Anytime Fitness Is First Global Gym Chain To Offer LES MILLS® Virtual Classes

HASTINGS, Minn., Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Anytime Fitness, the world's fastest-growing gym franchise, is now the first global fitness chain to offer LES MILLS® Virtual classes. During a pilot phase, the classes will be available 24 hours a day at ten Anytime Fitness locations across the U.S. Video versions of the popular group fitness classes, which can be accessed via a Fitness on Request® high-definition projection system, could be available at hundreds of Anytime Fitness clubs as soon as early next year.

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"Launching LES MILLS® Virtual in select Anytime Fitness locations is the start of something BIG," said Shannon Fable, Director of Exercise Programming for Anytime Fitness. "Les Mills is one of the most recognizable group fitness brands worldwide, and we are thrilled to now offer five of their signature programs [BODYPUMP®, BODYCOMBAT®, BODYFLOW®, CXWORX™, SH'BAM®] at a select number of our facilities."

"Les Mills has taken three decades of experience in producing live group exercise classes to create LES MILLS® Virtual," said Phillip Mills, Les Mills International CEO. "This is a new video-based version of our programs, which gives people the flexibility to get fit and keep fit on their terms."

LES MILLS® Virtual features the world's best teachers presenting the world's best group exercise classes. The video-based classes offer the same world-class choreography, top motivational music selection and expert instructors that have made LES MILLS® live classes a global success, but are delivered though a projector and pumping sound system for an immersive exercise experience.

As consumers grow accustomed to getting whatever they want, whenever and wherever they desire, fitness industry experts predict virtual classes will be the next big thing in gyms.

"Participating in classes led by expert instructors is more fun – and often more effective – than working out on your own," said David Kraai, the founder of Fitness on Request®.  "The ability to participate in LES MILLS Virtual classes at Anytime Fitness clubs all over the country, using Fitness on Request's video-based group fitness platform, is a consumer's dream."

The 10 Anytime Fitness gyms where the LES MILLS® Virtual classes are being launched are located in:  Florence, Alabama; Gallatin, Tennessee; Sioux City, Iowa; Youngsville, Louisiana; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Lafayette, Louisiana; Gretna, Nebraska; Haltom City, Texas; Monona, Wisconsin; and South St. Paul, Minnesota.

"This is a significant business development for Les Mills, as we are now able to offer our group exercise programs at the fastest-growing fitness chain in the world," said Phillip Mills. "This deal supports our mission to create a fitter planet."

"By offering world-class programming led by the best in the business, not only can we deliver results oriented programs for our members, but we can do so with convenience and accessibility, that is essential for our brand," added Fable. "We cannot wait to see how our initial launch goes and look forward to rolling out these programs at many more clubs in the near future."

For more information about LES MILLS® Virtual, please visit www.lesmills.com/getvirtual.

About Anytime Fitness www.anytimefitness.com
Founded in 2002, Anytime Fitness is the fastest-growing gym franchise in the world, with more than 2,300 gyms serving nearly 2,000,000 members on five continents. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Anytime Fitness prides itself on providing its members with convenient and affordable fitness options in friendly, well-maintained facilities which feature top-quality exercise equipment. Gyms are now open in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, Grand Cayman, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Qatar, India, Chile, Japan and Singapore. All franchised gyms are individually owned and operated. Join one gym and use them all. Members also enjoy free access to AnytimeHealth.com, the most comprehensive wellness website available. 

About Les Mills  www.lesmills.com
Les Mills International is the creator of 13 global group fitness and team training programs, including BODYPUMP® (weights), BODYCOMBAT® (martial arts) RPM® (indoor cycling), and its recent LES MILLS GRIT™ Series (30-minute high intensity interval training). LES MILLS® classes are held across 80 countries in more than 15,000 licensed clubs around the world. Every week millions are drawn to their local club to attend a LES MILLS® class. Independent research shows that these individuals come to their club at least two times more each week than others¹ and 94% are likely to refer a friend².

¹ Nielsen [2010]; IHRSA Health Club Consumer report [2011]
² IHRSA, HCD, LM Survey [2009]

About Fitness on Request   www.FitnessOnRequest.com
Fitness On Request was founded in 2008 to fulfill a need for more flexible and convenient programming in group fitness. With over five years of continued product development and innovation, the concept has since gained wide-spread adoption in more than 1,000 fitness facilities worldwide.  These include corporate wellness, multi-family housing, hospitality, government facilities and more. In 2013, Fitness On Request announced the launch of their new management software lending even further capabilities for strategic customer acquisition and retention. Fitness On Request was recently named by Inc. Magazine as One of America's Fastest Growing Companies in 2013.

SOURCE Anytime Fitness