A consistent workout routine doesn’t have to mean doing the same thing every day. And it doesn’t require you to come up with new ways to move your body if that’s not your thing. Most of us have enough decisions to make in our days — and we want fitness to be easy and enjoyable so we’re eager to come back day after day.
At Life Time, there are hundreds of group fitness classes on the schedule each week with options for everyone from beginners to seasoned fitness enthusiasts. There are also enough choices to pique all interests, add variety, and build a well-rounded regimen. All you have to do is show up.
“Our studio classes serve a wide range of fitness abilities and interests, and each class is guided by a certified fitness professional,” says Emma Graves, class collection brand specialist and Dynamic Personal Trainer at Life Time in Chicago, Ill. “These classes are uniquely designed to be perfect for beginners, while also giving fitness veterans ample opportunities to push themselves and continue to level up.”
To help you get started and better understand the full breadth of Life Time classes and what they can offer, Graves created a weeklong plan balanced with full-body cardio, strength, and recovery days, allowing you to try a variety of class options at your club. (You can register for any class at your club in the Life Time app.)
Monday: Full-Body Strength
Start your week off strong with a full-body strength workout in either LIFT Barbell Strength or LIFT Strictly Strength.
“LIFT classes use traditional weightlifting exercises to help you build muscular endurance and strength,” says Graves. “You will work every major muscle group of the body — and have fun while doing it! LIFT classes use the beat of the music to drive the tempo of each lifting exercise, so you can get lost in the music and enjoy your fully guided workout. Everyone needs a little mood lift on a Monday.”
Try LIFT Barbell Strength
Class Details
LIFT Barbell Strength
Equipment: Barbell, dumbbells, mat, bench
Length: 45 or 60 minutes
What to expect: You’ll use a barbell throughout class to efficiently target all major muscle groups. Move through squats, lunges, chest and overhead presses, triceps dips, bicep curls, and more. The movements are synced to the beat of the music, with each new song introducing a new muscle group, allowing you to find your groove. You’ll leave class feeling stronger and more confident.
Try LIFT Strictly Strength
Class Details
LIFT Strictly Strength
Equipment: Barbell, dumbbells, gliding discs, weighted bars, resistance bands, mat, bench
Length: 45 or 60 minutes
What to expect: As the name suggests, this class is all about building muscle. Featuring a series of moderate-resistance, high-rep moves, it puts your full-body strength and endurance to the test. The goal for each class is to lift a little heavier and to feel a little stronger than before.
Tuesday: Cardio
Cycle classes make for a great low-impact cardio workout after your full-body strength session the day before.
“Following your LIFT class, your muscles will likely be feeling the burn,” says Graves. “A cardio day following a strength training day can help promote blood flow, which in turn can help speed up your muscles’ recovery. If you love working out to music and want a “party on a bike” feel, try AMP Cycle. Or if you’re more motivated by numbers and metrics-based challenges, EDG Cycle is the choice for you.”
Try AMP Cycle
Class Details
AMP CYCLE
Equipment: Indoor cycling bike
Length: 45, 50, or 60 minutes
What to expect: Often called a “party on a bike,” this class features choreographed, on-the-bike moves that are synchronized to the music and lights. The energetic instructors, along with the camaraderie with fellow cyclists, help keep you motivated so the workout flies by. You won’t track metrics in this class; simply show up to ride, break a sweat, and celebrate your efforts with the others in the class.
Try EDG Cycle
Class Details
EDG CYCLE
Equipment: Indoor cycling bike
Length: 45, 50, or 60 minutes
What to expect: Rhythm and metrics meet in this music-driven class that challenges your inner athlete. The high-intensity format is designed to improve your strength, speed, and stamina through objective-based challenges. You’ll use your bike’s console to measure your success as you go.
Wednesday: Full-Body Strength and Cardio
On Wednesday, Graves suggests mixing it up with a class that combines both cardio and strength elements. SHRED is one of her favorites.
“SHRED is another great option for a full-body workout,” says Graves. “Using one-minute intervals, you’ll alternate between upper body, lower body, and core exercises. Plus, you get a little bit of cardio sprinkled in.”
Try SHRED
Class Details
SHRED
Equipment: Barbell, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, bench, mat
Length: 45 minutes
What to expect: SHRED is a circuit-style workout comprised of one-minute exercise sets that target your upper body, lower body, and core. While the focus is strength, you’ll rev up your heart rate with one-minute athletic cardio drills after completing the muscle-burning strength sets. SHRED offers scalability to meet your needs, meaning this class is for everyone from beginners to experienced athletes.
Thursday: Cardio
On Thursday, the weekend is in sight — it’s time to insert some fun, fast-paced cardio to your routine. Graves suggests trying DANZE or REMIXX.
“Once again, you’re likely feeling that SHRED class from yesterday,” says Graves. “Ever heard the phrase ‘walk it off?’ I’ll do you one better: dance it off! Feel the unstoppable energy of a cardio-focused studio class. If you love to dance, DANZE Jam or REMIXX will scratch that itch. You might even feel like you’ve entered a night club as the beat pulses and the whole class moves together.”
