Life Time Fitness

I cancelled my Lifetime membership when I moved overseas in September, 2011 — or at least I thought I did. Instead, I recently received notification that my savings account is empty. Lifetime has been charging me a «health» fee for the past 52 months because I called to cancel from Spain instead of in person at the gym. I haven’t used any Lifetime services since then. When I realized the mistake and called, Member Relations refused to refund me one penny (I’ve talked to three people). In fact, they’re going to charge me again next month and «there’s nothing I can do about it.» They have all of my money and the power to keep it. I have no money and received no good or services in exchange for them taking it. Research other options before signing a contract with this corporation. They truly do not care about you.

The locker rooms are nice, great women-​only hot tub.
Fitness classes are good, if you try out different instructors and plan your classes based on who is a good teacher. I highly recommend the hop hop class but wish they had a more intense version available. The girls (I go weekly) seem to really love the class and I see it growing in the future.
This place hasn’t changed physically in four years.
Here are some EASY WINS LIFETIME:
1. Put small trays in the bathroom stalls so people can set down their phone and keys of water bottle.
2. Attend your teachers fitness classes to see what it’s like as a first timer and teach the instructors how to be more inclusive. I’d bet over half of the women that don’t attend classes WANT to but it feels too «Oh you’re new.»
3. Offer more weekend classes. Why can I only do a class if it’s at 9am? That’s just lazy of your team, when I pay $ 100/​month I expect to be able to take a class at 12, 2, 4, 6 –you know, reasonable weekend times to expect from a business targeting people who work 9 – 5 m-​f.
7. Let me charge a water or smoothie to my account. Step up your game and be more thoughtful about your brand Strategy. Take a cue from luxury spas or hotels, iTunes or on demand — just make it easy for me to charge! If you did any user testing you’d know that requires changing, locking up your bag, buying water, putting card back in locker & Then finally working out. Process is too long.
8. Sell socks, hair binders, tampons, advil. (vending machine in women’s locket room)
9. Stop building narrow hallways in Minneapolis. We have gym bags and big winter jackets and its too tight.
10. Underground or heated parking would increase Midwest sales by 40%. (I’m lying but I feel pretty confident about it)
Bottom line: convience = more people in gym

I bounce around between a few different Lifetime locations in the metro, so I’ve gotten a feel for what I like and don’t like about each one. There are a lot of nice things about this Lifetime, such as the size, LifeCafe, pool, huge tennis court (covered by a dome in the winter and uncovered/​outdoor in the summer), hot tub located in the locker room (relaxing), personal trainers, and yoga classes (Jennifer C is the best). If you have kids, this place has a Child Center which seems quite nice, large with plenty of stuff for kids to play with (I haven’t been in there, but just looking in the window when I walk by it, it looks nice). Also, another thing I like about this club is there are not too many Jersey Shore types hogging the squat racks so a girl can actually get in to do her squats!
However, there are also some cons. I started going here regularly in November and it seems that since the new year, this place isn’t quite as nice as it used to be. I’ve noticed people leaving those green plastic bags for swimwear in the showers, hair left in the showers, and a funny smell. Also, there are increasingly more people who do not exhibit proper locker room etiquette: loudly talking (including ladies talking to their friend in the other shower), or having unsupervised children running around in the women’s locker room. The messy showers, loud locker room conversations by grown women, and the rowdy children, make for a less-​than-​classy atmosphere at this Lifetime. Usually this sloppiness goes on during the after-​work hours on weeknights — mornings seem to be fine. If you don’t mind that stuff, or if you like talking to your friend in the shower next to you, then this probably would not be a deterring factor for you, but if you want a classy and relaxing locker room experience, I suggest picking a different Lifetime location.
One more thing: Beware the New Years’ Resolutioners during the «after-​work peak hours.» This lasts from January until whenever it gets warm enough to start exercising outside. When I came after work for my TEAM class from January through March, it was very difficult to find a parking spot if I didn’t come really early (ie, before 5:30pm). There is overflow parking across the street at the DuPont Center, and a shuttle to take you from that parking lot to Lifetime, but the shuttle is a nondescript white van that looks kinda sketchy, if you ask me. I suggest not coming here right after work during New Years Resolution Time unless you don’t mind fighting for a parking spot. Come in the morning instead, if you can.
The «going downhill» of the club (at least the women’s locker room; I can’t speak to the men’s) is the primary reason why I gave this location 3 stars instead of 4. However, like another reviewer said, the staff here is very nice. One time I forgot my membership card and they were able to check me in by looking up my phone number. I know that some Lifetime locations will refuse to do so; so I really appreciated that I was still able to get checked in the day I forgot my card.

