Latest news with #KaylaItsines
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Sweat App's founding trainer announces sudden departure
Kelsey Wells, one of the most beloved trainers on Kayla Itsines' Sweat app, has announced her sudden departure after nearly a decade with the platform. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Wells shared her decision with her followers, marking the end of an era for both herself and the Sweat community. 'After nearly nine years, I have chosen to leave Sweat,' the 35-year-old told her three million followers on Sunday night. 'As of June 1, 2025, I am no longer continuing my career as a Sweat trainer. 'As one of Sweat's founding trainers and after pouring so much of myself and my heart into every single one of my 15 strength training programs — from the exercise science framework to the intention filled messaging behind the launch of every single one of them — this is not a decision I make lightly. 'I am no longer creating content or programming for or with that company.' The farewell announcement She then went on to say that there was much she wanted to express, but 'cannot say', before sharing her deep gratitude for particular people. 'To my husband and my Sonshine. For the magnitude of silent sacrifices you selflessly made to support me every single day,' she wrote. 'To each of the good humans I have met and worked with along my way — thank you for treating me with kindness and respect. 'To the others I have worked with — thank you, too. For (however unintentionally) helping me learn hard truths and creating opportunity for me to grow.' Notably, she did not mention her boss, Sweat co-founder, Kayla Itsines. She did, however, thank all the women who have done her programs, saying she was 'deeply honoured' to have been their trainer. 'My heart aches right now, but I am not done showing up and being here for you,' she wrote. 'Please, never ever give up on caring for yourself and your health, and prioritising your mental wellbeing and authenticity above all else. 'I will be doing the same.' Speaking to Wells said, 'I am optimistic about my future and more passionate than ever about my mission to empower women and reinforce the importance of the connection between physical and mental health'. Fans respond to 'pointed' message Wells' post was met with an outpouring of support from fans and fellow trainers. Ex-Sweat trainer Chontel Duncan commented on the post: 'Your next chapter will be nothing short of amazing. Looking forward to seeing what's next'. Another ex-Sweat trainer, Cass Olholm replied: 'I know that whatever chapter comes next, you'll continue to positively impact everyone your love and light touches'. Then, Itsines commented, saying: 'Kels. It's been an honour to work alongside you and watch your impact grow over the past 10 years! Your story, passion, and dedication have inspired women all over the world. 'We are excited for you and what you have planned next :) I know SO many women will continue to be empowered by your message'. In addition to not thanking Itsines in her post, Wells also didn't 'like' or respond to Itsines' comment. Another user commented: 'It's a real shame to see so many of the OG trainers move on from Sweat … makes me wonder what Sweat is doing as a company as part of this turnover culture'. Wells liked this comment. This subtle move did not go unnoticed by the Sweat community, with many fans speculating about the nature of her departure. 'It really speaks volumes that she liked this comment and not Kayla's original comment,' said one user. 'This is concerning and makes me want answers,' another wrote. Others claimed the 'pointed' wording of Wells' post made them believe the resignation might not have been all that amicable. 'The way I read this post sounds like something happened,' admitted one. 'The way she said 'THAT' company…,' said someone else. 'Why does this give me a weird sense of bitterness?' another asked. Then a different commenter described the post as a 'respectful and polite way to throw shade'. At the same time, some fans of the cult fitness app claimed that Wells' programs were the only reason they were still subscribed to the app, promising to cancel their subscriptions once Wells' programs were taken off the app. Her programs still appear to be live on Sweat. What is Sweat? The Sweat app was co-founded by Kayla Itsines and Tobi Pearce in 2015 and quickly became one of the most popular digital fitness platforms for women. The app offers a range of workout programs led by top trainers, with a strong focus on community and results. Its annual subscription revenue exceeds $100 million, according to reports, and it has been downloaded over 30 million times with 450,000 paid subscribers. Itsines co-founded the app with her then romantic partner, Pearce. The couple broke up in 2020 but continued their professional relationship. They sold Sweat to US tech company IFit in 2021 for a reported $400 million and are believed to have bought it back for a fraction of that price in 2023. A pattern of trainer departures Much of the app's success is down to its highly personable trainers, who often have millions of devoted followers and steer people toward the app. However, over the past few years, many of these trainers have left the platform, including Chontel Duncan, Sara Colquhoun, Stephanie Sanzo, and Cass Olholm. In November 2022, Sara Colquhoun, one of Sweat's pilates instructors, announced she was leaving but said it was an 'amicable' decision on Instagram. She is set to launch her own pilates program, Pilates Obsession, this year. Chontel Duncan, who has over 1.2 million followers, announced her departure a month later in December 2022, calling her time at Sweat 'a rewarding and fulfilling experience'. 