Family Fitness: Fun for All Ages

Between parents' demanding work schedules and kids' school and activities, it can be next to impossible to fit in family time. Busy schedules also make it difficult to fit exercise into your life. Shape Up America, a nonprofit, national initiative to promote healthy weight and increased physical activity, suggests families make fitness a group activity. Combining family time with fitness sets a good example for children, letting them know that a healthy lifestyle is important.

To build a personalized family fitness plan, Shape Up America suggests:

* Schedule a regular time throughout the week for physical activity.

* Take turns selecting an activity for the family to do as a group each week.

* Start a log of daily fitness activities for each family member.

* Help everyone find something active that makes him or her feel successful.

An easy way to tackle these goals and achieve success is to join a health and fitness center. Life Time Fitness, with locations in Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana and soon, Arizona and Texas, offers the widest range of programs and activities for the whole family.

With more than 110,000 square feet of space, a 1+ acre workout area including more than 400 pieces of cardiovascular, resistance and free weight equipment, multiple group fitness studios offering hundreds of classes per week, a wide range of athletic leagues, rock climbing walls, kid's camps, and much, much more, Life Time Fitness offers something for everyone. The entire family also can enjoy indoor and outdoor aquatic centers which feature multiple water slides, children's play areas, lap pools, relaxing whirlpools, and complimentary towel services, along with swimming, diving, scuba and kayaking lessons for all ages and skill levels.

Have young kids? Life Time Fitness' large childcare centers offer a safe, fun environment for kids from three months to 12 years old. Facilities include a playmaze, children's theater, gym and computer center, and a dedicated area for infants. Better still, childcare is free to members.

"Since inception, Life Time Fitness has placed a unique emphasis on serving families," says Mike Brown, senior vice president of operations. "Serving families with kids is a priority, not an afterthought. Each of our centers is founded upon providing an unparalleled set of services and amenities that meet the health and fitness needs of the entire family."

Life Time Fitness also recognizes that mental well-being is just as important as physical well-being and offers a full range of pampering services at its LifeSpas. While kids play in the child center, adults can indulge in a massage, haircut, manicure, pedicures and more -- without ever leaving the center.

Hungry? Life Time Fitness thought of that too. Families can also share a healthy meal at LifeCafé, which features fresh gourmet sandwiches, energy bars, fruit smoothies, power shakes and a full line of nutritional products.

For more information about Life Time Fitness, visit www.lifetimefitness.com, or call (800) 430-5433.