Les Mills BodyBalance in Portugal is my favourite kind of training because it works your body hard and leaves your mind genuinely calm.
I walked into my first BodyBalance class of the year in Portugal feeling excited and slightly nervous, because it had been a while since I last did the full format. The timing felt perfect. It was my “Bruce Lee training day” vibe, focused, intentional, and exactly what my body needed.
This session had everything I love about Les Mills BodyBalance: a beautiful yoga-based warm up, strong Sun Salutations, the Warriors sequence that makes you feel powerful, and that one challenging Balance track that quietly tests your focus. I also got one of those rare classes with a truly calming relaxation, guided step by step, the kind that makes you leave the studio feeling lighter. Here’s how it went, what surprised me most (including a neck reality check during twists), and why this class reminded me why BodyBalance is still my favourite.
Quick Verdict
- Intensity (1 to 10): 5
- Good for: mobility and flexibility with real leg and core work, balance and control, posture and body awareness, anyone who wants a calm class that still feels like training, and anyone who needs a mental reset without switching off
- My after class mood: restored and proud, legs worked, mind calm, that clean satisfying “reset” feeling
Class Snapshot
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Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: yoga based warm up, then Sun Salutations to raise the heat, followed by a strength heavy section with Warriors and long holds that build leg endurance, then a dedicated Balance track where control matters more than speed, finishing with hip openers and flexibility work including a split attempt, and ending with relaxation and guided meditation
- Equipment: yoga mat recommended, water bottle, towel. Blocks optional for hip openers and flexibility work if you want extra support
- Instructor style: André’s coaching feels calm and grounded. Clear cueing, steady pacing, and a strong focus on staying present, especially in the final relaxation where he guided the room through a full body reset and that “embrace your true self” message
- My focus today: first row, slower transitions, holding the work with control even when my legs were shaking, taking my time in the Balance track, and actually letting the relaxation land instead of rushing out of it
- Injury notes: Spiral Twist felt fine to the left, but turning to the right triggered my neck, so I knew BodyCombat was a no for that day. Even with that, the class still delivered a solid legs and hips workout, especially through Warriors, balance holds, and hip openers
My Body Balance Experience with André Godinho
Today was my BRUCE LEE TRAINING DAY! I trained Les Mills Body Balance at Solinca Lagoas, another gym that I absolutely ADORE!
While I was signing up at the machine, I heard, “Hello, Su!” I turned around and saw him: ANDRÉ GODINHO! All smiles, as usual, on his way to class. It felt so good to see him again! Nice people have a magical way of making us feel good with just a smile and a hello. 
Once I entered the studio, I went straight to my favorite spot — the FIRST ROW! 
The warm-up was yoga, and it was absolutely beautiful. 
Next came the Sun Salutations, and this track showed me that I am STILL in VERY GOOD SHAPE for Body Balance. I managed to do most of it properly, I think!
Loved this Body Balance experience? You might also like My Les Mills RPM class at Solinca Linda-a-Velha.
The Warriors track was fantastic. Nice new movements!
Then came the special one: BALANCE! I was a bit nervous at first because it has been a while 
, and this track is challenging. BUT 
I positively surprised myself! I loved the Half Lotus Tree pose, and when it was time to extend the tree arms, I did a good job! My right side was quick and easy 
, and while the left side took a bit longer, I still managed it.
The hip openers were amazing, especially because we attempted the split. This is something I’m determined to achieve VERY SOON. 
The twists felt SO good — except during the Spiral Twist pose: everything went fine to the left, but when I turned to the right, my neck yelled: “Are you crazy, girl? EASY!” At that moment, I knew that Body Combat would be a NO NO today!
After flexibility, came Relaxation. And OMG, how I missed André’s meditations. We started by lying down as André guided us through relaxation, starting with the shoulders, then we immersed in the vision, and finally we felt the connection with the earth through our bare feet. From then on, we were ready to receive his message: “embrace your true self.” Just PERFECTION!
I always enjoy André’s choice of poses and exercises, the smoothness of his voice during the class, and the incredible meditations he ALWAYS gifts us.
BODY BALANCE IS MY FAVORITE LES MILLS CLASS and it was pure magic to restart it in 2025 with the GREAT André Godinho.
Instructor Notes
André Godinho has that rare BodyBalance presence that makes the room feel instantly calmer, without ever lowering the standard. He teaches with warmth and clarity, and you feel it in the way he guides transitions, gives you time to find your shape, and keeps the class grounded even when the work gets demanding. Even before class started, that quick “Hello, Su!” moment reminded me why I enjoy his sessions so much. He makes people feel seen, and that matters more than most gyms realise.
What I love most is how intentional his coaching feels from start to finish. The strength builds quietly through the Warriors, the balance work asks for real control, and then he brings everything down with a relaxation that genuinely resets you. This was one of those classes where the meditation was a full experience, guided step by step, and the message landed: “embrace your true self”. That is the kind of instructor note that stays with you long after the playlist ends.
If you enjoy André’s coaching style, you’ll probably love BodyBalance with him again here: From Relaxation to Full Power: My Body Balance & Body Combat Experience with André Godinho.
How I Felt After Class
Right after: Calm, loose, and quietly proud. I walked out sweaty, but in that BodyBalance way where your body feels worked and your mind feels clean. The Warriors track had me fully switched on, the Balance section tested my control more than I expected, and the final relaxation felt like someone pressed reset on my nervous system. 
Later that day: Grounded and lighter. My hips felt more open after the hip openers and the split attempt, and my shoulders felt less tense. I kept catching myself breathing deeper without thinking about it. And that “embrace your true self” message stayed with me, because that relaxation was not background music. It actually landed.
Next day: A gentle, satisfying soreness, mostly through the legs and core. The kind you get from holding Chair Pose and the Warriors properly, and from staying present in the Balance work instead of rushing through it. Nothing dramatic, just a quiet reminder that BodyBalance can be deceptively demanding.
If you want to see André in a completely different mode, you’ll probably enjoy this too: How I Survived Another Les Mills GRIT CARDIO Session with ANDRÉ GODINHO.
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and perfect for busy women who want efficient results.
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated without wasting time refilling.
- Training Shoes: Stable, comfortable, and perfect for cardio and step workouts.
- Gym Bag: Compact but spacious enough for everything I need for my sessions.
- Shockproof Phone Case: Keeps my phone safe during intense workouts, because I drop it more often than I admit
- Smart Fitness Watch: Tracks heart rate, calories burned, and workout intensity.
If you like these real life updates, you might also enjoy this cold morning walk recap in Lisbon: Cold Morning Walk at Estádio Universitário de Lisboa.