'I want to thank you, @kaylaitsines, for the opportunity to work with your company and for being such an incredible friend,' she wrote in her post. She then went on to launch Neuform, her own fitness app, in June 2024. Trainer Stephanie Sanzo, who has 3.4 million followers, also left the company around the same time after joining in 2019, to focus on her own platform, Liftit. Neither she nor Sweat made a public announcement about the departure, with the fitness app simply changing her name on her programs to 'Trainer'. In February 2023, Cass Olholm, a weightlifting coach with 363,000 followers, also left the company after joining on a three-year contract in 2020. She then won a court case against Sweat, which tried to prevent her from launching her own app, Train with Cass, claiming it would divert up to $1 million of revenue away from Sweat and breached a 12-month non-compete clause. Why has this happened? It remains unclear what has led to the succession of trainers leaving the app, most recently, Wells. However, in recent years, there have been several controversies involving Sweat and Itsines. The fitness guru and her app have faced criticism from users for being expensive ($19.99/month), glitchy, and difficult to cancel memberships. After selling the company to iFit, she received further negative press when 30 staff members reportedly lost their jobs, according to The Advertiser. The 2023 legal battle with Olholm, a former close collaborator and friend, only added to the changing perceptions of the fitness mogul. Then in February 2025, Itsines found herself in another PR storm after making a video criticising what she described as 'highly sexualised' gym content on social media. She called out her disappointment at fitness influencers who pose and film workouts from a 'particular angle' under the pretence of a 'glute workout'. She claimed it was a tactic used to gain views and it's 'not something (she or her daughter) wants to see'. While some of her loyal fanbase agreed with her, the video ultimately did not resonate as she had hoped. Many argued that Itsines wasn't immune to 'sexualising' her own content, with some pointing out she shares workout videos in figure-hugging activewear and regularly shows off her abs. In response to the backlash against her viral video, some of the star's former fans began sharing their 'trauma' from following her restrictive guides in the past. They took issue with the fact that she built much of her fortune from her 'Bikini Body' Guides, which launched in 2014 and are sometimes described as 'problematic'. One of her early guides, aimed at women aged 16-25, included sample meal plans that totalled just 1200 calories for those trying to lose weight. 'As the parent of two teenagers, I'd be mortified if I knew they were following this plan. Why did we do it to ourselves?' said one user. During a 2016 interview with Bloomberg, Itsines revealed that she regrets calling her programs the 'bikini body' guides. She explained, 'Do I regret using the term Bikini Body for my guides? Yes, I do. 'That's why when I launched the app, I named it Sweat With Kayla. I love the empowerment that comes with the word 'sweat' – it's really powerful for me'. While the platform remains a leader in digital fitness, the recent exits are just another controversy Sweat will have to deal with.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kayla Itsines sparks feud rumours as her business partner Kelsey Wells is the latest to quit fitness app Sweat: 'I sense beef between them'
Kayla Itsines and her business partner Kelsey Wells have sparked feud rumours as the former founding trainer at Itsines' company Sweat quits the business. The 35-year-old mother-of-one announced her exit from the fitness app on Sunday in a shock Instagram announcement which left fans wondering what went wrong. While neither Itsines, 34, nor Wells have addressed a potential rift between them, followers flocked to the comments to point out the signs things may have gone sour. Speculation began when Wells first made the announcement she quit Sweat over the weekend. 'After nearly nine years, I have chosen to leave Sweat. As of June 1, 2025, I am no longer continuing my career as a sweat trainer,' she penned. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'As one of sweat's founding trainers and after pouring so much of myself and my heart into every single one of my 15 strength training programs—from the exercise science framework to the intention filled messaging behind the launch of every single one of them—this is not a decision I make lightly,' she continued. 'I am no longer creating content or programming for or with that company.' Kelsey went on to say there were things she wanted to 'express' but was not yet able to tell her followers, alluding to behind-the-scenes details she couldn't talk about. Instead, Kelsey went on to share her 'deep gratitude' for her husband Ryan and their 11-year-old son Anderson, who she called her 'Sonshine'. 'For the magnitude of silent sacrifices you selflessly made to support me every single day. For being my reason and my safe place and my saving grace. For truly everything. I love you,' she wrote. Kelsey then went on to thank the 'good humans' who treated her with 'kindness and respect' and supported her fitness and career goals. 'To the others I have worked with—thank you, too. For (however unintentionally) helping me learn hard truths and creating opportunity for me to grow,' she added. Kelsey finished her lengthy post by thanking all the women she helped train over the years, vowing she will continue to 'show up' for them in the future. 