As we all know, being a Les Mills Instructor is so much more than just learning a few hours of choreography every week. It’s a way of life, and you can really get as much out of it as you want to.
My journey with the company began in 1996. Back then I was a school teacher at a wonderful private school in Melbourne, Australia. I had my life all mapped out… white picket fence, future in education, ready to settle down… but then this opportunity to work with Phillip and Jackie Mills came along and really transformed my life.
At the time, I had some pushback from the people around me. Like I said, my life was all sorted and so to throw that up in the air and head in a new direction definitely caused controversy! But I had to be true to my passions. I asked myself at the time: “Lisa, how colourful do you want your life to be?”
I began my journey as an Instructor in Australia.
In 1996 I began teaching full-time: BODYSTEP®, BODYPUMP®, BODYCOMBAT® and BODYATTACK®. In those days I taught around 15 classes a week, and all the classes were 55 minutes!
In 1997 I became a Trainer for Les Mills Asia Pacific, which I LOVED. When Les Mills first arrived in Australia, it was so exciting. It just exploded over there. I think I had about five weekends off in two years because I was training new Instructors every week! Initially I took BODYPUMP modules, then I added BODYSTEP and BODYATTACK later on.
It was Maureen Baker who started my career in BODYSTEP – she got me writing manuals, delivering Initial training and I started choreographing with Mark Nu'u-Steele in 2000. Then Emma Barry introduced me to BODYATTACK when she came to take the first bootcamp in Australia. I was totally inspired by her – she was my absolute role model in the Les Mills world.
From there the ride of my life began! I became an International Master Trainer for Les Mills International and toured the world presenting at Quarterly Workshops and running bootcamps in BODYPUMP, BODYATTACK, BODYSTEP and BODYBALANCE®. I was even presenting BODYCOMBAT and BODYJAM®! (Yes, really!) The opportunity to travel and inspire people all around the globe was incredible. In 2002 I officially became the Program Director for BODYATTACK. It was SUCH an honour. I've continued to work with Mark on the BODYSTEP choreography and the opportunities I’ve had are endless… I’ve been able to meet the most beautiful people with the best energy, passion and positivity!
Watch video of Lisa through the years with BODYATTACK®
At the start of my career, it was all about my energy, my physicality.
I was a world champion in aerobics and so a lot of attention was paid to that and my performance as an athlete. That created a big impact at the start. My strength is my physical fitness and I focus on remaining a fitness role model to this day. I’ve worked really, really hard to maintain that physicality by training CrossFit to a high level, I competed in my first weightlifting competition just last weekend… I strive to maintain that high level of physical fitness, but it’s definitely not all I have to offer.
Longevity in the fitness industry is down to moving with the times.
The reason I've managed to stay relevant is that I move with the industry.
The fitness industry is always changing and evolving, and if you stand still, you're going to get left behind. When people ask me how I'm still coming up with ideas after 20 years, it's because I'm constantly upskilling myself. I go to fitness conventions, I see what else is going on in the industry. The reason I started CrossFit actually was to see if there were ways the training could be relevant for BODYATTACK. Because I'm always learning, I feel fresh and energised for each new Release.
I do get annoyed when people are still teaching Releases from 15 years ago and that's because the program is so much better now. There are moves now in BODYATTACK® that we didn't do back then, and vice versa. If I choreographed the program the way I did 5 years ago or 15 years ago, it wouldn't feel fresh and innovative. That also goes for the music. Yes, BODYATTACK will always include dance classics because that's the essence of the program, but there's always new sounds too.
That's what I love about Les Mills. As a company, we're constantly evolving, constantly looking for ways to be better and help more people to fall in love with fitness. That's why BODYATTACK has been around for so long. Even though it was one of the original programs in the company, it's stayed relevant and that's down to the forward-looking nature of the business.
The fitness industry is always changing and evolving, and if you stand still, you're going to get left behind. When people ask me how I'm still coming up with ideas after 20 years, it's because I'm constantly upskilling myself. I go to fitness conventions, I see what else is going on in the industry.
