According to CBS Minnesota, Life Time Fitness’ children’s program has become a resource for parents looking to keep their kids active during the winter months. The Life Time Fitness in Bloomington, Minn. offers Zumbatomic, a Zumba class designed for children between the ages of 4 and 10, and Kids Yoga.
We interviewed Jennifer Veres, Life Time Fitness’ national program manager for kid’s activities about Life Time’s children’s programs.
Q. In your opinion, do you think parents have trouble getting their children to be as active in winter as they are during the summer months?
A. It can be more of a challenge to keep kids active during the winter months because there are fewer options for indoor and outdoor activities. At Life Time, we try to make healthy, easy, by offering solutions for the entire family all year long.
Q. According to CBS Minnesota, “about a year and a half ago, Life Time Fitness at the Crosstown in Bloomington launched a new program for kids. They took typically adult classes and changed them specifically for kids.” How exactly did you tailor the programs to be appropriate for kids?
A. Life Time has a variety of fitness professionals that are able to create kid-friendly formats of some of our most popular adult classes. Formats like Zumbatomic and Kids Yoga already have kid-friendly formats available. However, what it really comes down to is high quality instructors that know how to work with children, as well as having a safe environment to offer children’s programs in.
Q. How do the kids respond to the fitness classes?
A. The kids love the new fitness classes. The best part is that the kids are learning to be responsible for their own health, by making decisions to participate in classes offered to them. Sometimes it takes a little encouraging, but once they get there, they have a blast! Not to mention, when the kids are having fun mom and, or dad, feel relieved and can enjoy their workouts at the same time. This offers a whole family solution to a healthy lifestyle.
Q. Do you think it’s important for clubs to offer children’s fitness programs?
A. As long as the experience is right, I believe that anyone working with children has a responsibility to keep them active. Fitness doesn’t have to be hard. Make it fun and the kids will want to do it! This sets them up for a lifelong success to a healthy lifestyle.
Q: How do the kids programs correspond to membership sales for families and individuals with children?
A: Living a healthy lifestyle takes a lot of coordination for a parent. By offering kids programs that keep kids engaged — and having fun — mom and, or dad, can work out without guilt. This allows them to maintain a long-term health club membership to keep their regular workout routine.
By Rachel Zabonick
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