The club is nice enough, with a decent amount of equipment. The stretching area is small but not so heavily used as to be a problem. I use a personal train and he is professional, motivating and well versed in how to improve one’s health. My 2 reason for the below remarks are the constant advertisements piped in on the sound system and the narrow stair cases to get to the men’s locker room. The stairways aren’t so bad just seem to be a fire hazard and annoying when some is coming the other direction.
My biggest gripe of the constant stream of advertising a personal interest stories bombarding you as you try to focus in on a workout. When I’m wearing ear buds is no big deal, but if I forget them or I’m working with a personal trainer it can be distraction.
Some other things to consider are a shortage of free lockers, 75% are reserved for monthly rentals, though if you look ling enough there has always been one open.
The tennis courts are very nice but a little dark. The Pro’s all seem upbeat and enthusiastic.
This is why I gave this club 3 stars and not one, the staff members have all be very nice.

The pool and hot tub in the women’s locker room needs to be shut down and replaced. The stairs leading to the hot tub have literally separated from each other! Both the pool and hot tub are rusty. The ceiling above the hot tub in the women’s locker room leaks into the hot tub and there is often «things» floating in the water. The women that go to this facility shave and shampoo in the hot tub even after a sign was put up to discontinue this behavior. The pool is very cold especially in the winter. None of the rules posted are enforced by the staff. The drains in the women’s showers are often full of hair. More often than not used towels are left lying on the floor, on benches or in an open locker.

Lifetime Fitness completely changed my life. Between working crazy hours, graduating college and moving cross country I ended up not being in the best shape. Lifetime was near me so I figured I’d give the 7 day trial a shot… and I was instantly hooked! I met with a personal trainer to discuss my goals and they recommended to me doing a Bootcamp class. I tried it and loved it and ended up doing this class 3 times a week for 2 years and shedding 40lbs!
One of the downsides to Lifetime is the turnover. I had amazing trainers that taught me so much about living a healthy lifestyle, but they would only last 6 months — 1 year. After I lost my 3^rd trainer I decided I needed something a little more stable and have switched gyms. They also rely heavily on commission — those boot camp classes? An additional monthly fee on top of the membership price. They also are inconsistent with their programs — they started a run club at this location but within months they discontinued it without really giving a reason.
Overall it’s a good gym to workout at but if you’re into personal training/​classes like I am be prepared for constant change and turnover.

This is the first suburban Life Time location I went to. I go more often now to St. Louis Park, but this remains a good option, and at a cheaper price. (Note: If you buy a single-​club Gold membership here, it actually includes both this location and Bloomington North. Unusual perk.)
ACCESS /​CONTEXT
This location is better than Bloomington North, much more expansive, although it does have more limited hours (closing as early as 9p on weekends). While others are right that the bones of the building are older than some of the exurban clubs like Savage and Lakeville, the interior is at least as new (I believe it was renovated in 2008 or so).
In terms of access: you’re in good shape if you’re driving a car, although parking does get tight during the usual after-​work hours. (But even then, there’s overflow parking across the street — and «only in America», a shuttle to bring you 50 ft to the entrance.) It’s very close to the South Bloomington Transit Center, but it completely squanders that asset. The designated walking route would be going around the Dupont Center office building (that’s between LTF and 98^th) and then walking through the LTF parking lot. That sidewalk is very poorly maintained during the winter, so most people use an informal path on the east side of the Dupont Center building. (You can’t miss it – it’s right after you cross the SB 35W ramp.) But how lame is that? Life Time has a relationship with the Dupont Center owners — since they use their ramp for overflow parking — but have taken no action to accommodate the obvious flow of transit users. Bicycling here is difficult, unless you’re coming from the south. If you do make it one piece, there is at least a decent rack near the entrance.
INSIDE — WORKOUT FACILITIES
I like the exercise floor. I particularly appreciate that there are freestanding fans around, which I do not find at many other clubs. The spacing of the cardio equipment is more generous than I find at other clubs, which is nice. I also appreciate (although some many not like it) that you can avoid the TVs if you want. At some clubs, you don’t seem to have any choice but to be bombarded with Fox News or MTV. The weight area is decent, although there are only one or two squat racks, which seems a little short. I have not tried group fitness at this location, so I can’t speak to the quality of the studios or classes.
There is a pool, which is not too crowded, but it’s only about ½ or ²⁄₃ standard length, so it can be a little annoying for lap swimming. It’s also a pleasant lukewarm temperature, although hardcore swimmers may not like that.
INSIDE — LOCKER ROOMS
The locker rooms are pretty nice, although I do note an unusual problem here of other members leaving wet towels around the showers. I’m not sure if it’s the members or the staff to blame for them piling up, but it’s gross. It has a sauna, steam room, and hot tub in the locker room, all pluses. It’s also the larger, Northwest Athletic-​scale locker room, which is also nice. It feels less dense/​crowded, even during busy hours. As other note, free towels available, plus lotion, mouthwash, and body wash/​shampoo. No conditioner.
There is also a bathroom on the workout floor, but unfortunately it’s not kept very clean (the men’s one, at least).

