What is Total Body Enhancement? Red Light Therapy at Planet Fitness

What is red light therapy at Planet Fitness?

Red light therapy shortens the body's recovery time. After giving your all in a workout, it's common to experience muscle soreness. But, thanks to Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement machines, its red light therapy (RLT) capabilities stimulate the body's collagen production and blood circulation. Plus, paired with its vibration plate, all of this helps reduce cell inflammation, allowing you to nail the following day's workout a little easier. It's important to note that while Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement (TBE) machines are advertised as infrared saunas, they're not. Infrared saunas use 1000nm or higher infrared light for heat therapy benefits. TBE machines deliver red wavelengths between 620-700nm, a common RLT wavelength.

How to Use Total Body Enhancement Therapy at Plant Fitness

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. Red light therapy before a workout can help prime and energize the body, whereas using it after a workout improves the body's recovery time.

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. 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.

Select one of the four vibration settings for a full-body passive workout. The combination of red light and vibration therapy makes Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement stand out. The platform generates vibrations that allow the muscles to contract and relax involuntarily to aid 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). Vibration therapy increases muscle strength, flexibility, bone health, enhances circulation, and reduces stress.

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. 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.

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. 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.

How does red light therapy work?

Red light therapy allows cells to work more efficiently. When you expose your skin to wavelengths of red light between 600nm or higher, the light boosts energy to the center of the mitochondria (the cell's powerhouse). This allows the cells to work more efficiently to promote healing and skin rejuvenation. RTL differs from traditional skin devices, like lasers, because lasers can cause skin irritation. However, RTL is a non-invasive treatment that doesn't cause trauma to the skin.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy and Total Body Enhancement

Red light therapy reduces inflammation that makes muscles sore. One of the primary benefits of Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement machines is its pain relief capabilities. Light helps speed up cell respiration, increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to encourage the body's ability to repair. Plus, when combined with the machine's vibration technology, the vibration helps increase blood flow to your muscles. Additional Total Body Enhancement benefits include: Increased energy before a workout Improvements in skin elasticity Reduction of wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite Targets muscle groups: legs, arms, abs, glutes Firms and tones the body Reduces stress

Is red light therapy safe?

Yes—when used as a short-term recovery aid and as directed. Red light therapy is a non-toxic, non-invasive skin treatment with no major side effects. However, ensuring your light level is not too harsh is still important. For instance, daily use of RLT with 1,000 nm can cause thermal damage to your skin. Refer to the manufacturer's recommended use and light levels before using. Don't use RLT if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have a condition with photosensitivity or are on medications that make them photosensitive. Red light therapy may cause hyperpigmentation and melasma for darker skin tones. However, studies are still exploring this side effect. When in doubt, speak to a dermatologist about using red light therapy.

FAQ

How often should you use Total Body Enhancement? Information about how often you should incorporate red light therapy varies. Planet Fitness recommends using the TBE machine 2-3 times a week with a 24-hour gap between uses. However, others recommend daily use, and a study by the American Association of Dermatology showed textural and color improvements from patients who used RLT three times a week for two weeks. Speak to a Planet Fitness representative or your local dermatologist for recommendations.

How long does it take to see the results? Unfortunately, results vary depending on the person and their goal. Patients have seen results, such as reduced inflammation and energy boosts, in some cases, after their first session. Meanwhile, other users can take up to 4 months of continuous use to see results.

Can you use red light therapy at home? Yes! Nowadays, LED red light therapy comes in many different forms. You can purchase a mask, lamp, or wand. You may not see dramatic improvements, but it can help slowly improve skin quality by reducing acne, wrinkles, and more.

How much does Total Body Enhancement cost? Planet Fitness' Total Body Enhancement comes with the Black Card membership, which costs $24.99 per month. Total Body Enhancement is only available in certain locations. So, contact your local Planet Fitness to see if it's available.