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January 2025 by Neil Johnson
Transformational Care at Life Time Southdale – Dr. Oscar Nevermann is Irreplaceable!
Three years ago, I was in severe, life-altering pain with no hope of relief. I had tried physical therapy at Tria, consulted medical doctors, and even worked with a chiropractor, all of which failed to provide lasting improvement. Enter Dr. Oscar Nevermann at LifeTime Southdale – he didn’t just treat me; he changed my life. After only one month of working with him, I was completely pain-free and have remained so for three years.
Oscar’s approach is unlike anything I’ve experienced. His evaluation was more comprehensive and insightful than anything I had received elsewhere. He quickly identified the root causes of my pain – weakness in my left serratus anterior, posterior chain, and glutes, among others – and implemented an individualized plan that addressed these areas. Oscar didn’t just focus on exercises; he also taught me life-changing lessons in posture and movement: "squeeze the glutes, flex the abs, stand tall, and avoid letting your ribs flare." These simple yet profound adjustments transformed the way I move daily.
When I first started, I was terrified of using weightlifting equipment, fearing injury. Oscar’s expertise and encouragement not only made me comfortable but confident. His knowledge is unparalleled, and his ability to adapt exercises based on flexibility, pain, or fatigue is remarkable. He also excels at hands-on techniques, from massage to improving flexibility through manipulation, making him a true master of his craft.
Oscar’s impact extends beyond physical improvements. Before working with him, I couldn’t take a plane ride or sleep in a hotel bed without excruciating pain. I struggled to be present with my family due to irritability and emotional exhaustion from chronic pain. Thanks to Oscar, I was not only able to coach my son’s robotics team but also judge my daughter’s debate events – things that would have been impossible before. During trips, I went from lagging behind my family to leading them, with more energy than I ever imagined.
Oscar’s personal training clients range from professional athletes (including professional sports players and their families) to medical professionals and individuals like me – a dentist, PhD, and biomedical engineer. Despite our knowledge as professionals, Oscar brings it to the next level. Everyone who works with Oscar shares the same sentiment: they don’t want to give him up. His knowledge, skill, positivity, and ability to connect with people make him an invaluable asset to LifeTime Southdale’s community.
LifeTime Southdale prides itself on being a premier, country-club-like fitness center with a focus on exceptional customer service and a luxurious atmosphere. Oscar embodies this mission perfectly. His presence not only enhances the experience for his clients but also elevates the brand’s reputation as a facility that attracts and retains top-tier talent. LifeTime Southdale is fortunate to have someone like Oscar, and his continued presence is a tremendous benefit to its members and the community.
Dr. Oscar Nevermann is more than a trainer or therapist – he’s a life-changer. I am forever grateful for his care and expertise. If you’re fortunate enough to work with him, consider yourself lucky.
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December 2024 by Jason Hoerle
Overall a fine gym experience, kind of busy. However, my 1 star rating is in response to their personal trainers calling themselves DPTs. I am a physical therapist. DPT is the professional acronym for Doctors of Physical Therapy, which is the level of education held by 99% of currently practicing Physical Therapists . Lifetime fitness has assumed this abbreviation for their personal trainers calling themselves Dynamic Personal Trainers. They take it even further by slapping this acronym in big bold letters on the t-shirts the staff wear. I believe this to be an intentional misrepresentation of their credentials to mislead consumers about the nature and quality of the services they are providing. Lifetime fitness is currently in a trademark dispute with the American Association of Physical Therapy, and it’s time for them to step up and do the right thing.
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December 2024 by Jake Manley
Best club around. You guys do an amazing job here. Great members
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December 2024 by Agatha
Just letting potential members know that as of 1/01/2025 my membership will cost $240/month. Allegedly this is a discounted rate
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December 2024 by Emilie Bergman
We initially joined the club when it first opened in 2019 and discontinued our membership during COVID. We were excited to look at joining again but were taken aback that club dues had almost doubled in the few years we had been away. Despite the increased costs, we saw the club was still being well taken care of as a premier location and new spaces like the rooftop pool and pickleball courts had been added since when it originally opened. We were told over the phone by member services that as prior members, the $200 joining fee would be waived to welcome us back to the club. When we went to go put pen to paper and finalize our enrollment, we were told that deal would actually not be something they could extend to us due to staff miscommunication. As a club that markets itself as a luxury product with a corresponding level of customer service, this was really disappointing to hear and unfortunately resulted in our decision to back out of re-enrolling as poor customer service was already evident at the onset of joining.
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December 2024 by Aram Yu
The worst lifetime I’ve ever been to. The locker room is a mess with towels everywhere. Both the steam and dry sauna smell horrible. People are constantly soaking (fully clothed) in the hot tub and then going into the dry sauna - leaving puddles of water everywhere. The management is run by teens, no open equipment, yoga rooms smells terrible due to lack of ventilation. All of this for close to $280? My husband and I put our membership on hold for a winter when we were traveling. We returned and paid the full monthly fee (including the rooftop pool) and they told us we no longer had access to the pool (after receiving the full pay) due to putting our membership on hold during the winter.
