Whether you’re new to the club or a long-time regular, there are likely more ways to make the most of your Life Time membership than you realize. Beyond the familiar parts of a typical health and fitness routine, Life Time offers a range of experiences, support, and amenities that can add even more value to your day-to-day.
“I often see members on both ends of a spectrum: They’re new to the club and unsure about where to begin, or they’ve been coming for years and have a routine they rarely veer from,” says Julie Brown, senior lead general at Life Time in Edina, Minn. “But both groups tend to have something in common: There are likely parts of their membership they haven’t explored yet. I love helping members discover just how much is available for them here.”
With that in mind, consider how you’ve been approaching your routine lately and discover more ways to make the most of your membership.
1. If you’re feeling intimidated, start with a team member.
If you’ve ever wondered how to use a piece of workout equipment or questioned if you’re performing a move correctly, asking a team member for guidance can be a gamechanger.
“There are Dynamic Personal Trainers stationed in and constantly walking around the workout floor,” explains Brown. “People may find it intimidating to approach them, but they definitely should tap them for help. They’re all trained to have a friendly and inviting demeanor, and they authentically want to support all members, not just their clients. You won’t be bothering them. And don’t be afraid to make a friend who happens to be a team member. The more you have a connection to somebody in that space, the more comfortable it’s going to feel.”
2. If you’re stuck in a routine, try a new class format — or ditch your headphones for the day.
The class that intimidates you might just be the class you need, suggests Brown.
At Life Time, there are hundreds of group fitness classes on the schedule each week, with options for everyone regardless of fitness level. From strength and cardio to yoga, Pilates, cycle, barre, dance, and mind-body training, there are plenty of choices to add variety and build a well-rounded regimen.
“I always tell people that the classes that scare us the most are probably the ones we need the most,” says Brown. “I recommend paying attention to the ones that pique your interest and slightly intimidate you, then reserve a spot. Don’t be afraid to walk up to the instructor before class and introduce yourself — they will be excited you came and can offer additional instructions or modifications to make you feel more comfortable.”
Another way to switch things up, even if you stick to the same workout, is to change your sensory experience.
“I challenge members to try one day on the workout floor without their headphones on,” says Brown. “And also, give yourself a goal to talk to one new person. I know it’s probably out of many people’s comfort zones, but it’s worth it. You’ll likely meet someone new, and experiencing the energy and sounds of the workout floor creates a different workout experience.”
3. If you’re sore or training hard, build in recovery tools.
When you’re seeking specific results, or if you have limited time to devote to exercise, it can be tempting to fall into the “no pain, no gain” mentality. But experts emphasize taking a “work hard, recover harder” approach instead.
Life Time offers several recovery modalities for you to take advantage of. These include hot and cold therapies like the steam room, sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge, as well as recovery tools including Normatec compression therapy, CryoLounge and HydroMassage chairs, Hyperice percussive devices, and more. There is also a designated stretching area of the workout floor equipped with foam rollers.
“I know some members shy away from using the tools because they’re not sure how to use them,” says Brown. “There’s information in the Life Time app that can help guide you through the process. And feel free to ask a team member here too — the LT Recovery zone is staffed with experts. Most tools are much easier to use than they look. Take the Normatec boots, for example: They may look intimidating, but it’s just like putting on a pair of pants — all you have to do is zip them up!” (Learn more: “How to Use 3 Popular Recovery Tools at Life Time.”)
Brown also loves encouraging members to try the cold plunge. “This is another one that frequently intimidates people, but more often than not, it’s just mind over matter,” she says. “Start with 30 seconds. Focus on controlling your breathing and pick something to listen to or do to distract your mind. Maybe that’s meditating, or for me personally, I love having EDM music in my ears while I’m basking in the cold.”
4. If you want a lower-impact way to move, take your workout to the water.
Brown encourages signing up for swim programming or trying aqua jogging.
Life Time offers swim lessons and classes for adults, too. “I recommend adult swim programming for a few different reasons,” explains Brown. “First, if you didn’t have the privilege of being taught how to confidently swim in your youth, there’s never a bad time to learn through lessons. We offer private adult swim lessons to guide members through the safety and confidence components of swimming.