I really only went for the Yoga classes. Hot yoga on Tue nights and Vinyasa Flow Yoga on Sat was fantastic.
I stopped going after my car was broken into in the parking lot a little over a month ago. I know its my own fault for leaving a bag in the car but the way the GENERAL MANGER (Tom, I think is his name) handled it was less than desirable.
To be fair when it happened I ran back into the building up to the font desk and told a bewildered front desk person what had happened. A membership sales guy over heard (I think his name was Matt, nice guy) and told him to call police then went out with me to my car and waited for the police with me. He told me the general manager would call me first thing next morning (it was 8:30pm when this happened).
The general manager did not call the next day. I called HIM at 4:30pm the next day. He was pretty unfazed by my explaining I was calling because someone busted a window on my car and stole my bag. He said he would get back to me. He did a couple days later and told me in a very bored tone that my car was too far away from a security camera to see anything but they would give me 2 months free and also reminded me that they need a 30 day notice to cancel the membership.
I didnt cancel until today because I did LOVE the yoga classes but I never went back after my car was broken in to because I just dont feel safe going to a place where the general manager seems bored with a theft report. It makes me feel like it either happens all the time or he just doesnt give a damn.
Long story short. The general manager ruined my experience and now I need to find a new place to do yoga.

This gym is mostly on par with the other gold level gyms in the area. Lakeville and Savage are much newer facilities though. Has a café, and ample tennis courts at this club. Would be a little better if they had all the options that the other cafes offered.
TEAM Fitness has good instructors and can be a lot of fun. The best gym experience that I’ve had.

Since I eat so much, I need to go a gym 3 – 4 times a week — Yes, I really do even if I don’t look like it.
Not all gyms are created equal. LifeTime Fitness is no exception. Here are my + and — of this place:
+ Why I love this place:
* Pool. I cannot find another place where I can swim on a consistent basis especially during the frozen tundra of MN which covers about 9 months out of the year.
* Free towels.
* Hot tubs are big — unfortunately at this location it is not CoEd…
* Pretty decent daycare so you can work out.
— What I don’t like:
* $$$$$$$$$$$ compare to other gyms
* Rediculously crowded between 5 – 6:30pm (especially the parking lot), especially on Monday/​Tuesday.
* This is NOT a really good place for lessons in Martial arts or swim lessons. It is what it is.
* It gets it fair share of men/​women like to ‘doll’ it up and spends like 10 minutes working out compare to talking to each other for the other 30 – 40 minutes.

I became a member here because it was close to my job, I figured it would be easy to come here a few times a week after work. I really didn’t enjoy the experience.
The building is actually pretty nice, but the free weight section ends up getting very crowded at times. The biggest problem I had was with the guys who take up every useful piece of equipment by putting a towel on it and expecting no one else to use it while they were close by. I always seemed to end up coming here when a group of the same meatheads were using every single barbell in the entire gym at the same time. I got so frustrated on a few occasions that I simply left after realizing none of the equipment I wanted to use was available.
There are three bench presses and only one power rack. Most of the time guys would be on half of these, while the others would be rendered useless since the barbells were taken out for other exercises.
When I tried calling to end my membership they told me I had to come in. When I did so they told me I’d continue paying for the current month, which I understand, and an entire additional month after that. I don’t know of many businesses that require you to pay for their services for an additional month after you cancel, this seems like a scam to me.
I’m saving my money and building a gym in my basement. If you just want a place for cardio or like to play tennis/​racquetball then this gym would be good for you. If you just want weights then go elsewhere.

This is a good lifetime, but it still could be better, the passage ways are cramped out side the locker room and the weight/​machine/​treadmill area could be a little bigger or better organized since not everyone can see a tv.

This is the Lifetime Fitness I visit during the day when I workout over lunch. It’s conveniently located right off of 98^th Street and 35W. This was formerly the Northwest Athletic Club — Racquetball & Tennis location. There is a very large tennis court and several racquetball courts.
When Lifetime took over Northwest Athletic, they gutted this club and redid the interior décor and completely upgraded the feel of this location. While it is a smaller club it still has a large selection of equipment to choose from as well as a knowledgeable training staff. They, of course, feature Lifetime Zumba and LifePower Yoga classes as other Lifetime clubs do. There is also a childcare center which is convenient for those with children and from row parking for women who are expecting as well as those with young children.
If you’re going after work, come early! The closest parking fills up quickly!