It's not the glamour of being on a poster or filming on a Masterclass that changes people's lives.
As I've grown older (you know I'm 33 forever, haha!) I've realised who I am and what I stand for more strongly than ever before. I know what my focus is, what my values are, what I believe. It’s these things that are important – not the external.
It's what we do every day in our classes that makes the difference. When you get up at 6am to inspire the people in your classes, that's what counts. Whether it's 4 people or 40, the number doesn't matter. It’s about how we collectively work together to change the world. What I care about is creating a product that people can share across the world to make so many others feel good.
Les Mills can open the door to so many other opportunities
For example, through coaching Masterclass presenters, my great friend Kylie [Gates] realised that her passion is helping others to find their greatness and has undertaken many other courses off the back of that to further her skills. I had a friend in Australia, a former Trainer for Les Mills, who set up their own personal training business and it’s now one of the most successful in the country. Teaching helps us unlock our own strengths and passions.
Les Mills also offers so many opportunities to increase your knowledge through the ongoing education and upskills. It’s so much more than learning squats to music. It can inspire you to learn more about the body, health, nutrition – the planet! After all, the mission of the company is ‘for a fitter planet’.
Life isn’t always roses. I’ve been injured. I’ve had a total hip replacement, knee surgery, I’ve pulled hamstrings. I’ve been overweight at times. I had someone pass away in my class. Actually, during my class – they had a heart attack and died right in the middle of the studio.
I met the love of my life through Les Mills!
Les Mills has been a part of my life for over 20 years, and it’s also been an integral part of my family’s life. Pita, my husband, used to teach BODYCOMBAT. My sons Hunter and Jackson have both been on BORN TO MOVE®, and now Jackson is presenting in BODYATTACK! It’s had a really positive effect on my family, inspiring my kids to have positive thoughts about fitness.
All of my best friends have been people I have met through the company. It helps you find others with similar beliefs, attitudes and passion. I'm very selective in who I choose to be around. I find it hard to be around people who are all doom and gloom – I’m not good with that. I choose to fill my world with people who make me feel good and are thankful for all of the positives in life.
Getting older can be challenging.
Life isn’t always roses. I’ve been injured. I’ve had a total hip replacement, knee surgery, I’ve pulled hamstrings. I’ve been overweight at times. I had someone pass away in my class. Actually, during my class – they had a heart attack and died right in the middle of the studio.
Some people don’t like me. They don’t like my energy, or they think I’m too over the top. Or they don’t like the fact that I’m always “up”. And that’s OK. What I’ve learned over 25 years is that you can’t please everyone. But I do my very best, and it’s always with the best intentions. I hold true to the fact that I am doing a good thing out there, a positive thing. I’m very much a “cup half full” person, and Les Mills helps me have a better mindset to cope with the negativity in the world.
My passion is teaching.
It’s the beating heart for real. I love teaching at different clubs, seeing different faces, getting different reactions to the choreography – it’s how I craft the program. I want to do the best I can for as many people out there as possible.
I love the big classes, and not because it fills my ego, but because the energy in the room is electric. I love the fact that we’re producing something really positive, that will be taken out into the world to inspire thousands of people to fall in love with movement. It’s the ripples of positivity across the world…
My life would have been so different if I’d stayed as a teacher in Melbourne, but the opportunity to be involved in this company with Jackie and Phillip was where my heart was…. I’ve never looked back and am full of gratitude and love for the world I have, as well as the life I and my family have had through this company.
I hope your journey in our Les Mills family is as wonderful as my life has been. Keep changing the world my family - love you all and THANK YOU! ❤️🌻🌈💙💛
I’m off to choreograph another Release and continue to inspire people to fall in love with fitness!!!!! 🤩👍💥😎🎊🙏
Lisa Osborne is Program Director for BODYATTACK® and Creative Director for BODYSTEP®. She is a former three-time aerobics world champion and seven-time Australian aerobics champion, who is based in Auckland. Follow Lisa on Instagram
