This Les Mills RPM and GRIT Strength review covers one of those gym days where I arrived with low energy and still ended up doing two extraordinary classes with Maria João Lopes: RPM first, followed by GRIT Strength.
It was a proper ladies training day.
I started tired, almost disconnected from the idea of training, and somehow finished feeling proud, pushed, sweaty and genuinely happy that I had shown up.
RPM gave me speed, hills, resistance, music and that intense feeling of trying to stay with the beat when the legs are already burning.
GRIT Strength then moved the session into a completely different place: plates, bar work, burpees, jumps, clean and press, rows, mountain climbers, push-ups and full-body effort.
This was not an easy training day. It was intense, demanding and exactly the kind of session that reminds me why showing up matters.
Quick Verdict
RPM
- Intensity: 8.5 out of 10
- Good for: indoor cycling, cardio conditioning, leg endurance, resistance work, speed and mental focus
- My after class mood: sweaty, proud, surprised by my own energy and genuinely happy I stayed with it
GRIT Strength
- Intensity: 9 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, explosive movement, bar work, plates, bodyweight drills, cardio strength and mental resilience
- My after class mood: tired, pushed, proud and very aware that the class had cost me effort
Class Snapshot
RPM
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Format: indoor cycling with warm-up, speed tracks, hills, resistance work and recovery moments
- Equipment: indoor bike, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Maria was warm, strong, motivating and completely in control of the room
- My focus today: manage my low energy, stay with the music, keep pedalling and avoid giving up mentally
- Injury notes: no injury, just heavy legs, fatigue and serious cardio effort
GRIT Strength
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: high-intensity strength and athletic conditioning with bar work, plates, bodyweight exercises and explosive movement
- Equipment: bar, plates, step or floor space, towel, water and training shoes
- Instructor style: Maria was sharp, energetic and demanding, but still warm and encouraging
- My focus today: survive the strength work, follow the sequence, keep moving and give what I had left after RPM
- Injury notes: no injury, just full-body fatigue and serious effort
The Workout: RPM + GRIT Strength
What an intense LADIES TRAINING DAY… WOW! Maria João Lopes taught 2 EXTRAORDINARY classes!
I started with RPM. When I woke up, my energy levels were in the red. I honestly did not even recognise myself in the training story, I have to admit… BUT… there is something magical about those bikes! Where the energy I had in that class came from, I genuinely do not know!
Maria welcomed us with her usual warmth!
Warm-up done, we got into the workout. The intensity made itself felt from track 2 onwards.
I really enjoyed track 3, the hills one, track 4 as well despite the difficulty of the mixed terrain, and track 5 too.
And my absolute favourite… track 6. The music choice was really good! In this track I almost go into a trance! There were moments where I opened my eyes and was genuinely fascinated watching my own legs. I can now pedal at that speed and… for 1 minute and 15 seconds, without stopping or slowing down. I’m proud of myself!
THE CLASS WAS INCREDIBLE, Maria was on fire and pushed us so hard. She also gave us some great advice, including one I want to share here because I follow it constantly: “Whenever you do not feel like coming to the gym to train, remember the incredible atmosphere we have here.” And she is absolutely right. Even when I am tired and lazy, this place and its professionals give me the strength to show up!
I moved on to Grit Strength, also with Maria.
Plates loaded and we began. How Maria still had the energy to basically do the entire class alongside us, I will never know. But she kept the energy very HIGH.
I went into the red again… I gave my best, but it cost me.
Every now and then, Maria would ask if we remembered the first exercise of that round… Suzike was trying to recall the demonstration she had just done… a few seconds earlier… In Grit, all I can manage is to execute the exercises. Using my brain on a deeper level? Nope!
Between burpees, jumps, clean and press, low and high rows, mountain climbers, push-ups, and everything else, I gave everything I had.
I loved the class, and felt genuinely happy for making the effort and beating the laziness to go and train.
HOWEVER, I am leaving with homework from teacher Maria to do over the holidays. Yeah… there will be news in September! NICE!
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Maria João Lopes
Maria’s coaching made this training day feel strong, focused and memorable.
In RPM, she created the kind of energy that helps you forget how tired you were before the class started. Her warmth at the beginning made the room feel welcoming, but once the workout started, she pushed the intensity properly.
The cycling class felt hard, musical and motivating. The speed tracks, hills and resistance work were demanding, but her presence helped me stay with it.
In GRIT Strength, she brought a different kind of energy. Stronger, sharper and more demanding.
She managed to coach, demonstrate, motivate and keep the room moving while still making the class feel human. That matters in a workout like GRIT Strength, because the class moves fast and the effort builds quickly.
Together, RPM and GRIT Strength became one of those sessions where the instructor clearly shaped the experience.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: sweaty, tired and proud that I completed both classes.
- Later that day: physically drained, but mentally satisfied.
- Next day: legs and body definitely felt the work, especially after the mix of RPM resistance and GRIT Strength exercises.
Final Thoughts
This RPM and GRIT Strength session was a powerful training day.
I started with low energy and finished feeling proud, pushed and genuinely happy that I had shown up.
RPM gave me music, speed, resistance, hills and that strange but wonderful feeling of finding energy when I thought I had none.
GRIT Strength gave me plates, bar work, burpees, jumps, rows, push-ups, mountain climbers and the kind of full-body effort that leaves no doubt about the work done.
It was hard. It was intense. It cost me.
And I loved it.
This was one of those training days that reminded me that sometimes the hardest part is simply arriving. Once the class starts, the room, the music, the instructor and the energy do the rest.
My Gym Essentials
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.