Try DANZE Jam
Class Details
DANZE JAM
Equipment: No equipment needed
Length: 45 to 60 minutes
What to expect: Sweat and move to the music in this cardio dance party workout. No dance experience required. You’ll shake and groove with easy-to-follow choreography to an epic playlist of songs. Leave class feeling empowered, confident, and energized.
Try REMIXX CARDIO
Class Details
REMIXX CARDIO
Equipment: Optional light dumbbells
Length: 45 or 60 minutes
What to expect: This high-energy class is a fun, mood-boosting way to fall in love with movement — and get sweaty. Every class features simple combos of exercises, including dance moves, kickboxing, high- and low-impact aerobics, and athletic drills. The music is as energizing as the moves you’ll perform.
Friday: Yoga or Barre
On Friday, Graves suggests slowing down and connecting your mind and body with a yoga or barre class.
“For anyone who loves strength-training classes, I suggest adding ROOT HATHA to your routine,” she says. “This format focuses on building a strong yoga foundation and becoming more aware of your body and muscles, which in turn can help you move better during strength-training formats. And if you’re a more experienced yogi, SOL Vinyasa is a medium-paced practice that synchronizes breath to movement through yoga poses,” Graves adds. “This blend of vinyasa and standing postures may help you untie knots in your thighs, glutes, and back.
“If you’re not feeling a yoga class, you may want to give LIFE BARRE a try,” she adds. “Barre classes combine elements of ballet, Pilates, yoga, and strength training to serve as a graceful, refined full-body workout. This fusion of cardio, strength, balance, and mobility choreography can help you connect to your body with mindful and purposeful movement.”
Try ROOT HATHA
Class Details
ROOT HATHA
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
What to expect: Flow through a series of foundational yoga poses while noticing the physical sensations and energetic aspects of the practice. This is a slower-paced, beginner-friendly yoga class that provides the opportunity to breathe deeply as you build steadiness in each posture. This Hatha yoga experience can help you feel more grounded while also inspiring acute muscle engagement to create greater stability in the joints of your body. The room is set to a low heat of around 75 degrees F.
Try SOL Vinyasa
Class Details
SOL Vinyasa
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
What to expect: Synchronize your breath to your movements as you flow through a blend of standing and vinyasa yoga poses. Your teacher provides cues throughout class to gently guide you, offering modifications as needed. This class is designed to systematically untie the knots that can block the flow of energy in the body, especially those in the back, thighs, and glutes. The room is set to a medium-high heat between 85 and 95 degrees F.
Try LIFE BARRE
Class Details
LIFE BARRE
Equipment: Floor-mounted barre, dumbbells, resistance bands, gliding discs, Pilates ball
Length: 45 minutes
What to expect: Practice the precision, control, and elegance of a classical ballet class and the power and strength of barre fitness. From pliés and arabesques to squats and shoulder presses, this on-and-off-the-barre class uses a variety of props and tools to challenge the strength, flexibility, stamina, and mobility of your entire body.
Saturday: Cardio and Strength
Saturday is a great day to step into the world of Life Time signature group training. Graves recommends opting for the GTX format, where a coach will guide you through a customizable full-body workout that is half strength and half cardio.
“Every day in GTX is different,” says Graves. “Saturdays are higher intensity, but fear not, you will be encouraged to take options that best serve your body. You have the option of walking, jogging, or running during the cardio portion, and choosing lighter or heavier weights during the strength sections. No matter what, you’re sure to leave feeling successful and sweaty!”
Try GTX
Class Details
GTX
Equipment: Treadmills, dumbbells, kettlebells, mats, benches, resistance bands
Length: 60 minutes
What to expect: With a 50/50 blend of progressively planned cardio and strength, GTX offers a formula to help you continuously improve your endurance, strength, and overall fitness. You’ll experience zone interval training on a treadmill as well as a total-body strength training portions. GTX is an all-levels experience that can be adapted for wherever you are on your fitness journey.
Sunday: Recovery
Your recovery days are just as important as your workouts, so take a day to give your body what it needs. This could be an easy walk, foam rolling, or as Graves suggests, stretching and restorative yoga poses in a SURRENDER YIN yoga class.
“After accomplishing so much throughout the week, it’s time to take it all in and bask in the completion of your first full week of classes at Life Time,” she says. “SURRENDER Yin offers opportunities to slow down through restorative poses and short, guided meditations. With soft music or silence, your teacher will bring you through longer holds of mat-based poses and give you an opportunity to check in with yourself. Your mind — and your muscles — will thank you.”
Try SURRENDER YIN
Class Details
SURRENDER YIN
Equipment: Yoga mat
Length: 45, 60, or 75 minutes
What to expect: Move through a slow, meditative yin-yoga practice to create greater mobility in your joints while mindfully stressing your body’s connective tissues and challenging the calmness of your mind. An instructor guides you through a sequence of yin poses, encouraging you to concentrate on your breath as you hold the poses for extended periods. The room is set to a low heat of around 75 degrees F.
