Philip Mills, Global Fitness Leader
If you’ve ever felt unstoppable during a Les Mills BodyPump class, or completely immersed in the virtual ride of The Trip, then you’ve already experienced the impact of Philip Mills—even if you didn’t know his name.
That’s the power of Les Mills. It’s not just a collection of classes. It’s a global movement—one that started in a small gym in New Zealand and has now transformed how the world works out. And at West Wood Club, we're proud to bring this movement to life in Ireland every single day.
At West Wood Club, we don’t follow trends. We invest in innovation. We’ve built some of the most advanced fitness clubs in Europe—purpose-built to deliver world-class fitness experiences. And Les Mills is at the heart of that of that experience.
Before we dive into Philip's legacy, let’s set the record straight: Les Mills is a person. A real one. A legend, in fact.
Les Mills was a New Zealand athlete who competed in four Olympic Games and won gold at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. In 1968, he opened a small gym in Auckland—a gym that would eventually lay the foundation for a global fitness revolution.
But the legacy of Les Mills isn’t just built on Olympic medals. It’s built on what happened next—when his son, Philip Mills, stepped in.
Les Mills 1964 New Zealand Olympic Team
When Philip Mills joined the family gym business in the early 1980s, he brought with him something entirely new: a passion for music, movement, and the power of group fitness.
He’d spent time in the United States, where he was inspired by the energy of group exercise and the connection it created between people. But he saw an opportunity to do something better. Something more structured, science-driven, and scalable.
That idea led to the creation of BodyPump—a choreographed barbell workout set to music. Simple. Effective. Repeatable. And unlike anything the fitness industry had seen before.
It was the first ‘blockbuster’ fitness programme. And it laid the foundation for a model that clubs around the world—including West Wood Club—would embrace to create extraordinary fitness experiences for their members.
The Les Mills Gym Auckland, New Zealand
Fast forward four decades, and Philip Mills is now recognised as one of the most influential figures in global fitness.
He’s not just the CEO of Les Mills International—he’s the architect of a new fitness culture. His work has redefined how gyms operate, how group fitness instructors teach, and how millions of people around the world experience fitness every single day.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Philip Mills has impacted the lives of tens of millions of people through the Les Mills group fitness system. His vision for fitness brought structure, science, and inspiration to group exercise—and made it scalable across the globe.
At West Wood Club, we’ve aligned with that vision from the start. From our custom-built Les Mills studios to our investment in immersive technology, we’ve made it our mission to bring Philip’s legacy to life across every one of our Dublin clubs.
Les Mills isn’t just big. It’s massive.
Over 20,000 clubs in more than 100 countries
More than 140,000 certified instructors
An estimated 6 million workouts completed worldwide every week
Over 20 different group fitness programmes, from strength and cardio to HIIT and mind-body fusion
At West Wood Club, we are proud to be one of the leading Les Mills providers in Europe—delivering these globally renowned workouts in world-class fitness facilities built specifically for group training success.
We don’t just offer Les Mills. We’ve made it one of the cornerstones of our club experience.
No other gym group in Ireland offers more Les Mills than West Wood Club. Our six Dublin locations deliver thousands of Les Mills classes every month—many led by Ireland’s most experienced and passionate instructors.
Les Mills Immersive Class The Trip at West Wood Club
BodyPump – The original barbell workout. Tone, sculpt, and get stronger with high reps and motivating music.
The Trip – A cinematic cycling experience available exclusively in our Les Mills Immersive Studios—only at West Wood Club in Dublin.
Grit – High-intensity interval training in 30 minutes. Short on time, big on results.
BodyCombat – Martial arts-inspired cardio. No contact, just full-throttle intensity and massive calorie burn.
BodyBalance – A calming, restorative blend of yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates—perfect for active recovery and mobility.
Core – Designed to strengthen your deep core muscles, improve posture, and prevent injury.
Sprint – A HIIT-style cycling class for maximum results in minimum time.
Shapes – The newest Les Mills innovation. A blend of Pilates, yoga, and barre for those who want strength and grace in one powerful format.
Every one of these classes is included with your West Wood Club membership. And because we offer more than 4,500 fitness classes a month, you’re guaranteed variety, results, and motivation on demand.
Get ready for Les Mills Ceremony™. This is next-level fitness.
From the beginning, West Wood Club has been more than just a gym. We’ve always aimed to deliver fitness experiences that rival the best health clubs in the world.
That’s why we were the first clubs in Ireland to launch Les Mills Immersive Studios, complete with 270-degree screens and cinema-quality sound. You’ll find these cutting-edge studios at:
Aston Quay – Class Timetable
Clontarf Road – Class Timetable
Sandymount – Class Timetable
Westmanstown – Class Timetable
Dún Laoghaire – Class Timetable
We’re also home to Ireland’s largest schedule of free Les Mills classes, delivered across our state-of-the-art Mind & Body, Les Mills, and Immersive studios.
We’ve invested in the best instructors, the best facilities, and the most motivating fitness experiences available—because we know group training works when it’s done right.
What sets Les Mills apart is the combination of science, structure, and soul. Every workout is:
Developed by sports scientists
Delivered by world-class instructors
Backed by scientific research
Updated every three months
Designed to get results fast
Set to soundtracks that energise and inspire
At West Wood Club, our members come for the workouts—but stay for the results. We’ve seen firsthand how Les Mills classes help people lose weight, build muscle, boost energy, reduce stress, and above all—stick with fitness long-term.
It’s not just effective. It’s addictive (in the best possible way).
Want to experience what the global Les Mills phenomenon feels like? Now’s your chance.
West Wood Club is offering a FREE 4-Day Gym Trial Membership so you can try Les Mills BodyPump, Grit, The Trip, Core, Sprint, and more—across six of Dublin’s best-equipped clubs.
No pressure
No commitment
No excuse not to give it a go
Get started now: Grab a FREE 4-Day Trial to Les Mills Classes
From the back of a small New Zealand gym to the front of the global fitness industry, Philip Mills has changed the way the world trains. Through his vision, group exercise became structured, powerful, and scalable.
At West Wood Club, we’ve embraced that legacy and elevated it. We’ve created spaces where members don’t just exercise—they thrive.
If you want to experience the future of fitness, now’s the time. With Les Mills and West Wood Club, you're not just joining a gym. You're joining a movement.
