January/February 2026

Find Your Edge

Explore the surprising ways in which foundational health and fitness practices can truly improve your overall well-being.

On the Cover

Brian Mazza on the Power of Pushing Limits — and Finding Yourself

The founder of High Performance Life Time shares how challenging your physical and emotional limits can open the door to self-discovery and growth.

By Jamie Martin

Group Fitness Sports & Recreation

Behind the Scenes With Brian Mazza (Video)

Go behind the scenes of our January/February 2026 cover shoot with Brian Mazza and discover how to find your edge.

By Experience Life Staff

Features

How to Make a Fitness Plan Based on Your Goals

These five training templates can help match your routine to your goals, whether you’re embarking on a new exercise journey or building onto your existing practice.

By Andrew Heffernan

Fitness Tips Healthy Habits/Goal Setting

8 Ways to Support Heart Health

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Some practitioners are now adopting an integrative cardiometabolic approach that involves new dietary and lifestyle measures to boost heart health. Learn more.

By Mo Perry

Heart & Cardiovascular Health Specific Health Conditions

a woman smiles while sitting outside drinking a glass of water

23 Ways to Simplify Your Life

Try these practical suggestions for decomplicating your life.

By Christine Schrum

Happiness/Joy Mindfulness/Meditation

Real Food

4 One-Pot Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Try these low-fuss, high-protein recipes for an easy weeknight dinner.

By Maddie Augustin

Cooking & Food

1. plate of asparagus, 2. salmon fillet, 3. rice pilaf

7 Common Questions About Meal Sequencing — Answered

Is it possible to improve your health simply by changing the order in which you eat your food? We asked the experts.

By Susan Pagani

Nutrition Tips

a bowl of pasta with mushrooms and someone adding nuts to it

How to Add More Fiber, Protein, and Antioxidants to Your Plate

You don’t necessarily need to overhaul your diet in order to eat well. Try these easy add-ons to get more of the nutrients that matter.

By Catherine Guthrie

Meal Planning & Prep Nutrition Tips

chicken noodle soup to support the cold and flu

SOMETHING SIMPLE: Sick-Day Chicken and Rice Soup

Cure what ails you with this soothing, comforting recipe.

By Kaelyn Riley

Soups

Real Fitness

An 8-Week Eccentric Strength-Training Program

Build a strong foundation with this strength program.

By Lauren Bedosky

Equipment-Based Workouts Strength Training

Check Your Bulgarian-Split Squat-Form With These 4 Expert Cues

Learn four essential form cues for the basic Bulgarian split squat. Then explore simple variations to shift the focus to your glutes or quads for targeted results.

By Maggie Fazeli Fard

Strength Training

Hiking Rim to Rim Across the Grand Canyon

EL's fitness editor shares her experience hiking across the Grand Canyon.

By Maggie Fazeli Fard

Sports & Recreation Travel

5 Steps to Make Healthy Habits Stick

Relying on motivation alone to reach your fitness goals often isn’t enough. Instead, learn how to leverage behaviors that work for you.

By Nicole Radziszewski

Fitness Tips Healthy Habits/Goal Setting

a senior woman ties her tennis shoe in a nature setting

3 Essential Exercises to Increase Foot Strength and Mobility

Foot weakness is a predictor of both impeded mobility and your risk of falling as you age. Try these exercises to keep your feet functional and strong.

By Jessica Migala

Active Aging Pain Relief

Real Life

The Awkwardness Principle

When you're making a change, feeling uncomfortable is probably a good sign.

By Oliver Burkeman

Attitude/Mindset Emotional Intelligence

Try These 4 Practices to Create a More Flexible Mind

Hone your cognitive flexibility with these creative practices.

By Henry Emmons, MD

Functional/Integrative Medicine Mental Health

Real Life

What Do You Eat for Breakfast?

EL staffers share their typical morning menus.

By Experience Life Staff

Cooking & Food

How One Woman Reclaimed Her Health After an Atrial Fibrillation Scare

A serious episode of atrial fibrillation convinced Emily Nikoo to finally focus on self-care. Now she's stronger and healthier than ever.

By Emily Nikoo

Healthy Aging Heart & Cardiovascular Health

Well Informed

a woman hunches while looking at her cell phone

5 Ways Your Phone Habit Impacts Your Body

From tech neck to text claw, here's how our phone habits affect our bodies.

By Heidi Wachter

Mindful Technology Personal Development

Could ADHD Be Triggered by Early Childhood Trauma?

Here's what researchers have discovered.

By Michael Dregni

Family/Parenting/Kids Relationships

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Gut Microbiome?

Recent research suggests that alcohol may throw our gut microbiome out of balance — and lead to both increased cravings for alcohol and mental health issues. Learn more.

By Experience Life Staff

Gut Health

Do Ears Have a Microbiome?

Yes, they do — and they play an essential role in hearing. Here's why.

By Michael Dregni

General Health

Columns

With Gratitude

A message of gratitude to Life Time members and employees from Life Time's founder and CEO.

By Bahram Akradi

Columns

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Experience Life’s editor in chief reflects on the magazine’s ongoing evolution — and the enduring pillars of a healthy life.

By Jamie Martin

Columns

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March/April 2026

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July/August 2025

Step outside your comfort zone this summer! Try a new workout, explore fresh foods, and spend more time outdoors. Discover simple ways to expand your routine and find what energizes you.

May/June 2025

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March/April 2026

November/December 2025

September/October 2025

In this transitional season, we honor your body's natural rhythms to attune your sleep, focus, and energy.

July/August 2025

Step outside your comfort zone this summer! Try a new workout, explore fresh foods, and spend more time outdoors. Discover simple ways to expand your routine and find what energizes you.

May/June 2025

Explore the powerful link between mental and physical health, with expert strategies to build resilience, overcome obstacles, and find your peace.