Looking for something different to a spin class? I tried Les Mills ‘The Trip’ class where you cycle on a rollercoaster ride to other other planets – it’s like a video game that gets you exercising. I headed into their newest gym – the exceedingly flash Newmarket Les Mills on Khyber Pass – last night to try out ‘The Trip’ cycle class. It’s one of only six gyms worldwide to have installed the massive screens and music system for the hi-tech spin class with a difference.
Les Mills Jr himself greeted the class of fitness and health and lifestyle media, all in our workout gear and poised for action on the spin cycles complete with goody bags and towels and the essential water bottles – you need to hydrate a lot during the 45 minute class. Les Mills Jr -grandson of Olympian and the gym’s founder- chatted about the two years of development of the New Zealand technology that is aimed at the growing millennial gym market who make up fifty percent of the market and who have grown up playing video games. This blends the real and the virtual by placing participants inside the video on the screen as though you are really riding the various tracks. Known as ‘Immersive Fitness’, the ‘exergaming’ technology combines graphics that are similar to an IMAX movie, with sound surround dance and pop music and a live instructor talks you through each move on the ride.
Les Mills Jr said they drew inspiration for the concept from immersive tents at music festivals. “As we seek to have an even more authentic experience, it is likely that future generations of the product will come equipped with smell, floor movement and even rain! We all know technology is shifting by the minute and ideas that seemed ridiculous two years ago are now totally feasible and we want to be at the forefront of these developments,” he says.
Gym member can pay $2.50 per The Trip class until 1st March 2016, when it goes up to its regular price of $5 per class. There’s currently just one class (6.10pm on Tuesdays) so you must call and book to secure a place. www.lesmills.co.nz
Megan Robinson
29th January 2016
Leave a Reply