Latest
issue
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Features   Products   Company profilesProfiles   Press releasesProfiles   Magazine   Handbook   Advertise    Subscribe  
Promotional feature
Les Mills

90 per cent of exercisers say they prefer to work out in a group, which is why operators need to ensure their group exercise timetable has pulling power


High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a trend that is set to continue and explode further in 2015. The fact that as a society we are time poor and want to see maximum results in minimum time has further enhanced the desire for HIIT. Les Mills launched the GRIT Series™ over a year ago and has seen the programme challenge group fitness norms and deliver commercial results for partners. Here’s how it worked at Blantyre Leisure Centre.

Gerry Campbell, general manager of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture says: “Initially we launched Les Mills GRIT Strength, Plyo and Cardio in the summer is 2013 (will still operate all three) with an understated ‘FREE come and try sessions’. We liked the small team training model and spread the word that GRIT was a fantastic results driven group PT programme.”

Ian Thompson, assistant manager and Les Mills GRIT™ Coach, says: “I was naturally nervous about jumping in with both feet with such a new product and my own team members who had not been tested with regards to the sustainability of sessions.

“We kept it low key and allowed customers to market it through word of mouth....(every gym punter loves a good gossip) and I am pleased to say they did a pretty good job... most of the free sessions were taken within the first afternoon of opening!” Marketing and PR at its best!

Blantyre Leisure Centre started with a number of programmed sessions at £6 for members and £9 for non-members and also added private additional bookable sessions at £36 per session.

All the Les Mills GRIT™ groups have a maximum limit of 8 customers but much of the sessions at Blantyre are driven by customer demand on a private basis (£36 per session – max 8 people) bookable through the gym supervisor. In 2014 the centre was running approximately 37 sessions per month a monthly profit for GRIT sits comfortably at about £1,000 (target was £500 per month).

Ian adds: “What I love about the Les Mills GRIT™ effect is not only the boost to my bottom line, but the fact it’s the customers have taken ownership of it and are responsible for creating the buzz within the club.”

Martin Franklin, customer experience director at Les Mills UK, says: “The Les Mills GRIT™ Series is perfectly suited to a number of different operating models as it can be tailored to you and your club. Some operators, including two national ones, decide to just offer it as part of their group exercise timetable and another uses it as a feeder to its personal training offering. Although traditionally, GRIT is seen as small group training it also translates perfectly to larger classes and we have seen some operators draw in crowds of 50+. As with all our programmes, there’s never a one size fits all approach and it’s our job to work with you as partners to apply the correct solution to your business.”

For details about Les Mills GRIT Series™ please email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 7264 0200

WHY CHOOSE GRIT™?
• HIIT is HOT – people want short, sharp intensive work outs that deliver results FAST! And has been included in the American Council of Exercise (ACE) top ten fitness trends for the past three years.

• (HI)IT works – Scientific research shows the transformational power of HIIT training. Replacing one hour of ‘regular’ training with 2 x 30 minute GRIT classes deliver results quicker

• It’s a magnet for millennials

• Remain competitive – hold on and increase your market share by offering something new

• It can drive additional revenue if you operate a paid for programme

• It can feed your personal training model


FREE HIIT INSIGHT SERIES EVENT
Les Mills is hosting free insight seminars nationwide during March and April. These will share best practice and look at how, as club operators, we can capture the imagination of the millennial market and offer the right solution to retain members. The seminars are designed for group fitness managers, club and general managers and those who want to unlock the power of group fitness.

To register, email: [email protected]

GRIT is a powerful, results-driven group PT programme
GRIT is a powerful, results-driven group PT programme
The workouts burn more calories than activities like running and cycling
The workouts burn more calories than activities like running and cycling
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. - bespoke means moving beyond the catalogue to delivering contextual design responses
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness environments. [more...]

Introducing Glass Act by Templespa
Introducing Glass Act, your new go-to eye serum for brighter, smoother, beautifully awakened eyes. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Capsix

Founded in 2016 by Carole Eyssautier, PhD in AI, François Eyssautier, robotics engineer, and Stéphan [more...]
bbspa_Group

The technical advice offered by bbspa is delivered via four specialist departments which offer turn [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
21-23 Jun 2026

Spa Life International (UK)

Midlands (Venue TBA), Liphook, United Kingdom
+ More diary  
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
SPA BUSINESS
SPA OPPORTUNITIES
SPA BUSINESS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
Promotional feature
Les Mills

90 per cent of exercisers say they prefer to work out in a group, which is why operators need to ensure their group exercise timetable has pulling power


High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a trend that is set to continue and explode further in 2015. The fact that as a society we are time poor and want to see maximum results in minimum time has further enhanced the desire for HIIT. Les Mills launched the GRIT Series™ over a year ago and has seen the programme challenge group fitness norms and deliver commercial results for partners. Here’s how it worked at Blantyre Leisure Centre.