'Please, never ever give up on caring for yourself and your health, and prioritising your mental wellbeing and authenticity above all else. I will be doing the same,' she wrote. Itsines was among the first to comment beneath the post, wishing the best for Wells in her new journey. 'Kels it's been an honour to work alongside you and watch your impact grow over the past 10 years! Your story, passion, and dedication have inspired women all over the world,' she said. 'From launching PWR to becoming a role model for lifting confidence both in and out of the gym, you've helped shape what SWEAT stands for. 'We are excited for you and what you have planned next. I know SO many women will continue to be empowered by your message.' While the message indicated that Itsines and Wells had parted ways on good terms, followers quickly speculated that not everything was as it appeared. '@kayla_itsines it's a real shame to see so many of the OG trainers move on from sweat,' one person pointed out, referring to former Sweat trainers Chontel Duncan, Stephanie Sanzo and Cassie Olholm leaving the company in recent years. 'Amazing to see their personal growth and influence broaden but makes me wonder what sweat is doing as a company as part of this turnover culture.' Notably, Wells liked the comment, but did not like Itsines' original farewell message it was in response to. 'It really speaks volumes that she liked this comment and not Kayla's original comment,' one person noted. Others said: 'The way I read this post sound like something happened. Maybe it was an accumulation of a bunch of small things. But I get the feeling things weren't good.' 'I sense beef between @kayla_itsines and @kelseywells. Someone spill the tea,' wrote another. Wells also went on to like supportive comments left by former Sweat trainers Duncan and Olholm. 'You don't do things in halves my girl and so your next chapter will be nothing short of amazing. Looking forward to seeing what's next,' Duncan wrote. 'You have changed thousands of lives, and I know that whatever chapter comes next, you'll continue to positively impact everyone your love and light touches. Proud of you,' Olholm added. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to representatives of Kayla and Kelsey for comment. Former Sweat trainers Chontel Duncan and Cass Olholm also left messages of support for Wells following their respective departures from the company in 2022 and 2023 Wells and Itsines also still follow each other on Instagram; however, Wells has stopped following the Sweat business account. Duncan left Sweat in December 2022, posting a heartfelt tribute to the company and Itsines, with the former colleagues still following each other on Instagram to this day. Sanzo also left in 2022 to launch her own fitness app, and though she made a quiet exit from the company, she still follows Itsines and the Sweat account online. Meanwhile, Olholm had a very public falling out with Itsines when she left the company in February 2023 and found herself in the midst of a court battle with Itsines. The fitness influencer attempted to block Olholm from launching her own fitness app called Train With Cass, which was set to go live in October 2023. Just like the Sweat With Kayla app, Train With Cass offered a mixture of training videos which paying subscribers could follow from home. Itsines' Bikini Body Training Company was represented in the South Australian Supreme Court by Nicholas Swan at the time, who argued Olholm, represented by Thomas McFarlane, had breached the restraint of trade. Bikini Body wanted Olholm to obey a 12-month restraint of trade clause, which would prohibit her from competing with the company until February 2024. What followed was a lengthy legal battle which dragged on long enough that Olholm was unable to launch her Train With Cass app until January 2024. Itsines founded Sweat with her ex-fiancé Tobi Pearce, who is now her business partner, in 2015, naming the fitness program Body Guide at the time. They went on to sell the platform to US company iFIT for $400million in 2021, following a boom in home exercise when gyms and sports centres closed during the Covid pandemic. However, iFIT struggled to maintain the Sweat brand's success after taking the reins, and posted an $80million write-down after its first year of ownership. As the $20 per month subscriptions began to wane once gyms re-opened, the company continued to bleed millions until Itsines and Pearce took over the business once again in November 2023. Itsines returned to her role as the platform's head trainer while Pearce's focus is on the company's longevity and growth strategy going forward.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Influencer Kayla Itsines' husband Jae Woodroffe responds to concerns about their giant Doberman 'protection dog' being around their young children
