Life Time Talks

Our wants and needs in our work and home environments have changed, with many of us prioritizing health-supportive features now more than ever. In this episode, James O'Reilly, president of Life Time Work, and Eric Padget, senior director of real estate for Life Time Living, share how health can be better integrated into spaces and how Life Time has responded to this desire with the offerings of L...

The mind-body connection refers to how our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and feelings either positively or negatively influence our physical bodies — and vice versa. It can be a truly powerful resource to tap into. In this episode, Jessie Syfko explains more about this connection, the benefits it provides, how we can grow it, and the integral relationship it has to our fitness efforts.   Find the...

Lunges are a fundamental movement for strengthening muscles from your waist down. Yet because they appear easier to perform than they actually are, many people do too many too soon and end up discouraged or with lower-back or knee injuries. Alec Blenis, CPT, CSCS, explains why this move is a staple in strength and conditioning programs and how to add lunges into your routine in a safe and benefici...

Adverse reactions to many foods are on the rise, and while allergies are often more easily identifiable, sensitivities and intolerances typically are not. Regardless, they can all cause troubling effects in the body. Samantha McKinney, RD, explains the differences between food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances, what the common food offenders are, how to spot signs of a reaction, and — in...

The term "fitness competition" often conjures images of bodybuilding events, but it's much more encompassing than those, including 5Ks and marathons, powerlifting meets, obstacle course races, and more. Danny King, Master Trainer, explains why he thinks everybody — at any fitness or experience level — can benefit from participating in a fitness event.   Find the episode highlights, get related res...

Working with a coach or personal trainer can boost your fitness efforts and help you make meaningful progress toward your goals. Sometimes, however, we overlook how powerful the partnership can be, including the gains that go beyond physical fitness. In this episode, we hear the firsthand experience of Life Time member Roshini Rajkumar and her coach Brian McKinney, CPT, how they get the most out o...

Many view massage as a luxury or splurge — but some experts argue that it's an investment in your health and wellness and deserves to be part of your routine. Zac Ellis, certified massage therapist, explains why he suggests adjusting your perceptions around massage, the benefits that can be reaped from the practice, the different types of massage modalities, and how to get the most out of a sessio...

Inflammation is a natural bodily response that is essential in acute circumstances — we need it to happen we get a paper cut or if we're fighting a head cold. Its harmful effects occur, however, when it becomes chronic and systemic. Functional-medicine practitioner Gregory Plotnikoff, MD, shares what to know about inflammation, including what causes it, how it impacts our health, ways we can test...

There's a lot of confusion around supplements, leaving many wondering, "What supplements should I take?" or "Do I even need to take any at all?" Paul Kriegler, RD, CPT, shares the top supplements he recommends for most everyone, why supplementing is perhaps more important now than ever, and the importance of quality and how to identify the best options.   Find the episode highlights, get related r...

The blend of sprinting with strength and balance work makes Ultra Fit training unique in its ability to improve your functional fitness and push you to your athletic limits. It's also why Bahram Akradi, the founder and CEO of Life Time and developer of this format, describes Ultra Fit as one of the "most efficient, effective workouts." In this episode, track and field Olympian and Ultra Fit Coach...

Ultra Fit is a signature group training format at Life Time that combines sprint interval training with strength and stability work — and was designed with a competitive athlete in mind. But what is the class like? What results does it elicit? And how does it differ from other training programs? In this mini episode, Hayley Akradi, Ultra Fit Coach and national program ambassador, shares what's goo...

Most people think about the impact of strength training on their physique — but sometimes it's the mental benefits that can offer the greatest gains. Konnor Fleming, Alpha Master Coach, explains the advantages of a well-designed strength program, particularly the connection to mental and emotional health, and how those results can come from Alpha programming.   Find the episode highlights, get rel...

Alpha is a signature group training format at Life Time that's centered around Olympic-style lifting and metabolic conditioning. But what is the class like? What results does it elicit? And how does it differ from other training programs? In this mini episode, Konnor Fleming, Master Alpha Coach, shares what to know about this format.   Find the episode highlights, get related resources and view th...

