Planet Fitness is an affordable approach to fitness that offers a wide range of unique features, including red light therapy technology. You may have seen red light therapy used in skin care routines, but how does it incorporate into your fitness regime? In this guide, we'll teach you everything about Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement machines and how to use them!
What does red light therapy do at Planet Fitness?
Red light therapy is used in Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement machines. It provides gym-goers with a non-invasive, 12-minute full-body treatment that can help shorten the body's recovery time. TBE uses red light therapy and vibration plates which may stimulate the body's collagen production and blood circulation to reduce stress.
Steps
How to Use Total Body Enhancement Therapy at Planet Fitness
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Schedule a session at the front desk or self-service kiosk. Before you begin, visit Planet Fitness' front desk to make an appointment. Some locations have a self-service kiosk with the available time slots. Once it's time for your session, check in with the front desk so they can let you know which private room is assigned to you. [14] X Research source
- Using red light therapy before a workout can help prime and energize the body, whereas using it after a workout might improve the body's recovery time. [15] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
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Quickly undress to your comfort level and step into the machine. Enter your private room and lock the door behind you. Each room has a Total Body Enhancement machine, a chair for your belongings, paper towels, and sanitizer. Red light therapy is most effective when you expose as much skin as possible—you can strip out of all your clothes or leave your undergarments. All Planet Fitness requires is that you remove your shoes. [16] X Research source
- Your session will automatically be started within 1-2 minutes, so be sure to undress and get into the machine as quickly as possible.
- Before your session, cleanse your skin so there are no lotion, makeup, or similar products on your skin.
- Wearing sunglasses or similar eyewear is optional but encouraged. [17] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Select one of the four vibration settings for a full-body passive workout. The platform you stand on generates vibrations that stimulate your muscles to contract and relax involuntarily, which might aid in their recovery. Choose one of the four settings, which include Feel Great (low intensity), Toning (medium intensity), Cross-Training (high intensity), and Multi-Level (mixed intensity). [18] X Research source
- Vibration therapy can potentially help increase muscle strength, flexibility, bone health, enhance circulation, and reduce stress. [19] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Maintain a slight bend in your knees and raise your arms. Once inside the machine, shut the sliding booth door and stand on the grey vibration mat. Your session will automatically start; however, you can adjust the vibration using the interior remote. Stand with a slight bend in your knees and raise both arms above your hand. Some booths have straps you can hang onto. [20] X Research source
- You can also adjust the volume for music and fans using a small control panel. The panel will also display the time elapsed during your session.
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Enjoy a 12-minute passive workout and wipe the machine down. Each session lasts 10 minutes and ends with a 2-minute cooldown. Afterward, step out of the machine and get dressed. Use the sanitary products in the room to wipe down the machine before leaving. [21] X Research source
- You may not notice results after one use. Planet Fitness recommends using TBE machines 2-3 times a week with a 24-hour gap between sessions over 90 days.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhere did the red-light therapy originate?Pila Xian is an Esthetician and Massage Therapist based in Aspen, Colorado. Pila owns and operates Heaven on Earth, a day spa that offers personalized facial and massage therapies, as well as a variety of spa services. She draws on traditions from Hawaii, Thailand, Japan, and Western massage to tailor her massages for each client. Pila has a BBA from Marymount University, a Certificate of Massage from Boulder College of Massage Therapy, and has studied in the art of Lomilomi and Ashiatsu, among other modalities. Heaven on Earth has been featured in Vogue, Glossy, Aspen Sojourner, and more.It's actually interesting because the red light therapy started with NASA. When they were looking for ways to help astronauts heal faster while they were in space, and the conditions can make recovery tougher. During their research, they discovered that red light could speed up tissue repair and promote cell regeneration. Interestingly, the skin benefits were more of a happy accident and a lot of skincare treatments come from research originally focused on something else, and red light therapy is a great example of that.
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References
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126803/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22146-led-light-therapy
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126803/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/led-lights-are-they-a-cure-for-your-skin-woes
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387504/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958
- ↑ https://relentlessforwardcommotion.com/total-body-enhancement-at-planet-fitness-a-review/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/led-lights-are-they-a-cure-for-your-skin-woes
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/health/wellness/red-light-therapy/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zV7uNluSBgA?t=50
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zV7uNluSBgA?t=102
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zV7uNluSBgA?t=232
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zV7uNluSBgA?t=168
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zV7uNluSBgA?t=394
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zV7uNluSBgA?t=394
- ↑ https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(04)02792-6/fulltext
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34863776/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/led-lights-are-they-a-cure-for-your-skin-woes
- ↑ https://www.planetfitness.com/pfblackcard