Kayla Itsines' husband has responded to fans who raised concerns about his choice of pet. Jae Woodroffe has insisted his massive Doberman, called Royce, is perfectly safe around the two young children in the couple's home. Kayla shares daughter Arna, five, with her ex Tobi Pearce and son Jax, one, with husband Jae. 'How do you feel about dogs around animals can be unpredictable (even trained one)' Jae was asked of Royce, who has been trained as a protection dog, in an Instagram question and answer session. The 34-year-old replied: 'Same way I feel about humans around my kids. These dogs have been trained for a minimum of 18 months and in family homes with kids. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'It takes a very special dog to do what these dogs do'. Jae continued: 'In saying that Royce is super clumsy when he's not on!! So there is always concern of one of the kids getting bumped'. Having a large, trained dog in the home is part of the self-protection measures Kayla took after a seven-month long stalking ordeal. She had to obtain a guard dog after a man waited outside her home 'every single day' for months. Itsines shared her story on the YouTube channel of Protection Dogs Worldwide, the organisation that provided the animals. Kayla revealed a chance meeting with the unnamed man, who initially seemed to be 'the nicest person in the world,' eventually turned into something darker. Kayla said she was only too happy to take a selfie with the man, before going one step further and filming a video for him too. After the seemingly innocent encounter, Kayla said she started seeing the man more and more. Kayla admitted that her dogs had given her much-needed peace of mind. The 34-year-old replied: 'Same way I feel about humans around my kids. These dogs have been trained for a minimum of 18 months and in family homes with kids' 'I have never slept more soundly in my entire life knowing I have my dogs there,' she said. 'They are just the most incredible things. I cannot explain how grateful I am for the two most amazing dogs in the world.' The fitness influencer and personal trainer, 34 and her family moved from Adelaide to the Gold Coast last year. Kayla and Jae tied the knot in December 2023 following a two-year engagement. But their fairytale romance first blossomed under unusual circumstances. From getting together just months after leaving their respective exes to Kayla's subsequent falling out with Jae's ex-girlfriend - things weren't always so simple. Kayla debuted her relationship with personal trainer Jae on September 26, 2021, when the couple was spotted packing on the PDA outside a kebab shop in Adelaide. In January 2022, Kayla finally debuted Jae on her Instagram page, uploading a photo of the pair cuddling alongside a caption describing him as her 'best friend for years and now partner'. The happy couple welcomed their first child together, a boy named Jax, in January last year, with Kayla sharing custody of her daughter Arna, five, with ex Tobi Pearce. Kayla and Tobi share custody of their daughter Arna. Kayla also welcomed her first child with Jae, a boy named Jax, in January 2023.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kayla Itsines shows off her insane bikini body as she celebrates her 34th birthday in Bali
Kayla Itsines rang in her 34th birthday in Bali on Wednesday and celebrated by sharing a sizzling set of snaps and videos to social media. The fitness queen showed off her incredibly toned physique in a red bikini top as she posed with husband Jae Woodroffe on the deck of a luxury boat, laughing and soaking up the tropical sunshine. She completed the effortless look with denim cut-off shorts, a brown cap and beaming smile. Another picture captured the pair looking happy and excited as they posed up a storm on a picture-perfect beach before heading into the ocean for a swim. Later, Kayla shared behind-the-scenes footage of the retreat she was staying at, including a Pilates class where she stunned in a brown sports set - showing off her insanely flat stomach and long, lean limbs. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. With her golden tan, rock-hard abs and sculpted legs on full display, Kayla showed that she ageing with confidence and style. Kayla captioned the gallery with some heartfelt words: 'We had the BEST DAY!!! Bali is beautiful. If you have ever contemplated doing a retreat here… DO IT!! 'It's soooooo much fun! My favourite part is listening to everyone's "why". Why they chose to come. 'It's incredible to listen to each and every one of these women speak about their journey. So so happy with my team here!' Kayla is well known for keeping her figure in top shape - and she insists it's easy to do. She recently shared her exact daily routine that takes 28 minutes and will help carve your body to shapely perfection. Each circuit takes approximately seven minutes and consists of four sets of structured exercise routines. 'There are four exercises per circuit which you repeat over and over again until the timer stops,' Kayla wrote on Instagram. Another picture captured the pair looking happy and excited as they posed up a storm on a picture-perfect beach before heading in for a swim Circuit one consists of 10 lunges, 15 squats, 10 push-ups and 20 step-ups, and this pattern is repeated for a total of seven minutes. Kayla advises resting once the timer has gone before moving on to circuit two. Circuit two comprises of 10 sit-ups, 15 jump squats, 40 mountain climbs and 15 tricep dips. The circuit should also be repeated for a total of seven minutes. 'Repeat circuit one, rest, repeat circuit two, done,' she added. The fitness expert acknowledges the benefits of a morning workout routine, but believes exercising later also has its advantages. Kayla said exercising early can lift your mood - and as a result make you more likely to be conscious about your health and make better food choices throughout. She added those with a busy schedule may find slotting in their daily workout early is ideal because it won't clash with other commitments. Kayla and husband Jae Woodroffe, 34, tied the knot in December 2023. The couple welcomed their first child together, a boy named Jax, in January last year, with Kayla sharing custody of her daughter Arna, five, with ex Tobi Pearce.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fitness influencer Kayla Itsines shows off her VERY ripped abs and sends her fans into a frenzy: 'Dang girl!'
