Life Time — Local services in Frontenac

I joined Life Time shortly after COVID, over three years ago. The building plan is spectacular. I've visited other Life Time locations when I traveled for business and this location is among their best.

But in January 2024 things began to decline. Of course, every gym gets busier in January. NYE's resolutions, winter forcing us inside all add to a more crowed gym. After twenty years of experience in gyms I know how to schedule my visits accordingly. And most members willingly allow each other to "work in" to facilitate more efficient use of the equipment. I certainly do.

But this spring things did not improve. As it turns out, LT oversold the gym. They aren't the first business to try to maximize their revenue, but the epic fail is surprising as LT has every member scan in and has great metrics to predict capacity, barring a use pattern significantly different from historical usage.

All gyms strive to encourage members and staff to return equipment to its proper place, wiped down, after each use. But this becomes more difficult with overcrowding. By April 2024, this location was a wreck. In all my years as a gym rat, in gyms across the country, this LT location was out of control. It felt that I was spending more time walking the gym looking for equipment than actually working out. Anecdotally, the training staff seemed to be a big part of the problem.

To make matters worse, the two class sections on the floor and all the equipment in those areas, were off limits to members. These sections contain 54% of squat racks, 80% of kettle bells, 40% of dumbbells, all the steppe benches, and so on.

I suggested to management that they consider asking class leaders to accommodate other members and allow working in, particularly when the class is not using the equipment.

The picture attached is of the squat racks, seven of which are empty but cannot be used because they are in the Alpha area. Of the six that were available to members, two were used by off-duty trainers for the entire hour. I was fourth in line, but ended up waiting 45 minutes for a rack to open up.

I emailed the general manager, who forwarded it to the "concierge manager" who forwarded to the "group training manager". She responded that when a class is in session, no matter the number of participants (even just 1), members cannot enter the area to use the equipment. Kindergarteners share better. Neither the GM or the concierge manager, both of whom know me (I would hope so after over three years) ever reached out to ask if my concerns were answered. Then again, they rarely leave their offices.

Sadly, an excellent facility has become virtually unusable. The over all culture now is inward looking, ignoring member experience.

In the end, I'm a gym rat. The other features of LT, Recovery Room, Cafe, Classes are nice, but if it takes over two hours for a ninety minutes workout due to poor capacity planning and management makes no accommodation for members it's just not with the $3000 per year. I loved this place, but I'm reminded that it's foolish to love things that won't love you back.

And no surprise, they never credited back the pro-rate of...

LT Frontenac is wonderful place. Gym community mostly experienced, positive, nice people (I am not gym rats, other people gym rats). LT Frontenac should consider, involve, and improve the some important points/ issues. Where is the value!!. I took pictures since May, bc it was considerable that not clean, unorganized equipments, messy customers, and irresponsibility employees (including two trainers). Employees: I don’t wanna mention here someone’s name. Your two trainers are taking/bringing the specific equipments for their clients from proper place, however they never replace it back properly, just threw away or leaving it in same place where she/he used that boxes, weights, dumbbell,& barbell. Specifically, they ask the boxes from customers, we gave him, unfortunately your coach didn’t bring the boxes, he just left on the way his used boxes. Employees: Your coach took someone’s active using a barbell when he just left his spot for some weights. I hope that he remember me. I told to him that somebody is there. (He was doing his workout, not for trainees). In the LT, your employees must be positive representatives. Employees: Not clean-you guys didn’t check the clean, and sanitary for long time, you can see my attached pics. Women locker room is getting clean since April, and May. But some employees not doing proper the job. Last Monday, I was there around 12pm-2pm. I saw one customer left on the floor with blood towel. Around for an hour, LT employee didn’t come, check the around (even steam room had used towels inside).

Customers: Pls do not block the equipment by your phone, hoodies, and keys, while you’re not there (weight station is fine, you can use for hours, bc you are lifting, but other equipment’s are not, for example back, leg extensions, leg curl, & shoulders). Some people just block the equipment then talking with somebody too long. A few old guys are very bully. Sorry, I can’t take your bully, it doesn’t work at all. Old ladies should close the shower doors, specially my Asian community sisters.

Rude customers: Many things depending on us, which means customers. I was taking a shower, my bag was by the shower door, I am gonna take my shampoo, but one lady naked (not covered body at all, she ask me by aggressive tone, “you done”?. She was looking inappropriate. Pls, cover the body, many little girls, teenagers are used the women locker room, same...

Life Time athletic club is more like a five-star hotel than a health spa. The facility is brand new it just opened December 14th and every inch of it is spectacular. When you first enter the two story space there is a huge café with everything that you could want. They have a big grab and go section including fresh fruits, salads, even entrées they can heat up for you. There is a coffee bar and soon to be wine bar.

Right next to that is the Life Time Spa. There is a beautiful semi private pedicure room that seats two. Perfect for time with your BFF. Behind The spa door is a beautiful lounge area for the facialist and masseuses. It looks like something you’d see in a four seasons or Ritz Carlton with soft lighting candles and beautiful furnishings. When you have a service there you get a warm towel for your hands and face and you’re always offered a cup of cold or warm tea. It is truly the most inviting space. The aesthetician Lisa does Hydrafacials, classic facials, waxing, and lash and brow tinting. She can also recommend for you a daily skin care regimen. She was also willing to incorporate any products that I was currently using and suggest some new ones. She is truly an expert with over 20 years of experience in skin care. She recently moved here from Los Angeles.

The best part is you don’t have to be a member to go to the spa or the café. It’s open to the public. I recommend calling for an appointment there are times especially on Saturday when it’s busy. Friday night is a good night at the spa. When you go to the spa for a service it includes 2 1/2 hours of free childcare and you also have access to the entire club for the day. It’s truly...