best bits of the hottest training trends. Here she explains why


LES MILLS SHAPES™ is the smart way to push your body – and what to


expect when you give it a go.ynamic boutique-style training. Until now.


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