This Les Mills Body Balance review covers a morning when I went in happy, tired, and very aware that I needed release more than intensity.

I had already declared it Bruce Lee Training Day, but in the end I only did one class: Body Balance.

And honestly, that was the right call.

Despite the tiredness, I had to go to Body Balance. This class keeps proving to me that strength does not always need to arrive through noise, speed or exhaustion. Sometimes it arrives through control, awareness, breath, balance and the strange satisfaction of feeling your body becoming more capable in subtle ways.

That was exactly the feeling here.

That said, I only did one class today. Shame on me!

Despite the tiredness, I had to go do Body Balance. I love this class. Today, watching the result of my training story back, I became absolutely certain that this is my favourite discipline. It is incredible how much our bodies can evolve. I see what certain people are capable of doing with their bodies online and I am in awe. Not to mention that the movements become more controlled as we build strength in a very particular way, and there is something deeply sensual about that. I cannot wait to see what I will be able to do in 6 months, 1 year, 10 years!

Today it was with André Godinho. I love this warm-up, and in that room, during the lunge, I can see myself in the mirror. I know, I cannot help myself, but today I thought the mirror was being very kind to me. I am liking my shape more and more. How could I not sneak a look?

In the warrior track, I managed to clasp my hands together much more easily. However, my little shoe-height jump is still on the low side. It hurts like anything on the tips of my toes. I will keep trying!

And the mermaid? Today there were 2 of them… Now nobody can stop me… And it is now very clear that my left side is the stronger one, meaning using my left leg as the support. I am now very focused during the hip opening track. But the arm movements are the death of me! I never know how to fit them in, and before I know it, André’s arms are up and mine are down, not to mention I am facing the wrong direction entirely.

And we arrived at my beloved meditation. Today, more than any other day, I could easily have stayed in that room and fallen asleep. We began by focusing on our heart and its beats, its rhythm. The way the heart pumps vitality and hope through the body, while also allowing us to release whatever negativity we are carrying.

I needed my dose of Body Balance. What a WONDERFUL class! And André was impeccable!

I did not have the energy left for Body Combat. Today, my jabs would have looked like the gentlest of slaps anyone has ever thrown. And I will not even comment on the kickbacks. It simply was not happening.

Tomorrow I am resting, because I have been neglecting my sleep. Besides, on Friday I absolutely CANNOT miss it! There will be a party and a farewell!

Instructor Notes

Instructor credit: André Godinho

André gave this class exactly what it needed. The session felt calm, precise and deeply grounding, which matters even more in a class like Body Balance. This is not the kind of workout where the instructor needs noise or force to create impact. The quality comes from control, pacing, clarity and presence.

That came through here.

The class felt safe, focused and easy to sink into, which made it much easier to notice the details of my own progress, especially in the warrior track, the hip opening work and the more controlled transitions.

He was impeccable, and that is exactly the word that fits.