On Our Radar: Life Time’s ‘Dynamic Stretch’ Program
Walk into the main exercise area at Life Time in St. Louis Park and you’re greeted by a cluster of massage tables sectioned off by rows of green plants.
Trainers stretch gym-goers into acrobatic positions as curious onlookers wonder what the buzz is about. (We wonder if the high-traffic placement was intentional.)
Research shows that stretching can improve flexibility, athletic performance, and range of joint motion, and can reduce risk of injury, especially as we age. But for many people it’s an afterthought.
“Human beings are extremely tight,” says John Oliver, a certified strength and conditioning specialist who helped develop LT’s dynamic stretching program, which launched at SLP in August and is now in more than 180 of the Chanhassen-based chain’s clubs nationwide. “We sit a lot, in cars, at desks, and we’ve figured out a way to compensate and hold our bodies in these positions where we tighten up—and that increases the chance of injuries.
“Stretching is great for everyone, but I’d say the demographic we’re seeing most is 45-plus, people who are active but more prone to injury.”
This 45-plus ball of knots left her free trial session feeling fantastic, in an almost post-massage-level haze. What does it cost to have someone help you loosen up? $60–$160 per 25- or 50-minute session, in addition to your monthly membership dues.
