In any situation where you’re spending money, it’s wise to crunch the numbers to ensure your investment is worth the cost. That’s what Christa Negron did five years ago when she and her husband became first-time parents and began exploring health club options.
Negron was navigating postpartum challenges while transitioning to the role of stay-at-home mom. The only time she had to herself was at night, and her evening workouts were leaving her burnt out. She and her husband were looking for a place where they could both focus on their health while their child was looked after.
“I had referrals from friends to check out Life Time [because it] had child care integrated into it,” she says. Initially, they weren’t sure if it was the best investment.
“One day, I had enough of feeling in a funk,” Negron says. “I called our local Life Time in Chappaqua, N.Y., and signed up for a membership over the phone.”
Over the Fourth of July weekend in 2021, Negron and her husband explored Life Time Chappaqua after dropping off their 10-month-old daughter at the Kids Academy. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” she says. “We were shocked they could care for our daughter while we used the club — and during a holiday weekend.”
Afterward, they did the calculations: $8,000 per year for a Life Time membership versus $2,300 per month for other child care services. The decision to stick with a membership was clear for their family. “I remember breaking it down to what it’d cost per hour of child care at Life Time, and it was some crazy number of 90 cents,” she says. “Where else do you get that? It’s made our Life Time membership — hands down — worth every penny.”
When Negron took her first cycle class at Life Time later that week, she got emotional. “I cried my eyes out the first day of class because I was so moved,” she says. “I felt so great in that atmosphere, and my kid was being taken care of, too — I’ve been hooked on my membership ever since.”
Life Time is now a near-daily staple in Negron’s routine — she visited the club 283 days in 2025. And her family’s expectations around the value of their membership have been exceeded since joining. They take advantage of the many offerings and spaces they knew would be available to them but also enjoy additional unseen perks of a Life Time membership.
Here, Negron and Aubray Erhardt, membership consultant for Life Time, share a few of the surprising returns on investment that Life Time members can enjoy beyond physical fitness, including an improved quality of life, social connections and community, and other long-term health and wellness benefits.
1. Boosted “together” time.
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a busy parent, or someone just starting a fitness journey, Life Time has something to help every member of the family live a healthier way of life — together.
For Negron and her now family of four (her second daughter was born in July of 2024), Life Time is a second home where they show up nearly every day. Negron’s husband goes in the mornings to train right when the club opens. Their daughters enjoy the Kids Academy, with the oldest — now four years old — having a special passion for taekwondo and swimming. Negron herself enjoys taking Life Time’s signature group training classes, like Alpha and GTX, and relaxing in the steam room or at LifeSpa.
It’s also an environment where Negron’s family loves to spend time together. “It’s a place outside the house where my family just feels excited to be — and we can be healthy,” she adds.
“In the summer, for example, my husband and I will drop off our kids at the Kids Academy, then get some ‘us time’ at the pool,” says Negron. “Then, we’ll pick them up and spend the rest of the day at the pool together. Being at Life Time has definitely brought my family closer.”
2. Inspiration to go further.
A place full of like-minded individuals working on healthy-living goals could not be more inspiring for Negron. “It’s encouraged me to leverage my membership and try new things to the point where I’ve literally changed my life,” she says.
Since joining Life Time, she’s become healthier physically and mentally and is focused on being the strongest mom she can be. The support she receives from Dynamic Personal Trainers and class instructors has empowered her to take on more ambitious fitness goals.
“I take my fitness journey so much more seriously since joining Life Time,” she says, sharing that she’s signed up for two half-marathons. “I’m very happy with the support I’ve gotten from the Life Time team when it comes to building a foundation of health. I’m able to focus on me and hit my goals — that alone makes the membership worth the investment.”
3. Time and money saved with everything in one place.
Life moves quickly, and schedules fill up fast. An athletic country club with everything in one place can help you save time in your day-to-day.
Erhardt takes advantage of this, saying, “I do not need to make multiple stops when it comes to my fitness, health, and self-care,” she says. “I can get a workout in, meet up with a friend, grab a bite to eat, and get my hair done — all in one morning!”
The access to a wide spectrum of fitness amenities has also made it easier for Erhardt to reach her health goals. “I do not need separate club memberships to enjoy yoga and strength classes. Life Time has all the classes I need in one location,” she says. “I have found the swim lessons affordable, and I have gotten so much out of my Signature Group Training sessions.”
Additionally, members get access to an expansive, fully stocked workout floor featuring free weights, cardio- and resistance-training machines, and functional training equipment. They can reserve court time on a pickleball court, cool down post workout with Life Time’s cutting-edge recovery tools, and more.
“Outside of a great workout, I receive the nutrition advice and the accountability I need,” Erhardt adds. “My membership has been one of the best resources for my personal health.”
4. More “me” time.
Taking care of our health is crucial for all of us, and can be especially challenging for parents when child care is difficult to find. For Negron and her family, the child care at Life Time offered the highest return on investment when considering their membership. “It was the biggest factor for me,” she says. “A traditional half-day of daycare is so expensive, but at Life Time, child care is included in your membership.”
Parents can use up to 2.5 hours of child care per day, included with a Junior Membership, for kids ages three months to 11 years. There is no reservation needed for non-infant drop-in play at the Kids Academy, making it easy to find care in a pinch or simply drop into the club when you feel like it.
Additionally, Negron’s oldest daughter can now attend Parents Night Out — a three-hour themed event that takes place every weekend for kids ages 4 to 12 years; parents can choose to either stay on site or leave the club. “She looks forward to it every single week,” Negron adds. “I feel reassured bringing my kids into a safe place, and they’re always just itching to get out of the stroller so they can play.”
For Erhardt, the onsite child care gives her the personal time she needs to be her best in other areas of her life. “It really gives me the space and energy I need to be present for my family, perform my best at my job, and tackle my day-to-day responsibilities,” she says. “I am just happier and more relaxed when I have taken the time to work out. As a busy mom of three boys, I take my ‘me time’ very seriously.”
5. Connection to a supportive community.
Though your healthy-living journey is unique to you, you don’t have to go it alone. Joining an athletic country club can connect you with expert guidance and a like-minded community that supports and boosts your efforts, says Erhardt. “Strong connections are the main reason our members stay with Life Time. I’ve met some of my best friends through a group fitness class I frequent. It’s easy to find people with similar goals to you and connect that way.”
In 2024, Erhardt lost her husband, and Life Time provided her with a comfortable, safe space. “My community at Life Time was so supportive,” she says. “When I got my hair done at the LifeSpa, there was a basket of gifts waiting for me. My regular yoga and strength training classes really helped me on my healing journey. Seeing familiar faces and creating relationships with instructors and trainers all contribute to that environment of care.”
