Les Mills launches barbell 'reinvention' at IHRSA

Global group fitness program provider Les Mills International (LMI) used last week's International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) 2012 Trade Show in Los Angeles to launch what it calls "the biggest innovation in barbell technology for decades."

The Les Mills SMARTBAR™ is a revolutionary barbell weights system that gets faster results for users. With a patented design, this is a one-of-a-kind barbell using a new 'gator' fastening mechanism for speedy weight transitions.

Vaughan Schwass, Chief Executive of Les Mills Enterprises at LMI explains "the barbell weights system hasn't changed much at all over the last 10 years (and) our research showed that most people found fastening and changing weight plates during exercise pretty slow and cumbersome, so we've kept user-testing at the front of our design process and have completely reinvented traditional barbell design.

"The SMARTBAR™ has a cutting-edge ergonomic design and an exclusive 'gator' fastening mechanism with retractable teeth. These combine to speed up plate transitions and help people maximise their workout and get faster results."

The Les Mills SMARTBAR™ holds as many as three 10kg weight plates in place at each end and the ergonomic handles on the SMARTBAR™ plates allow users to work their target muscles harder, for longer, before their wrist and finger muscles reach fatigue.

Since the plate handles allow users to hold two plates in one hand, they can increase weight sooner, in smaller steps, and get stronger, faster.

Schwass adds "our trials have shown that whether they're in a BODYPUMP® class or doing other weights exercises, members and instructors love the feel and effectiveness of the Les Mills SMARTBAR™.

"It's another reason for members to enjoy their workout, keep coming back and get the results they want."

Club wear and tear was front of mind during the design and production process of the new barbell. The Les Mills SMARTBAR™ has undergone rigorous testing based on typical usage at some of the busiest group exercise studios in the world.

The metal bar is made of carbon steel and each gator is engineered from Zytel, a 33% glass-fibre-reinforced nylon for maximum strength. It is also over-moulded with a non-marking thermoplastic elastomer to provide superior impact strength.

Les Mills also used the IHRSA Trade Show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of BODYPUMP® the world's original and most popular weights class.

Meanwhile, LMI has also launched a new company, Les Mills UK, to be the exclusive distributor for Les Mills group fitness programmes in the UK.

The move follows LMI's acquisition of the division of Fitness Professionals (FitPro) which had been responsible for distributing Les Mills programs for the past 15 years.

Former LMI Chief Executive Jill Tattersall has been appointed Chief Executive of Les Mills UK to manage the transition.

For more information go to www.lesmills.com/smartbar

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