A Les Mills "Master Class" is the gold standard presentation of a new release. Typically filmed in New Zealand (Les Mills International's home base) and distributed via DVD and Instructor Notes to thousands of clubs worldwide, the Master Class sets the energy, technique, and coaching standards for that quarter.
Bodyvive 22 was presented with the signature Les Mills polish: high energy, precise cueing, and a carefully curated playlist. In 2011, the Master Class format typically followed a structure that defined the Bodyvive identity:
Based on archived instructor notes and YouTube clips, the Master Class followed this structure: Les Mills- BodyVive 22 - Master Class -2011-
| Track # | Track name / theme | Music genre / artist (approx.) | Focus | |---------|--------------------|--------------------------------|-------| | 1 | Get Ready to Vive | House / remix – “Finally” (CeCe Peniston style) | Warm-up, mobility, posture | | 2 | Low-Impact Burn | Pop dance – Cascada or similar | Cardio block 1 (step taps, knee lifts, side reaches) | | 3 | Band Strength | Indie rock – e.g., “Pumped Up Kicks” (Foster the People) | Resistance band rows, presses, bicep curls | | 4 | Balance & Core | Ambient / chillout – Enya or Moby style | Single-leg balances, core stabilization | | 5 | Cardio Peak | Dance/electro – “We Found Love” (Rihanna) | Higher-intensity but no jumping (wide squats, laterals) | | 6 | Functional Lower Body | 90s dance – “Gonna Make You Sweat” (C+C Music Factory) | Lunges, plié squats, glute activation | | 7 | Stretch & Vive | Acoustic / piano – Coldplay or Adele (slowed) | Full-body stretch, breathwork, “vive” affirmation |
⚠️ Exact music changed for DVD licensing; Master Class often used live-licensed tracks not on retail DVDs. A Les Mills "Master Class" is the gold
| Aspect | Feedback | |--------|----------| | Members | Loved the music and accessible choreography; criticized lack of progressive intensity. | | Instructors | Appreciated the functional approach but found attendance lower than BodyPump™ or BodyBalance™. | | Critical review (2011) | “BodyVive 22 tries hard to please everyone but feels like a hybrid without a home.” | | Current status | Release 22 is now a collector’s item among Les Mills archivists. DVD copies occasionally sell for $50–100 on eBay. |
Legacy: Elements of BodyVive R22’s band work and functional balance were later absorbed into Les Mills Core™ and BodyBalance™ 60+ programming. ⚠️ Exact music changed for DVD licensing; Master
| Attribute | Details | |-----------|---------| | Program philosophy | “Functional fitness with a party feel” – cardio, strength, balance, and flexibility | | Typical class length | 55 min (or 45 min express) | | Key equipment | BodyVive resistance band, mat, optional light hand weights | | Target audience | De-conditioned beginners, seniors, postnatal, or those returning from injury | | Peak popularity | 2009–2011 | | Discontinuation | Replaced by Les Mills Tone™ (later merged into BodyBalance™ and LM Core™ concepts) |
By 2011, BodyVive was struggling with brand identity—too similar to BodyBalance™ for flexibility yet not as intense as BodyAttack™ for cardio. Release 22 was one of the final efforts to reinvigorate the program.
Program: Bodyvive (now known as LES MILLS CORE) Release: 22 Year: 2011 Focus: Functional Strength, Core Stability, and Low-Impact Cardio
In the timeline of Les Mills group fitness, the year 2011 stands as a pivotal moment for one of its most accessible programs. Bodyvive 22, filmed and released in 2011, represents a specific era of the program before its eventual rebranding to LES MILLS CORE. For instructors and enthusiasts who participated in the "Master Class" of this release, it remains a benchmark of early 2010s fitness trends—specifically the shift toward functional movement and integrated core training.