I previously shared my experience on Life Time Athletic – Tampa’s Active Metabolic Assessment. In between the assessment and the review, I had the opportunity to take several classes, get an amazing massage from the LifeSpa, and eat some delicious food from LifeCafé.
The first class I got to experience, immediately following the running portion of the Active Metabolic Assessment, was yoga. The beautiful studio was warm, welcoming, and calming. The Hot Power Fusion Class, led by Ryan, was both challenging and fun. After completing a yoga flow sequence, we played around with more challenging poses – Crow Pose and Handstand. Much to my surprise, I was able to complete an assisted handstand. As class finished, Ryan gave us cold, lavender scented towels. What a way to end a hot yoga class!
After yoga, it was time for my LifeSpa massage. My masseuse, Danielle, talked to me about which parts of my body were sore or needed the most work and proceeded to give me an incredible 60-minute massage. The room was the perfect temperature and provided the perfect environment for a much-needed nap. Intent on keeping members hydrated, I was presented with a glass of orange water before walking out of the LifeSpa. I felt centered after yoga. This was now euphoria.
I made my way to the business center where I got some work done while enjoying a late lunch from the LifeCafé. I opted for a delicious, gluten-free, four-cheese pizza with garlic herb chicken on top and a sunrise smoothie on the side. The business center boasted several seating options, tables and free Wi-Fi. I made a mental note that this would be a lovely place to have a mid-day meeting before heading back to an office.
To round out my first full day as a member, I attended the EDG Cycle+ class led by Julie. Julie immediately noticed that I was new and helped me set up my bike as she welcomed everyone that walked in by name. As people trickled in, they said hello to each other and joked about long absences from the class. One girl overheard me express my nervousness and encouraged me to just have fun. The EDG Cycle+ class combines motivating music and challenging drills to equal a satisfying 45-minute class. Julie handed out cold, citrus scented towels while we did a cool-down, and I walked out feeing like I could conquer the world!
When I returned to the club the following day, Justin went over my Active Metabolic Assessment review. During the review, he suggested I attend a barbell strength class. The first thought I had was, “Well, I kicked butt at EDG Cycle+ so how bad can a barbell class be?” Famous last words.
The barbell class had already started when I walked in, so I set up before having any time to second-guess my decision. Lauren, a Life Time Athletic trainer and instructor, was beaming with motivational energy. I jumped right in and felt like I was doing great. The class moved on to a set of curls done while on our backs, and my lacking arm strength became apparent. Lauren noticed that I was struggling and helped me out. Her support got me back on track—until we moved on to a more difficult move. Lauren was fantastic at providing individual instructions without making me feel singled out. When I finally caught on, during the last ten minutes of class, Lauren exclaimed with a “Yeah! Now you’ve got it!” While she may have been speaking to the whole class, my inner voice believed it was just for me. I ended another day at the club feeling like I could conquer anything.
So, what did I learn during my back-to-back days at Life Time Athletic – Tampa? It doesn’t matter how inexperienced you feel or how long it’s been since you’ve exercised. All that matters is the support system you have. I wholeheartedly believe that the Life Time community is the best support system.
To learn more about membership at Life Time Athletic – Tampa, contact our Account Managers: Tiffany Cude at [email protected] and Kristi Turner at [email protected].