Kayla Itsines is well known for her fit physique. The 33-year-old fitness influencer works hard at maintaining a gym honed body, but even her fans were wowed by her latest display. In a post shared to Instagram, Kayla posed in activewear including a cropped puffer jacket that bared her torso. On display was a peek at her sculpted, ripped abs and six pack - and it did not escape the attention of her followers. 'Those abs are popping Kayla' commented one person while another said, 'Dang girl those abs!' 'Yes!! And your abs?!' another exclaimed with someone else saying, 'Wow the abs are popping'. 'Those abs though' wrote yet one more, while a fellow fan chimed in, 'Those abs!' The fitness influencer is well known for keeping her figure in top shape - and she insists it's easy to do. Kayla recently shared her exact daily routine that takes 28 minutes and will help carve your body to shapely perfection. Each circuit takes approximately seven minutes and consists of four sets of structured exercise routines. 'There are four exercises per circuit which you repeat over and over again until the timer stops,' Kayla wrote on Instagram. Circuit one consists of 10 lunges, 15 squats, 10 push-ups and 20 step-ups, and this pattern is repeated for a total of seven minutes. Kayla advises resting once the timer has gone before moving on to circuit two. Circuit two comprises of 10 sit-ups, 15 jump squats, 40 mountain climbs and 15 tricep dips. This circuit should also be repeated for a total of seven minutes. 'Repeat circuit one, rest, repeat circuit two, done,' she added. The fitness expert acknowledges the benefits of a morning workout routine, but believes exercising later also has its advantages. Kayla said exercising early can lift your mood - and as a result make you more likely to be conscious about your health and make better food choices throughout. She added those with a busy schedule may find slotting in their daily workout early is ideal because it won't clash with other commitments. The downfall of early sessions is you may get tired later in the day. Afternoon workouts, although sometimes harder to prioritise, also have their benefits, Kayla said. The Instagram influencer explained the hormone that helps build muscle is produced in greater quantities in the evening than the morning which is ideal for building strength. And she added as your body's core temperature increases throughout the day your muscles are often more flexible later - making exercise more comfortable. For those who are trying to build muscle, Kayla advises an afternoon workout time would be best suited for achieving your fitness goals. Kayla and husband Jae Woodroffe, 34, tied the knot in December last year following a two-year engagement, but their fairytale romance first blossomed under unusual circumstances. From getting together just months after leaving their respective exes to Kayla's subsequent falling out with Jae's ex-girlfriend - things weren't always so simple. Kayla debuted her relationship with personal trainer Jae on September 26, 2021, when the couple was spotted packing on the PDA outside a kebab shop in Adelaide. That was just a few weeks after Kayla had split from her former boyfriend, a videographer known only as 'Mitch G'. Jae also had just split with his long-time ex-girlfriend Lauren, who also happened to be close friends with Kayla. Jae and Lauren are believed to have started dating in 2016, as indicated by loved-up Instagram photos posted by Lauren at the time. The last photos of the former couple together were uploaded on May 23, 2021, following a night out with a group of friends which included Kayla. A group photo taken during the outing even shows Kayla, Jae and Lauren all posing side by side. Kayla and Jae debuted their romance four months later. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any party has ever been unfaithful. Kayla declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia, but her spokeswoman Sara Bergstrom said the 'media narrative' suggesting Kayla and Lauren fell out because of Jae 'was false then, and [is] still false now'. Kayla and Lauren's relationship appears to have soured, and the pair no longer follow each other on Instagram. In January 2022, Kayla debuted her new relationship on her Instagram page, uploading a photo of the pair cuddling alongside a caption describing him as her 'best friend for years and now partner'. The couple welcomed their first child together, a boy named Jax, in January last year, with Kayla sharing custody of her daughter Arna, five, with ex Tobi Pearce.
