Les Mills announced on April 14 the global launch of “RISE: Search for the Ultimate Trainers,” a new YouTube documentary series that follows elite fitness trainers as they compete for a place in the Les Mills filming team.
The series highlights the intense competition among trainers, with over 100,000 certified Les Mills instructors worldwide vying for limited spots. The six-episode show was filmed over two years and takes viewers from New Zealand to cities including London, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Berlin, Amsterdam, Riyadh, and Stockholm. It culminates in New Zealand where finalists compete to lead workouts followed by seven million people each week in 23,000 gyms globally.
Phillip Mills, chief executive officer of Les Mills, said: “Fitness is the most practiced sport in the world and trainers are at its heart. But very few people realize what it takes to reach the top of this profession.” He added: “RISE is about ambition, pressure and large-scale performance. These trainers are exceptional but what sets the best apart is consistent excellence. This series shows what it costs to make it to the top of fitness—and keep that spot while thousands chase after you.”
In addition to following competitors through high-stakes auditions and daily challenges—balancing family life and health with travel—the show features appearances from current stars and coaching staff. Bas Hollander hosts a weekly video podcast called RISE Reactions alongside guests from each episode. Hollander said: “RISE is not just about who will be part of the team but also how far people are willing to go for something they believe in… It’s this honesty that makes the series strong: it’s fitness like you’ve never seen before.” Kylie Gates, senior creator at Les Mills with decades on its filming team, said: “Behind every great trainer is a desire to make people fall in love with fitness… What really stands out from this documentary series is that regardless of their achievements these coaches remain driven by their original purpose—why they started teaching classes at all.”
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Les Mills was founded by four-time Olympic champion Les Mills who opened his first gym in New Zealand in 1968 aiming to make elite training accessible broadly. Today its programs are delivered by certified instructors across clubs worldwide as well as via streaming platform LES MILLS+.
Looking ahead, episodes of RISE will be released weekly on YouTube starting April 13 (4:45 p.m EST), accompanied by free access online to several popular Les Mills workout sessions.
