“Mom, Dad: I was in a video game!”
Your kids may soon come home from Life Time excited about something new: In partnership with Lü, which creates interactive solutions to inspire movement, Life Time is piloting a new gaming system in its kids programming spaces to create immersive environments that spark learning and play. Called Höp, the product will be available for the first time in the United States on September 1, 2026, at select Life Time clubs.
Höp features an interactive projector with a high-speed 3D sensor (made to detect little fingers and small objects, like a tennis ball), light and sound systems, and a wide range of apps. Designed with younger audiences in mind, each app contains games or activities that ladder up to Lü’s core pillars: socio-cognitive development, physical and motor skills, and academic development.
For example, one of the most popular games involves letters that are projected onto a wall; kids then have to work together to aim a ball at a letter to correctly spell a word in a set amount of time. Another game involves solving math problems to defeat a monster and advance to the next level.
“The idea behind my company was to reinvent physical education and create an opportunity to engage kids in new interactive, immersive ways,” says Vincent Routhier, founder and CEO of Lü. “With Höp, kids get to learn important developmental skills, and they become active without even realizing it. This aligns with Life Time’s mission of helping kids grow into healthy, active adults.”
The Life Time and Lü Partnership
Based in Quebec City, Quebec, Lü’s technology has been installed in more than 3,500 schools in 40 countries. The company’s ceiling-mounted solutions, Üno and Düo, are traditionally installed in larger spaces such as gyms and spacious multipurpose rooms, mainly in schools.
With the introduction of Höp, which is more compact compared to Üno and Düo, Lü’s immersive technology can now be experienced in a wider range of spaces, including a Kids Academy gymnasium. “Life Time clubs offer a space for kids that we as a company can really learn a lot from, as both Lü and Life Time have an aligned vision for youth movement in a premium environment,” he says.
Life Time’s Kids Academy is more than just child care: It provides educational and movement-focused activities for kids. These activities are designed to pique kids’ interests and give them the freedom to explore new ideas and gain hands-on experiences.
It’s why the installation of Höp in the kids programming spaces is fitting, according to Shelly Forsberg, director of kids and aquatics for Life Time. “I’m excited for Höp because it gives us a new way to integrate technology into our kids programming through interactive gaming,” she says. “There’s an extensive library of games to engage kids ages 3 to 11, which gives us so many opportunities to enhance our programming along with creating fun new experiences for kids.”
Höp may be used across Kids Academy classes and offerings, at Parent’s Night Out events, at Summer Camp and School-Break Camps, and more.
Helping Kids Learn, Move, and Play
Excess screen time is a growing concern for the modern parent, and Life Time remains dedicated to introducing curriculum in the Kids programs that is engaging, stimulating, and promotes healthy movement. The Höp technology may operate on a large projector, but it’s designed to help kids feel more immersed in its educational content.
“It’s all about the quality of screen time,” notes Routhier. “With Höp, kids are active and playing together — not isolated from each other. This technology is an immersive tool meant to enhance what’s already happening in the Kids programs or spaces. It’s helping kids learn in a fun, active way.”
Höp will also give Kids team members more avenues for educating and engaging kids. “This product offers choices to kids and allows them to have a voice in the games they want to participate in,” adds Forsberg. “Höp can also customize games based on the group or programming focus. The system is very user-friendly for both team members and kids, and games are organized into categories such as education, fitness, nutrition, and more.”
To start, Höp will be installed at Life Time locations in Chanhassen, Minn.; Lake Houston, Texas; Rochester Hills, Mich.; Columbia, Md.; and Mississauga, Ontario. “Höp being available in a small number of Life Time locations is very special, and this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Routhier says.
Currently a pilot project, the hope is for additional Höp installations at more locations in the future. “This is about generating true, deep interest in both physical and educational activities for kids, and I think they’ll look forward to going to Life Time to play with Höp,” he says.
