Les Mills Jumps into VR Fitness
Shawn Rossi, DHA, FACHE
Healthcare Executive | Assistant Professor | Author | Speaker
In 2015, Les Mills jumped into on-demand video workouts on streaming devices - well before COVID forced gyms online. But Les Mills was also growing inside the gym, with more and unique offerings with great music. If you missed a class and caught up at home, the class was the same. The moves the same. The music the same. This leads to a seamless virtual and in-person experience, and I have been a fan and subscriber for many years (of both in-person and virtual classes).
When I turned to VR workouts to spice up my at-home workouts at the beginning of the year, I was surprised that Les Mills was not in the space. Supernatural was the clear leader in that space at that time. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long. Last week, Les Mills introduced their first VR workout app, Body Combat (which was also one of my favorites from their on-demand app). Most all VR fitness app movements are similar - smashing, punching, squatting, lunging - but Les Mills is now able to take the instructors that I'm already familiar with (Rach and Dan) to my VR experience.
Though I'm glad Les Mills picked Body Combat to start with, it was a bit surprising as they already had a somewhat VR experience for biking in The Trip. It would have been easy to convert that one to VR quickly.
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Odders Lab worked on the Body Combat game, and the graphics, intensity, and fun are all great. The gaming aspect fits perfectly with Body Combat. After working out with Supernatural for over a month now, I thought I would find Body Combat VR very similar. But it feels different. It's also a different money model, as Les Mills is charging a one-time price for the app rather than the monthly charge model of Supernatural. Since this game is Les Mills' first foray into the Oculus, it's not clear if they will pivot to a monthly charge model or charge for add-ons to the existing game.
Hopefully, they work on Body Pump next - and then I can get all of my workouts in on VR.
If you're on the Oculus too, my username is szrossi. Add me as a friend!