Big news, Phoenix-Scottsdale residents: Life Time’s eighth athletic country club in “The Valley of the Sun” is arriving in April 2026. Nestled inside a high-end dining, entertainment, and retail district, Life Time Paradise Valley is the latest addition to the Life Time Arizona network, sitting less than 20 minutes from Life Time North Scottsdale and Life Time Biltmore with Life Time Ocotillo also opening in May 2026.
“We’re so excited to reach our Arizona community with greater proximity and bring them more availability to our luxurious amenities with the addition of Life Time Paradise Valley,” says Shawn Severson, senior lead general of Life Time Paradise Valley. “A reliable, robust network of Life Time locations in one metro area gives members more options and convenience, which can help them stay consistent with their health and wellness journey.”
Let’s explore the brand-new, 91,000-square-foot Life Time Paradise Valley space:
Walking in, members will notice a Kids Academy that’s over 8,000 square feet. It features an activity studio, gym, language arts studio, movement studio, toddler area, infant room, and an outdoor turf area. As a parent or caregiver, you can be assured there is a spectrum of healthy activities to entertain and stimulate your kids (ages 3 months to 11 years) while you make use of the club’s other areas.
With a Junior Membership, parents can use up to 2.5 hours of child care per day. There’s also the unique perk of unlimited monthly kids and tweens events. Parents can enjoy an evening on their own — at the club or elsewhere — with regular Parents Night Out and Tween Takeover events, which always feature fun themes.
Families can also enroll their kids in School-Break Camps on those days when school is out and they need something to do.
“Our ability to provide fun enrichment programs for kids is key,” says Severson. “It helps take the pressure off the parents, so they can accomplish their goals both inside the club and out.”
Continuing on the first floor, you’ll see the LifeCafe and lounge space. Stop in for a nutritious meal or snack, or grab a protein shake to-go after your workout. Tip: Order through the Life Time app for an expedited experience. You can grab your favorite LTH supplements here, too.
For members who need to work while on the go, you can set up your laptop or take calls in the Life Time Work Lounge, an open-plan, community-style coworking area.
“We know how important it is for people to have accessibility to workspaces, so we want to be sure to provide that opportunity to our members,” says Severson. “We’re creating a welcoming space for people to stay and accomplish a variety of goals rather than simply coming in, doing a workout, and leaving.” (Learn more: “What Is the Life Time Work Club Lounge?”)
The first floor is also home to the LifeSpa, a full-service salon and spa offering body, skin, hair, and nail treatments.
You’ll also be able to access the high-end men’s and women’s locker rooms, both featuring a full hydrotherapy suite experience with a sauna, steam room, whirlpool, and cold plunge. Here, you can feel pampered in spaces dedicated to your recovery and relaxation.
Head up to the second floor of Life Time Paradise Valley and you’ll discover the expansive workout floor featuring free weights, state-of-the-art cardio and resistance-training machines, and designated stretching areas. It’s easy to build a sustainable fitness routine when everything you need is available in one convenient space.
Members seeking a more individualized fitness experience or added guidance and accountability can connect one-on-one with a Dynamic Personal Trainer (at an additional cost). “Our Dynamic Personal Training team is here to help you with any of your health and wellness needs and will deliver a top-tier level of personal training experiences,” notes Severson. (Learn more: “Achieve Your Fitness Goals With Dynamic Personal Training.”)
Adjacent to the workout floor, you can partake in GTX, Alpha, and Ultra Fit signature group training classes. GTX is a 50/50 blend of cardio and strength work; Alpha is centered around Olympic weightlifting and metabolic conditioning; and Ultra Fit combines sprint-interval training with balance and strength moves. GTX and Ultra Fit will operate in a shared space, while Alpha will have its own dedicated area.
Also on the second floor are four studio spaces used for Pilates, barre, yoga, and other unique-to-Life-Time group fitness classes. These classes are taught by top performers with options for all fitness levels and areas of interest. (Learn more: “Why Life Time Classes Are for Everyone.”)
After your workout, wind down in the LT Recovery zone, where you can find HydroMassage lounge chairs, CryoLounge chairs, Normatec compression therapy devices, and Hyperice vibration therapy devices. (Learn more: “How to Use 3 Popular Recovery Tools at Life Time.”)
Additionally, Life Time Paradise Valley will feature a LifeClinic, where licensed chiropractors are available by appointment (at an additional cost) to help alleviate pain or discomfort so you can move and function at your best. (Learn more: “Why LifeClinic?”)
Pickleball will also be a focus at this club, with three indoor and four outdoor courts, accompanied by Intro to Pickleball classes, clinics, leagues, tournaments, and other events. “Pickleball isn’t done growing, and the wonderful thing about this sport is that it has such a low barrier to entry,” says Severson. “Pickleball is also a huge community builder — it fosters engagement and connections.”
But the fun doesn’t stop there. Head up to the rooftop where you’ll find the luxurious resort-style outdoor pool deck, featuring a lap pool, lounge seating with a capacity of 300, and an outdoor bistro and bar serving poolside food and drinks.
Here, Severson plans to host member events focused on community and desirability: “It’s going to be a very beautiful space that emphasizes exceptional service,” he says.
“I’m excited about the team we’re building at Life Time Paradise Valley and our aligned vision for the guest experience,” says Severson. “There’s so much buzz; the Phoenix market is ripe for another athletic country club.”
Get to Know Your Lead General: Shawn Severson
Severson joined Life Time in 2003, seeking a role that melded his passions for health and relationship building. “Life Time fulfilled both priorities of fitness and fostering connections,” he says.
Severson’s major career milestones at Life Time include building teams and clubs that earned top-performing recognitions in the company, along with overseeing the opening of clubs in Des Moines, Iowa, and Edina, Minn. He’s also proud of helping more than a dozen leaders move into elevated roles in the company.
Here, Severson reflects on the two decades he’s spent with Life Time and how it’s shaped his hands-on, servant leadership.
Life Time | Your career with Life Time has been rich. What has been your leadership philosophy through it all?
SS | The culture of the team is of paramount importance and should be established through effective leadership and presence. I make it a priority to maintain consistent engagement with both my team and club members. My goal is to foster an environment in which all individuals feel recognized, valued, encouraged, and supported, ensuring they leave the club in an improved state compared to when they arrived.
LT | You’ve worked with Life Time in several areas of the country. How do you balance the priorities of creating a strong local community while staying consistent with the Life Time brand?
SS | People, no matter where they are, long for a sense of community. At Life Time, we are driven to create an environment where our team members are genuinely excited to see our members and help encourage and support them on their health and wellness journey — that will be consistent at every Life Time location.
It’s also about understanding what each community values the most when it comes to health and wellness offerings. For example, there are communities where certain offerings or class formats are more important than others. My priority is to listen and be available for the members, so they’re willing to share feedback that can help us improve their experiences.
LT | As a lead general, your duties also include supporting the team members within your club. How do you make sure your teams feel prioritized?
SS | With 23 years at Life Time, I’ve made mistakes, which is how I’ve learned. From my perspective, the key is to make sure the team knows you’re not above anything as the leader — you’re more their partner than their boss. This allows us to have open conversations on how leadership can better serve them as the team members and our club members.
If we’re going to say we have the best, then we must make our team members feel important and prioritized so they are willing to put their heart into the member experience. This is how you can create a culture where everyone can thrive, whether it’s members or team members.
