Zing Coach and Les Mills: A Potential Evolution in Fitness Coaching
In the ever-evolving landscape of fitness, combining technology with traditional workout methods is becoming more common. Recently, Zing Coach and Les Mills have teamed up to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) fitness apps can enhance the gym experience. This partnership could pave the way for a new approach to personal training that merges digital convenience with personal motivation.
Les Mills has made a name for itself by harnessing the energy of group fitness sessions, featuring upbeat music and high-energy programs that push participants to their limits. Now, in collaboration with Zing Coach, Les Mills is taking a personalized approach by delivering its workout programs through Zing Coach’s innovative app. This app utilizes adaptive AI technology to offer features like real-time form tracking and body composition analysis, meeting the personalized needs of its users.
This partnership comes on the heels of Zing Coach’s successful Series A funding round, where it raised $10 million. This financial backing underscores the app’s potential in the competitive fitness technology market.
While it’s common for fitness hardware brands to integrate AI into their offerings, a collaboration between a global group exercise brand and an AI fitness platform is relatively rare. The Zing Coach and Les Mills alliance aims to meet fitness enthusiasts where they are. Despite the rise of AI fitness apps, 62% of Zing Coach users still prefer working out in a gym, aligning perfectly with Les Mills’ focus on in-person group classes. According to Les Mills’ 2026 Global Fitness Report, a mere 10% of fitness participants prefer an AI coach over a human instructor.
This data supports the idea of hybrid training, which has gained traction, particularly among Generation Z fitness enthusiasts. According to Les Mills, those who combine gym and home workouts log a staggering 67% more sessions compared to gym-only participants.
Marina Nola, Chief Digital Distribution Officer at Les Mills, highlighted the advantages of this collaboration, stating, “By integrating Les Mills programs into Zing Coach, users benefit from the motivation of human-led workouts along with the flexibility that comes with AI, creating the best of both worlds.”
Furthermore, Zing Coach CEO Anton Marchanka pointed out that incorporating Les Mills classes can help address the consistency challenges many fitness enthusiasts experience. This partnership promotes structured strength, conditioning, and progression-based workouts, all hosted within Zing’s AI framework. This allows users to engage in flexible training formats that fit busy lifestyles, whether they prefer exercising at home, at the gym, or in live classes, making consistency feel more achievable.
The collaboration with Les Mills marks Zing Coach’s second significant partnership of the year. Earlier, it teamed up with Paris Saint-Germain to provide player-inspired workouts to the club’s global fanbase.
In conclusion, the partnership between Zing Coach and Les Mills is a pioneering step towards integrating AI technology with traditional fitness programs. By leveraging both personalized attention and flexible training options, this collaboration has the potential to enhance workout experiences for users. As advancements in technology continue to reshape the fitness industry, it will be exciting to see how such innovative partnerships can motivate people to reach their fitness goals.
