At the end of the day, no matter what happens.  The world has lost one of the greatest entertainer and song writer. NOBODY put on a better performance than him…but his music will live on forever!”

He was truly the greatest entertainer of all time. When I was young, I tell everybody when I grow up, I want to be like him…till today I still can’t do the moon walk… )

I have lots of favorite Michael Jackson songs like Thriller, Beat it, Bad, Jam, Black or White, Heal the World, Man in the Mirror and etc.

Michael Jackson has been part of our workouts routines in Les Mills Body Training Systems…  

Michael Jackson lives on Forever in Les Mills Body Training Systems:

Les Mills Body Pump 16, Track 3 –  The Way You Make Me Feel

Les Mills Body Pump 20, Track 8 – Jam

Les Mills Body Pump 23, Track 8 – Blood On The Dance Floor

Les Mills Body Pump 28, Track 7 – Can You Feel It

Les Mills Body Balance 7, Track 3 – Man In The Mirror

Les Mills Body Balance 17, Track 6 – Unbreakable

Les Mills Body Balance 18, Track 6 – You Rock My World

Les Mills Body Attack 10, Track 8 – Scream

Les Mills Body Attack 18, Track 4 – Blood On The Dance Floor

Les Mills Body Attack 19, Track 11 – History

Les Mills Body Jam 20, Track 9 – Rock My World

Les Mills Body Jam 21, Track 5 – Thriller

Les Mills Body Jam 4, Track 11 – Blood On The Dance Floor

Les Mills Body Combat 37, Track 2 – Beat It (sung byFall Out Boy Feat, John Mayer)

Les Mills Body Combat 36, Track 6 – Bad

Les Mills Body Combat 14, Track 2 – Smooth Criminal

Les Mills Body Combat 12, Track 5 – Beat It

Thanks for the loving memories Michael and may you rest in peace…
Body Fitness Exercise

From my previous blog, you now know that there is so many pre-choreograph workouts program out there in the Fitness Industry. Les Mills, Body Training Systems, Radical Fitness, Silver Sneakers for the seniors and etc…

Workouts Program like Les Mills, Body Training Systems and others require the fitness center to purchased the licence fee in order for the program to be taught in their centers and some charges a monthly franchise fee to offer their programs.

And there are also workouts program that do not require any licence fee and will train any instructor who wants the training and they are free to teach the program at any fitness center.

Pre-choreograph classes are meant to draw traffic into the Aerobic studio and so increase the rate of potential participants into the Fitness Center. The Fitness Center will also have the advantages of the pre-choreograph program’s existing marketing and brand recognition.

Why not we take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of pre-choreograph and freestyle group exercises.

Pre-choreograph Workouts Exercises v.s Free Style

(Pre-choreograph) Advantages:

• Focus on how to teach an excellent class so things like personality, coaching and entertaining are some of the main points.
• Don’t have to worry that the instructor may use contraindicated or ineffective movements, since the exercises are chosen for them.
• Do not have to think about choreography as they are ready written and designed by professionals.
• Choreography comes with music selection.
• Comes with DVD or VCD  for easy learning of the workouts program.
• Everything is prepared and ready so reduce in effort on preparation for class thus saving time.
• A great way to shorten the learning curve for new instructors and can help improve weak instructors. 

(Pre-choreograph) Disadvantages:

•  Too dependent on it. May lose interest in going back to teaching freestyle class.
• Cost of releases can be burdensome to instructors considering if you are teaching very little of that program a week.
• Some Pre-choreograph workouts program companies require a contract and a monthly fee from the Fitness Centers.
• Newbies that started with pre-choreograph programs first may not have the proper exercise knowledge e.g anatomy, physiology and counting of bits and etc.
• You may not like the Choreography and you are not allow to change it.
• The club or fitness center that you teach may need a licence for you to conduct the program.
• Have to still practice the choreography before hand as you are not allow to change to any of your own moves.
• Can’t do much about the intensity of the class if the moves given are easy or slow.
• Students may get bored on the moves or music after a while.
• Have to complete their training course before you teach even if you are a season instructor.

(Freestyle) Advantage:

•  Able to create your own style and creativity.
• Create your own branding, you will have your own unique style and choreography.
• Have the freedom to change the choreography and music anytime you want.
• Money spend for resources won’t be as much as pre-choreograph ones.
• Clubs don’t have to pay any licence for your program to be taught in their club.
• If you are a season instructor, you can even come out with a new set choreography on the spot.
• You get to set the intensity of the class.

(Freestyle) Disadvantage:

• Have to spend extra time and effort rehearsing before the classes.
• Tend to use the same choreography for a long period of time. (I have known an instructor that uses the same choreography for years)
• Not easy for new instructors to choreograph their own routine.

Now you get a better picture of Pre-choreograph and Freestyle workouts program, both have their strength and weakness. It’s really up to your own preference which program you like best. Whether Pre-choreo or Freestyle, you got to have that ‘X’ factor to yourself to the top!

Most of the gyms here are buying into Les Mills Body Pump, Les Mills Body Combat, Les Mills Body Step, Les Mills Body Balance, Les Mills Body Attack, Les Mills Body Jam, Les Mills RPM and the latest Les Mills Body Vive group workouts program classes.

Les Mills body training systems are really making very big in Asia.

I recently found out from the internet that there are more of other pre-choreographed group workouts program. There are TurboKick, (TurboJam) and even mind body program known as PiYo and dance program Hip Hop Hustle and etc.

From Body Training Systems (BTS) they have Group Power, Group Kick, Group Step, Group Centergy, Group Groove, Group Active and Group Ride.

Radical Fitness provides Fight Do, Power, Mega Danz, Ki Max, X55, Top Ride and U Bound. This is where Nathaniel and wife Gaby went to, they came out from Les Mills Body Combat and come out with their own workouts program Fight Do.

 There is also group classes for the seniors known as the Silver Sneakers. SilverSneakers group focus on exercise classes that are appropriate for older adults who are fit and active as well as those who are sedentary, intimidated, unfamiliar with exercise, entering post-rehabilitation programs and ALL those who enjoy a positive, upbeat social environment.

Wow there are so many of these pre-choreographed workouts exercises out there, as I’m from Singapore, I thought Les Mills body training systems was the only one.

These types of classes are all pre-choreographed which means they are all ready design, outlined and set to music, with each beat planned and written. So If you are interested to be an Instructor of the program, the companies will actually train you on how to teach the programs and you only need to follow it.

Once you have been through the course, you can purchased the releases at regular intervals. The releases will contain the exact materials you will use in class until the next new release arrive. You can mix tracks and are expected to teach the class exactly the way it is choreograph.

Let’s take alook at a few of these workouts program here and you tell me what you think about them.

 Body Training Systems

Group Kick

Group Power

Group Centergy

Group Groove

Les Mills

Body Combat

Body Pump

Body Balance

Body Jam

Charlene’s Workouts

Turbo Jam

Turbo Kick

Hip Hop Hustle

Radical Fitness

Fight Do

Power

Oxigeno

Ki Max

Mega Danz

Whoa…that was quite a hand full! What do think, which workouts program you think is good? Think about it, drop me a mail at melvyn@bodyfitnessexercise.com. Tell me your views and comments, I might just bring the program to you…