Gerry Campbell, general manager of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture says: “Initially we launched Les Mills GRIT Strength, Plyo and Cardio in the summer is 2013 (will still operate all three) with an understated ‘FREE come and try sessions’. We liked the small team training model and spread the word that GRIT was a fantastic results driven group PT programme.”

Ian Thompson, assistant manager and Les Mills GRIT™ Coach, says: “I was naturally nervous about jumping in with both feet with such a new product and my own team members who had not been tested with regards to the sustainability of sessions.

“We kept it low key and allowed customers to market it through word of mouth....(every gym punter loves a good gossip) and I am pleased to say they did a pretty good job... most of the free sessions were taken within the first afternoon of opening!” Marketing and PR at its best!

Blantyre Leisure Centre started with a number of programmed sessions at £6 for members and £9 for non-members and also added private additional bookable sessions at £36 per session.

All the Les Mills GRIT™ groups have a maximum limit of 8 customers but much of the sessions at Blantyre are driven by customer demand on a private basis (£36 per session – max 8 people) bookable through the gym supervisor. In 2014 the centre was running approximately 37 sessions per month a monthly profit for GRIT sits comfortably at about £1,000 (target was £500 per month).

Ian adds: “What I love about the Les Mills GRIT™ effect is not only the boost to my bottom line, but the fact it’s the customers have taken ownership of it and are responsible for creating the buzz within the club.”

Martin Franklin, customer experience director at Les Mills UK, says: “The Les Mills GRIT™ Series is perfectly suited to a number of different operating models as it can be tailored to you and your club. Some operators, including two national ones, decide to just offer it as part of their group exercise timetable and another uses it as a feeder to its personal training offering. Although traditionally, GRIT is seen as small group training it also translates perfectly to larger classes and we have seen some operators draw in crowds of 50+. As with all our programmes, there’s never a one size fits all approach and it’s our job to work with you as partners to apply the correct solution to your business.”

For details about Les Mills GRIT Series™ please email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 7264 0200

WHY CHOOSE GRIT™?
• HIIT is HOT – people want short, sharp intensive work outs that deliver results FAST! And has been included in the American Council of Exercise (ACE) top ten fitness trends for the past three years.

• (HI)IT works – Scientific research shows the transformational power of HIIT training. Replacing one hour of ‘regular’ training with 2 x 30 minute GRIT classes deliver results quicker

• It’s a magnet for millennials

• Remain competitive – hold on and increase your market share by offering something new

• It can drive additional revenue if you operate a paid for programme

• It can feed your personal training model


FREE HIIT INSIGHT SERIES EVENT
Les Mills is hosting free insight seminars nationwide during March and April. These will share best practice and look at how, as club operators, we can capture the imagination of the millennial market and offer the right solution to retain members. The seminars are designed for group fitness managers, club and general managers and those who want to unlock the power of group fitness.

To register, email: [email protected]

GRIT is a powerful, results-driven group PT programme
GRIT is a powerful, results-driven group PT programme
The workouts burn more calories than activities like running and cycling
The workouts burn more calories than activities like running and cycling
LATEST NEWS
Belgin Aksoy prepares to mark 15 years of Global Wellness Day on Saturday 13 June
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities that spark joy.
HUM2N opens longevity clinic at Six Senses London
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider, HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
Mayrlife opens first hotel day clinic in partnership with Rosewood Vienna
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth offers ocean-themed yoga for Global Wellness Day
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Hoshino Resorts combats summer heat with medically-supervised cool bathing programme for KAI onsen
Hoshino Resorts has developed a “Cool-down onsen soak” programme at properties with Japanese onsen facilities – those within the company’s KAI brand.
Rainforest immersion and mindfulness are on offer at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, for Global Wellness Day
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day (GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation experiences.
Longevitix launches AI-powered platform to deliver longevity medicine at scale
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI- powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity- focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre announces new wellness destination in Hyderabad
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and 2029.
The Retreat Costa Rica debuts Vida Mía Longevity Centre
Luxury wellness resort, The Retreat Costa Rica, has introduced its Vida Mía Longevity Centre at the property’s Vida Mía Healing Centre and Spa.
Almost half of spa survey respondents are unaware cancer is a disability and not adapting treatments is discrimination
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
+ More news   
 
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. - bespoke means moving beyond the catalogue to delivering contextual design responses
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness environments. [more...]

Introducing Glass Act by Templespa
Introducing Glass Act, your new go-to eye serum for brighter, smoother, beautifully awakened eyes. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Capsix

Founded in 2016 by Carole Eyssautier, PhD in AI, François Eyssautier, robotics engineer, and Stéphan [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
21-23 Jun 2026

Spa Life International (UK)

Midlands (Venue TBA), Liphook, United Kingdom
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS