This Les Mills Body Balance and Body Combat review covers my experience doing both classes back to back on the same day, with the same instructor, in two completely different moods: calm, stretchy and emotional first, then explosive, sweaty and full of combat energy.
I went into this gym day expecting movement, but what I got was one of those sessions that reminds me why I love group fitness so much. Body Balance gave me space to breathe, stretch and reconnect with my body. Body Combat came afterwards and turned the whole mood into a full Bruce Lee training day.
Quick Verdict
Body Balance
- Intensity: 6 out of 10
- Good for: mobility, flexibility, balance, emotional reset, stretching, body awareness and calming the nervous system
- My after class mood: relaxed, open, happy, stretched and genuinely grateful to be back in that room
Body Combat
- Intensity: 8 out of 10
- Good for: cardio, coordination, stress release, upper body movement, full body conditioning and that “I survived” feeling
- My after class mood: sweaty, exhausted, smiling and completely taken over by the Body Combat spirit
Class Snapshot
Body Balance
- Duration: usually around 55 minutes
- Format: yoga, Pilates and tai chi inspired movements, with strength, balance, mobility and relaxation
- Equipment: mat, towel and comfortable clothes
- Instructor style: calm, precise, present and very good at creating atmosphere
- My focus today: stretching, opening the hips, improving my right side and staying present
- Injury notes: no specific injury mentioned, just clear awareness that my right side still needs work
Body Combat
- Duration: usually around 55 minutes
- Format: martial arts inspired cardio with punches, kicks, combinations, conditioning and lots of energy
- Equipment: no equipment needed, just trainers, towel and water
- Instructor style: playful, energetic, expressive and completely switched on
- My focus today: survive the class, enjoy the energy, keep moving and not collapse during the squats
- Injury notes: no injury mentioned, just strong fatigue and the usual full body “what have I done?” feeling
Instructor credit: André Godinho led both classes.
The Workout: Body Balance + Body Combat
If you ever arrive at Solinca Lagoas Park in a bad mood, it fixes itself automatically: the NATURAL LIGHT that pours in! GORGEOUS!
As soon as I stepped out of the lift I spotted André Godinho, in the best of moods, on his way to Body Balance class.
The moment we started, I melted completely… I LOVE Body Balance, especially in a gym setting… and with that mirror…
Every movement description André gave was incredible. The room was full and the students clearly adore this thing called Body Balance.
The sun salutations were great, I worked up a good sweat, and the strength track left me struggling. I really need to work on my right side.
My tree pose was good today, except for the moment of keeping my foot up there. Everything else, my “branches” stretched out nicely.
I am enjoying the hip opening more and more, and the ache that comes with it… stretching is wonderful…
I really loved the position (whose name I cannot remember) that came just before the relaxation: arms as pillows and legs gently open.
And yes, settling into our “comfortable position”, we entered the most wonderful meditation. The way André places you in the space is extraordinary. Eyes closed, you genuinely travel somewhere else. Today we were invited to pay attention to our present and to those around us, cherishing new moments and new connections.
I returned to my PARADISE of Body Balance classes at the gym. Simply magical! André was impeccable!
Some time later, the transformation happened and the Body Combat spirit took over André completely! What a shift!
Full room again and we got started. Today’s group of students was wonderfully friendly! Such a pleasure!
The class unfolded with energy, battle cries and a serious amount of training! And I mean serious! Did I complain about Grit yesterday? Today brought 22 extra burpees! Can you believe it? At one point I had to switch to the modification (squats) because my burpee reserves had run completely dry. I looked at the floor and genuinely thought: “do not go back down there. The risk of not making it back up is extremely high.”
Mr. André was ON FIRE, incredibly playful (he even danced the tango!), which helped us enormously in making it to the end of the class exhausted, but smiling.
A PERFECT BRUCE LEE TRAINING DAY!
Instructor Notes
What stood out to me was the contrast between the two versions of the same instructor. In Body Balance, André created calm, focus and presence. His explanations were clear, and the way he guided the room made the class feel grounded, emotional and safe.
In Body Combat, the energy changed completely. He became playful, intense and theatrical in the best way. The class had battle cries, humour, movement, sweat and that sense of collective survival that makes Body Combat so addictive.
That range matters. It is not easy to guide a room through deep relaxation and then later lead the same kind of room into punches, kicks, squats and cardio chaos. This was a strong reminder of how much the instructor can shape the entire class experience.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: physically tired, but mentally lifted. Body Balance opened my body and calmed me down, while Body Combat completely raised the energy and left me smiling.
- Later that day: that pleasant post-workout satisfaction arrived. The kind where you know the body worked, but the mind feels clearer.
- Next day: legs and body definitely felt the effort, especially after the combination of balance, stretching, cardio and combat work. Nothing dramatic, just that clear reminder that both classes had done their job.
Is This Combination Good Back to Back?
For me, yes, but it depends on your fitness level and how well you manage intensity.
Body Balance before Body Combat works because the first class prepares the body through mobility, stretching, balance and focus. It does not drain you in the same way a heavy strength or HIIT class might. It gives you space before the intensity.
Body Combat afterwards is a completely different demand. It asks for energy, coordination, cardio capacity and mental willingness to keep going when the room gets hot and the legs start questioning your decisions.
This is why I call it my Bruce Lee Training Day. It starts with control, breathing, mobility and body awareness, then shifts into punches, kicks, cardio, battle energy and full-body sweat. Body Balance softens the body and brings focus. Body Combat wakes everything up and turns that calm into action.
As a back-to-back combination, I liked it. It felt complete, intense, fun and very “Bruce Lee” in the best possible way.
Final Verdict
This Body Balance and Body Combat back-to-back session was one of those gym days that gave me exactly what I needed.
Body Balance brought calm, stretching, presence and that deep feeling of returning to myself. Body Combat brought sweat, humour, cardio, battle energy and the kind of exhaustion that still makes you smile.
Two very different classes. One strong instructor. One full gym day that reminded me why I keep coming back.
A perfect Bruce Lee training day.
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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.
