Running shoes? Check! Water bottle? Check! Children? Check!
With the increasingly pace of life – school, work, extracurricular activities of all sorts, meals on the go – parents are spending more time running around for their children than for themselves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that only half of Minnesotans 25 to 44 years old engaged in the recommended amount of physical activity.
Parents may be deterred by the daunting task of finding childcare while they steal a few moments to sweat off the day’s worries and last night’s takeout. Luckily, many gyms offer free or reasonably priced childcare with a parent membership. Parents can exercise for one to two hours knowing their 8-week-old to 12-year-old is cared for and/or coloring, reading, or running around. Generally, the nationally recognized fitness centers such as the YMCA, YWCA, Lifetime Fitness, and Bally’s seem to offer more than just coloring books and toys.
However, childcare is not available everywhere. For example, athletic clubs in Downtown Minneapolis spas such as The Firm, Regency Club and Spa, and The Press Gym do not offer childcare services. The same holds true for Curves franchises.
Yoga- and Pilates-minded moms and dads will also have little luck finding a place to stretch and tone with their child nearby. These facilities are generally too small to provide childcare, although some studios might permit a child to read or color (quietly) in the corner.
Members beware: Many of the gyms below do not do diaper duty, nor will they calm fussy tots for an extended period of time. All of them either require or recommend reservations. Many gyms list their childcare policies and prices online.
The following facilities offer on-site childcare:
Southview Athletic Club
260 E. Marie Ave., W. St. Paul, 651-450-1660, SouthviewAthletic.com.
The Sweatshop
167 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-646-8418, SweatshopFitness.com.
White Bear Racquet & Fitness
4800 White Bear Parkway, White Bear Lake, 651-426-1308, WBFit.com.
L.A. Fitness
6600 96th Ln N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445, https://www.lafitness.com for more locations
Lifetime Fitness
675 Commons Dr., Woodbury, 651-730-6000, LifetimeFitness.com for more locations.
Blaisdell Branch
YMCA 3335 Blaisdell Ave., Minneapolis, 612-827-5401, ymca.net for more locations.
YWCA of Minneapolis
1130 Nicollet Mall and 2121 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, 612-215-4333, YWCAMpls.org.