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December 2024 by Mohammad Hameed
I generally enjoy Lifetime, but I had a disappointing experience with a staff member at this location. While I don’t hold a membership here, I am a member at another Twin Cities location. When I visited this particular location in July, the woman at the check-in desk kindly informed me that I was allowed five courtesy visits. Today, I returned for what I believed to be my second of those five visits and mentioned it to the staff member at the counter. However, she informed me that I was only allowed a single courtesy visit and denied me entry, even after I explained what I had previously been told. I ended up leaving, feeling frustrated. Other Lifetime locations handle situations like this with clearer communication and more flexibility. Given the membership costs, I expected better treatment.
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November 2024 by Lisa Richards
Fantastic family oriented gym. Shawn is an amazing manager and keeps the place spotless and cheerful. The staff are all excellent and really care about providing a great experience for everyone young and old. The fitness classes are top notch and taught by very experienced instructors. We have two small kids and the childcare center has really been a lifesaver and game changer for us. Hands down recommend this gym!
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November 2024 by freetime1231
Been a member at Edina for over a year. The facility, staff and classes are great. But a few things really bother me. I work late and so I sometimes go for a swim at night around 9-10 pm. I have seen guys swimming in what is obviously their daily underwear. Also, I rarely see anyone showered (wet) before getting into the pool. I pay the high fees for a hygienic pool so seeing these things being allowed really make me cringe. Also, the mens’ locker room sounds worse than high school at night. Groups of guys are sometimes yelling at the top of their voices and if they weren’t laughing too, I would worry about a brawl breaking out any minute. Can’t find an equivalent place for the combo of pool, services and classes so far, so I will continue being a member here. But I wish they would monitor the pools and mens locker room better at night and actually do something about it.
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November 2024 by Oozcem Candir
I’m a long-time fan of Life Time, but this location has been disappointing, especially considering the high membership cost. It’s extremely crowded during peak hours, making it difficult to enjoy the facilities. The sauna is too small and often packed, with standing water frequently found under the planks. Other Life Times are order of magnitude better managed.
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October 2024 by Karla Montoya
I recently joined this Lifetime and the staff is what keeps me coming back. Sarah goes above and beyond for each member.
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October 2024 by Anne Constantine
3.75 stars maybe.
Great stuff:
I have had memberships at specialty gyms, L.A Fitness, the Y, orange theory, and many more. I'm pretty well versed on the metro gym scene. This is still my preferred gym and location for general fitness hands down.
The staff have always been really great. They are very responsive to requests and issues. If you have a problem, they will try to solve it.
The class leaders are mostly really invested in the patrons and very accommodating to all fitness levels. There is an instructor for every type of person.
They do a really good job managing demand.
The facilities are pretty great. You can bring just yourself and your gear without having to remember all the little things. They provide everything for you; like towels, razors, quality bathing products.
It is also an extremely SAFE gym in my experience. This is crucial for many people.
Not so great: The women's locker room does not have a cold tub. Only for men. We all really want this!
The water is really hard and can irritate sensitive skin. Edina recommends softening city water and it's noticeably different from water in surrounding cities.
They aren't very vegan friendly with their food. As more and more athletes try out plant based, it feels like lifetime isn't really keeping up with plant based and healthy options. Although, they have vegan smoothies with plant protein powder.
Their smoothies use Stevia pretty consistently as a sweetener. Studies are starting to show links to heart issues with Stevia consumption. It would be nice to see some options that are natural sugar or unsweetened.
In addition, there was some controversy about back peddling the senior and disability memberships to a limited number of hrs during the day. This specifically hit seniors and especially disabled young people who work or have class during the day ( the allowed hours) and rely on it for physical therapy and to maintain health. They did make some concessions for those people. It is a business that is on high demand, but it definitely didn't sit right for many people.
Overall. Lifetime Edina is a really great gym that could use some modernizing and revamping to stay at the forefront of health and wellness. It could also be more ready for an increasingly aging and differently abled population.
As I said, it's the best gym for overall fitness and diversity of fitness training.
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September 2024 by E G
I recently joined Life Time at Target Center and came to the Edina location for the first time this past Sunday morning around 6. I will start with the positives. Facility is beautiful. The fitness floor has everything that one would ever need and there are a surplus of awesome amenities. I had never tried a cold plunge before - that was probably my favorite part of the facility. Although I did not use the rooftop pool, that area is a sight to see! Can’t wait to bring the family when it opens next season. The attendants in the male locker room were very friendly and kept the space immaculate. Negatives - I wish the cafe would have been open earlier in the day. The girl working at the front desk was very unfriendly, very cold. She was playing with a rubicks cube and didn’t even look up when I checked in or greeted me. I asked her a question, and she looked extremely inconvenienced and annoyed. It would be a good idea to have someone welcoming at the desk who doesn’t look like they hate their job and the members walking through the door.
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September 2024 by Jacqueline Shaw
The employees here are phenomenal!!!! They care about you from the minute you walk in the door to the second you walk out the door. They make sure you are satisfied with anything and everything! And if you ask about something they find an answer or resolution to whatever it is! The club is clean, the people are so nice, and the classes are wonderful! There are always smiles and lots of joy here!!
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July 2024 by Euro Traveler
Great space for training ( weight lifting )
And the outdoor pool in the summer
