As we step into a new year, I find myself reflecting on gratitude. There are so many things to be thankful for, and one that I’ve been thinking a lot about is Life Time’s team members and how they create what Life Time truly is.
Over time, I’ve learned that gratitude isn’t just about saying thank you; it’s about acknowledging the work, the effort, and the heart that goes into something. And what I see, every day, is humbling. Our company is made up of people who don’t just show up and do their jobs but pour themselves into creating experiences that change lives.
If you’re an early bird, you’ll see team members arriving in the dark, at 4 a.m., to unlock the doors. You hear them when they greet you by name at the front desk. They ask how your knee is healing, remember your kids’ names, or notice when you miss a morning.
Throughout the day, they stock towels, monitor the temperature in the pools and saunas, and wipe down equipment before you’re aware it needs to be done. It can seem like they’re waiting just for you, ready to blend that postworkout smoothie exactly how you like it.
They’re on the courts coaching your daughter’s backhand, in the studio perfecting their playlist (while working on their moves), and in the Kids Academy entertaining energetic toddlers and tweens.
And as evening arrives, they’re leading a candlelit yoga class, spotting you on your last set, or holding the door with a smile as you head home.
Every week, they teach thousands of classes and lessons: group fitness, pickleball, tennis, swimming. They share your victories and successes and are by your side when you need help recovering from an injury or restarting your routine, no matter the reason.
They answer questions, engage in conversation, and hold space for small moments, offering encouragement and asking a genuine “How are you doing?” that welcomes an honest answer.
What happens here is intentional at every level. From frontline team members to lead generals to the crew at the corporate office, there’s a commitment to teamwork. They’re also aligned through thousands of individual acts of care, repeated daily, that add up to something increasingly rare and incredibly valuable: a living, breathing community to which we truly belong.
And we need that more than ever. Regular community gatherings — in town squares, shops, church basements — aren’t as common as they used to be. Despite the fact that we’re more digitally connected than we’ve ever been, there’s a collective sense of isolation. People feel alone.
[Our] clubs are not just fitness centers. They are communities that invite thousands of us to show up with intention to live healthier, and ultimately happier, lives.
After more than three decades in this business, the team at Life Time recognizes that people still want and need a place outside of their homes and work. Call it a third space — they need a home away from home.
Our nearly 50,000 team members create this space and this feeling every single day. They understand, deeply and instinctively, that our clubs are not just fitness centers. They are communities that invite thousands of us to show up with intention to live healthier, and ultimately happier, lives.
Over the years, hundreds of thousands of team members have contributed to this effort. Some have been with me since that first club in a strip mall in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Others have joined for a season and then carried Life Time’s spirit with them into new chapters. Each person has left their mark, not just on the company but on the lives of members who’ve felt seen, supported, and cared for.
So, to our members: We’re beyond thankful for your loyalty. Your presence. Your trust. Your expectations. Because of you, Life Time is a magical place.
And to our team members: Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just come on board, thank you. Thank you for your early-morning energy and your indefatigable late-night drive. Thank you for the care you take when no one’s watching.
Thank you for understanding that what we do matters and extends far beyond the walls of our clubs. We are creating connection in a disconnected world, and that is everything.
Here’s to another year of creating this beautiful place of community, together.
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