Even if you aren’t a gym-junkie or an aerobics aficionado, chances are you have heard the name Les Mills and know to associate it with group exercise. Since you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably heard of Polar, too.
What may come as news to you is that these two leaders began collaborating a while back. Between 2016 and 2020, the Les Mills Sports Profiles – which you can use to track LES MILLS™ workouts with Polar – hit a record 10 million training sessions early this year.
And what’s not to love: the device is easy to use and gives the user reliable data on effort level.
Polar products continue to be Les Mills’ preferred tools for monitoring heart rate, and especially our Polar Unite and Polar Ignite have received raving reviews from some prominent members of the Les Mills community.
Here’s how Polar fitness watches drive the Les Mills team to reach their full potential.
push your limits – safely
Les Mills Presenter Dee Rowell especially appreciates being able to easily track heart rate with the Polar’s Unite and Ignite:
“I love the simple interface – you can clearly see your heart rate because the design is so simple.”
Getting the information you are looking for in an easy, quick way is part of Polar’s mission to take the guesswork out of exercising. It’s also comforting to know that what you see on the screen is a very reliable indicator of what’s actually happening in your body.
Dee loves knowing what exercises push her to her maximum heart rate. “It definitely drives me to work harder when I know my heart rate can be a little higher.”
Like Dee, many of us use our devices to push us safely into our maximum heart rate zone.
According to Unite and Ignite users, there are many benefits to being able to track the work closely, in real-time.
Stay focused and balanced
Les Mills Presenter Des Helu says that getting physical proof of the work done helps him focus and find balance.
“When you see the results, it creates even more drive and motivation to keep moving and keep pushing for more,” Des suggests. “If you have set goals, Polar Unite and Ignite are both an awesome way to keep track of your progress,” he adds.
But like many of us, Des has a busy schedule with days full from morning to night. That’s why it’s helpful to have features like Unite and Ignite’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ function, which lets the user take a break when one is needed.
Another feature Des uses to balance out his busy life are Unite and Ignite’s Serene™ breathing exercises. “I’ve used the breathing exercises in the morning on the days that feel the most overwhelming,” he states. “It helped me stay present, focus on one thing at a time, and just breathe.”
Take recovery beyond
Unite and Ignite are both a proactive assistant for people who exercise regularly and want to know more than just how much energy they consume during a workout. Far beyond a calorie calculator or a heart-rate tracker, these Polar fitness watches are an honest workout buddy, telling you where things are at with work-rest balance – which directly correlates with your general well-being.
A huge fan of these recovery features is Les Mills Program Director Rachael Newsham, who uses the Polar Ignite to optimize her sleep and recovery.
To her, this fitness watch has been a game-changer.
“Suddenly I have real clarity on the recovery I need as I can see cold, hard numbers that show what my body is doing while I’m sleeping,” Rachael says.
She admits that Polar Unite and Ignite’s Nightly Recharge™ recovery measurement has convinced her just how worthwhile sleep is. “It helped me change my sleeping habits! As soon as I started experiencing the benefits of good recovery I began going to bed way earlier!”
Unite and Ignite’s Sleep Plus Stages™, which automatically tracks the amount and quality of sleep, gives Rachael reliable data to show what’s really happening in her body. “I feel far more in control of my body and my fitness than I ever have before,” she exclaims. “I can see now why I feel great or why I feel rubbish and then adapt accordingly.”
There’s no more guessing and it’s brilliant.
It’s hard not to be convinced by Rachael’s excited testimony, which reveals just how crucial the device is to her – and she wants everyone to give Polar sports watches a shot.
“I really believe that if you start tracking your recovery you won’t look back! I don’t think I could do without my Polar Ignite now,” she confesses.
Getting reliable information about your workout is, of course, the main objective of using a fitness watch, but let’s face it: To most of us, it’s not completely trivial what it looks like on your wrist. Rachael, for one, could not be happier.
“It’s elegant on the arm so I can wear it with anything I wear,” she affirms.
Des echoes her sentiment. “It’s great that the watch looks pretty rad, too!”
And finally, here’s a piece of news that will make every hard-core Les Mills fan happy: you can get your Polar Ignite equipped with a special Les Mills wristband, available on the Polar webstore!
Share your love of Les Mills and continue tracking your Les Mills workouts. Yours might just be the one hitting the 15 million mark!
Tag us on Instagram: @polarglobalfitness and @lesmills
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Please note that the information provided in the Polar Blog articles cannot replace individual advice from health professionals. Please consult your physician before starting a new fitness program.
