Ask Les Mills Instructor Kiki Cordrey what she loves about teaching group fitness at a US military base in Japan and she’ll swiftly tell you that it’s using BODYPUMP™ and BODYCOMBAT™ to put sailors through their paces and making sure that they’re fighting fit.
Kiki has long been involved in the fitness industry and first came across Les Mills five years ago when, recognising that the military needed to provide the best training around, her manager made the decision to implement LES MILLS™ programs. While initially Kiki didn’t like the idea of doing any additional module training she reluctantly went along anyway… “That was it,” she says. “Instantly I became a total Les Mills convert!”
“My first BODYPUMP™ masterclass gave me goosebumps. All I could think was, how come I didn’t know about this – it’s exactly what I have been looking for. I LOVE IT! I JUST LOVE IT!”
It’s mostly navy sailors who attend Kiki’s classes and while there’s always a steady attendance, there are a couple of times a year that classes peak. The military have a physical assessment test every six months and many come to Kiki’s classes to prepare. BODYPUMP™ gets them there.
‘‘ My first BODYPUMP™ masterclass gave me goosebumps. All I could think was, how come I didn’t know about this. ’’
-Kiki Cordrey
Kiki thinks that those in the Navy like the discipline that BODYPUMP™ provides. She says that the chest and shoulder tracks are always the most popular and the biceps are often a favourite too – but those military boys hate their lunges. BODYCOMBAT™ is also popular. It’s attracts a reaI mix of participants as people love the results it provides.
According to Kiki, many on the military base used to think that group fitness was only for females. While, thankfully LES MILLS™ classes have helped changed that misconception, every now and then Kiki is faced with someone who has pre-judged group fitness without trying it. “All I’ll say is BODYPUMP™ is tougher than you think! You don’t know how much I can lift, so bring it on!”
Kiki loves the fact that as a Les Mills instructor the songs are ready to go, the choreography is sorted and you can be confident that all of the latest trends and fitness industry insights have been taken into account. “It’s all been developed by some of the world’s best, it’s refreshed every three months and there’s always something new. This means I can focus solely on providing an amazing experience!”
Now Kiki has her sights set on becoming a LES MILLS GRIT™ coach. Not only is high intensity interval training something that she’s really interested in, she knows that it will be something that all of the sailors will be keen on too.
At the end of the day they need to be fit and physically prepared for war. BODYPUMP™ and BODYCOMBAT™ are great for this, and with LES MILLS GRIT™ they will be able to take their fitness to a whole new level.