Understanding your heart-rate zones allows you to approach your fitness efforts in a more personalized way — working at the right intensity level and tapping into the right fuel source for your body at the right time. Omaur Bliss, GTX Coach, explains more about the benefits of this type of training and the ways it's integrated into GTX programming.   Find the episode highlights, get related resour...

GTX is a signature group training format at Life Time that's a 50/50 blend of cardio and strength. But what is the class like? What results does it elicit? And how does it differ from other training programs? In this mini episode, Omaur Bliss, GTX Coach, shares those details and more about this format.   Find the episode highlights, get related resources and view the transcript for this episode at...

Gravel racing has seen an upswing in popularity and participation in recent years — but why ? In this mini episode, Kristi Mohn and Michelle Duffy, who work on the Life Time Athletic Events team, share more about this sport, how it's different from other types of cycling, and why it's something more people — from casual riders to professional athletes — are taking part in.   Find the episode highl...

A month or so into the New Year, it's common for people to fall off their goals. Often this isn't for a lack of want or will, but rather not having the right program in place. Life Time Talks cohosts Jamie Martin and David Freeman share how they're personally approaching their own aspirations this year, explain the reasons why having a program can be a game-changer, and offer considerations to hel...

If you ask any of the Life Time dietitians — including this episode's guest, Paul Krieger, RD, CPT — they'll note that one of the most important things you can do for your nutrition is make sure you're consuming enough quality protein. Kriegler explains why this macronutrient is so critical for health, and he shares how much protein you need, what animal and plant sources are the best, and ways to...

While many are tempted by the latest eating fad or trendy diet, the team at Life Time has long maintained that sustainable, healthy food habits are based on a few foundational practices. In this mini episode, Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, introduces us to 1-2-12, Life Time's new nutrition system that offers a framework nearly anyone can use to improve their eating behaviors.   Find the episode highl...

"Detox" is a long-debated topic: Some associate it with deprivation, while others think the practice is not necessary because of our body's natural detoxification systems. Anika Christ, RD, joins us to clear up the confusion, and explains how to detox your body with a whole-foods approach that feels far from depriving — and that can support nearly everyone in feeling and functioning better.   Find...

"Self-care" is a term that gets tossed around a lot, but what is self-care, really ? In this episode, Brie Vortherms, MA, LMFT, and Barbara Powell, MA, of Life Time Mind talk about it in a way that may be new to you — and explain why they think it should be rebranded as "performance recovery." They share the 12 types of self-care and three categories of ways to integrate it into our lives so we ca...

Dynamic Personal Training is Life Time's unique philosophy around a fully engaged approach to training — but what is it exactly? And how is it different from other one-on-one training programs? Anna Taylor, CPT, explains Dynamic Personal Training and the unique experience — and elevated results — it delivers to members.   Find the episode highlights, get related resources and view the transcript f...

Becoming a grandparent, caring for aging parents, getting unfavorable health news, not moving the ways you used to — there are several points in our lives, especially when we get older, when age becomes a front-of-mind topic. To support older adults who want to be healthy and fit as they age, Life Time created the ARORA program. The co-founder, Renée Main, joins us in this mini episode to talk abo...

Every second of every day, all of us are aging, and yet we often wait to address — or altogether avoid — age-related concerns about our health until we reach a certain point in our years or our capabilities begin to diminish. Frank Lipman, MD, shares 10 essential factors he's outlined for aging well, emphasizing that it's never too late — or too early — to start embracing them, and that it's not a...

In this conversation with Jason Stella, CPT, PES, CES, we get his perspective on the constants of fitness that he's seen over his 25-plus years in the industry, as well as where he thinks it's headed. Plus, he shares what to look for to find a trainer who can best support you — and offers advice on shifting your mindset so you're ready to make real, lasting change.   Find the episode highlights, g...