As a fitness coach, staying ahead of the latest workout trends is key to keeping clients engaged — and reaching both your and their goals. Popular exercise formats like Les Mills, FS8, and ISI are not only gaining popularity but also offering coaches valuable tools to build dynamic, results-driven classes. 

By mastering these programs, you’ll gain personal and professional skills, attract a broader range of clients, and maybe even take your fitness career to the next level.

LesMills

Back in 1968, Les Mills, a four-time Olympian opened his first gym in New Zealand, paving the way to becoming the fitness hub it is today. With its lineup of pre-choreographed classes—like BODYPUMP for strength, BODYCOMBAT for cardio, and BODYBALANCE for mind-body training—Les Mills offers a well-varied lineup. For coaches, getting certified in Les Mills programs opens the door to leading high-energy, well-structured classes.

What makes Les Mills so popular? Its blend of music, science-backed programming, and strong sense of community. By becoming a Les Mills instructor, you’ll gain the skills to lead consistent, motivating classes that appeal to a wide range of fitness levels. Plus, the leadership and group management skills you’ll develop will boost your ability to connect with clients and stay at the forefront of fitness trends. Les Mills instructors especially appreciate the program’s community, raving about how both instructors and participants foster a sense of camaraderie.

FS8

FS8, a spinoff from the uber-popular F45 program, is a low-impact workout that burns calories, builds muscle, and works up a sweat. It combines the reformer and mat work, marrying resistance training, yoga, and pilates — and it’s a standout modality for personal trainers looking to broaden their expertise and client base. 

Not many workouts can say they promote building muscle while improving flexibility, and FS8 does just that, combining the functional fitness aspect its parent brand F45 is beloved for but making it low-impact, and appealing to a broader audience as a result.  To become an FS8 coach, you’ll complete the FS8 Trainer Certification, a 60-hour online program that teaches you the skills to lead FS8 classes without the extended time and financial commitments of traditional certification routes.

Beyond that, FS8 offers trainers access to innovative tools like FS8tv and the FS8 App to help streamline day-to-day operations and help with client engagement. And with the rise of the mindful movement market, which is impressively valued at around $715 million in Australia alone, FS8 provides a unique opportunity for trainers to tap into a booming new niche backed by a successful system.

ISI Elite Training

ISI leverages its brand of group training called Athletic Based Training (ABT), which combines HIIT, CrossFit, bodybuilding, powerlifting, and endurance training for a muscle-building, fat-burning workout that keeps clients motivated and coming back, session after 50-minute session. This is an especially great modality for exercisers who want to get into strength training but feel intimidated by joining a big-box gym or starting on their own.

If you’re already a certified personal trainer, applying to become an ISI coach can help you work with a diverse client base in an inclusive, community-driven approach that keeps clients hooked through teamwork and camaraderie that’s often missing with lifting alone. As an ISI coach, you’ll be able to help people crush their goals while building your own reputation as a trainer who delivers results in an approachable, dynamic environment. 

Final thoughts

Group exercise is still all the rage, and its popularity shows promise for the future. Dipping your toes into formats such as Les Mills, FS8, and ISI can take your coaching to new levels as you develop hard and soft skills that build value for both your clients and your business. If you feel like you’ve hit a plateau, or you’re itching to tap a new audience, joining these programs could be the fresh restart you didn’t know you needed.

About April Benshosan
April is a writer, editor, and content strategist with a Master’s degree in Publishing. Her work highlights her passion for responsible health journalism, and she’s been published in print and digital outlets, including Women’s Health, EatingWell, SHAPE, Well+Good, LIVESTRONG.com, Health.com, Abbott, and more.