Liz Martinez – A Breath of Connection
As part of our Earth Month series, The Connection Between Fitness, Wellness & Outdoor Spaces, we’re highlighting Life Time team members who find renewal and purpose in the outdoors.
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For Liz Martinez, nature and movement have always gone hand in hand. As a Yoga and MB360 instructor at Life Time Maple Grove, she sees fitness not just as a routine—but as preparation for something greater: presence, connection, and resilience in the real world.
“Connecting my yoga practice and my fitness with nature is pretty near and dear to my heart. It always has been about what I’m doing in the gym is going to lead to what I can do outside.”
Liz’s approach to wellness is both grounded and expansive. With a bachelor’s degree in Gastronomic Anthropology and Chemistry, and soon to begin a PhD in Environmental Chemistry and Nutrition, she’s on a mission to explore the healing potential of nature—while protecting what’s still unknown and untouched. It’s this blend of scientific curiosity, mindful movement, and outdoor exploration that shapes her unique view of wellness and the world.
Her yoga practice, especially, has taught her more than poses—it’s taught her how to breathe, regulate, and show up in challenging moments. That power was put to the test when Liz was in a car accident while traveling. Instead of spiraling into panic, she tapped into her training.
“Because of yoga, I was able to stay calm. I focused on my breath and engaged my bandhas—my abdominal muscles—which helped me protect myself and stay aware of what was happening around me,” she shared.
As her car was being repaired, Liz turned the unexpected downtime into an opportunity: hiking, practicing yoga outdoors, and connecting even more deeply with nature. It was a reminder of how the body and mind, when trained with intention, can support you in even the most unpredictable moments.
To Liz, being in nature isn’t just restorative; it’s essential. She sees nature not as something separate, but as something we’re in constant relationship with.
“Our environment is designed to live in symbiotic relationship with us, it receives our toxins and gives us back the oxygen we breathe. We are designed to be out in nature.”
That philosophy carries through every class she teaches and every trail she hikes. Whether she’s foraging, gardening, or simply taking a mindful walk outdoors, Liz continues to find meaning in the small ways we reconnect with the planet—and ourselves.
Because to breathe deeply, move intentionally, and honor the rhythms of nature is not just a practice. It’s a way of life.