“Secondly,” she continues, “for members who are interested in competing in swimming — whether in swim competitions or events like triathlons — but haven’t had any experience swimming or training in this way, I suggest they attend Masters Swimming. These classes are perfect for learning the art of lap swimming, stroke mechanics, and building endurance in the pool.”
Beyond swimming, the water is an ideal setting for low-impact exercise: It puts less compression on your skeleton, provides built-in resistance, and reduces the likelihood of muscle soreness. “When I used to do triathlons, I didn’t love the swimming portion, so I chose to aqua jog instead,” shares Brown. “Aqua jogging is so good for you, and anybody can attend an ARORA Aqua class. They’re quite humbling!”
5. If you want your workout to feel more playful, combine it with the features of a sport.
One way to gain more enjoyment out of your routine is to make movement feel a little more like play. Sports-based workouts can offer an energizing change of pace while still helping you build endurance, coordination, agility, and strength — and they often come with a built-in social element too.
A number of Life Time locations offer a class called Signature Cardio Tennis, a fun group workout for anyone at any tennis-playing level. It combines the features of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, providing a full-body, calorie-burning workout that also allows you to interact with others.
“I love cardio tennis!” exclaims Brown. “It’s such a good workout. It’s a cardio class where you also perform tennis skills. It’s offers great exposure to tennis while you’re also getting a wonderful workout in.”
Members may also want to explore other sport-based options available at their club such as pickleball, tennis, basketball, or rock climbing.
6. If you’re juggling family life, use Parent’s Night Out or junior benefits.
If you have kids on a Junior Membership, there are many benefits to take advantage of, including up to 2.5 hours of daily child care, Kids Academy classes, Kids Studio Classes, and more. A couple additional benefits that Brown encourages using are the unlimited monthly kids and tweens events, including Parents Night Out.
Every weekend, Life Time hosts Parents Night Out events, where your kids can hang out with others their age while taking part in games and activities related to that evening’s theme. Tweens get their own unique version of the fun at these events, too, with special activities designed just for them. During this time, parents can choose to leave the club or stay on site.
“These events provide three hours of trusted care for your kids,” says Brown. “We nourish your kids with active play and engaging activities and even feed them dinner while you get the chance to go home and clean your house, go grocery shopping, have a date night, or do whatever you’d like. Your health isn’t just about fitness and food — it’s about balance.”
7. If you want help simplifying your nutrition, book a complimentary Dynamic Nutrition Coaching session.
There’s no shortage of diets, tips, tricks, and recipes to follow — and that’s sometimes where the trouble lies. With so many options to choose from and countless tidbits of advice to consider, how do you know what’s right for you and your body? And how do you actually implement healthy-eating habits that are sustainable (and enjoyable!)?
“First, know that if you’re not doing the basics consistently — such as prioritizing whole foods, drinking enough water, and eating adequate protein and fiber — you won’t get the results you want,” says Brown. “But if you’re having trouble figuring out how to make those happen in your lifestyle, a coach can help. Or if you have them down but want to dial in further or aren’t seeing the results you want, then personalized nutrition can be extremely helpful.”
As a Life Time member, you have access to a complimentary consultation with a Dynamic Nutrition Coach. During the session, you’ll talk through your goals, daily habits, metabolism, and lifestyle to better understand what might be influencing your energy, performance, and body composition, along with what it might take to support your goals for the long term.
8. If you want connection, attend social events or community offerings.
Life Time is intentionally expanding the social event offerings at many of its clubs to provide members with an outlet for growing their community and improving their social health.
“I encourage members to join any social event they see on their club’s schedule,” says Brown. “This may be a rooftop yoga class or one of our signature adult social events like AfterGlo or Casa Playa. It’s a great way of creating community and meeting new people.”
Life Time’s ARORA community for active, aging adults also regularly offers physical, social, and educational activities (all ages are welcome!).
“Every club has an ARORA calendar for those interested in getting involved,” says Brown. “The ARORA classes are lower impact, and the social events are a great way to fill your cup. Show up to a coffee club, participate in a game club, move around at a tango event — there are so many opportunities to get connected!”
