Planet Fitness is known for providing a range of high-end amenities at an affordable price. The membership costs are as low as $10 per month for a Classic plan and $25 per month for the Black Card plan.
In such a situation, you would expect Planet Fitness gyms to only offer the basic equipment for training and workout out, like ellipticals and dumbbells. But that’s far from the truth.
As far as gym franchises go, Planet Fitness is right up there with some of the most well-equipped, premium training clubs globally. So, you can always expect to be surprised about what they have in store for their members.
One question that many people ask is whether Planet Fitness gyms have saunas and steam rooms. These are both heated rooms that are used by fitness enthusiasts as a post-workout therapy for relaxation, recovery, improved circulation, and many other health benefits.
For most gyms, having a section devoted to a steam room or a sauna is considered a luxury.
But what about Planet Fitness? Do they offer such amenities?
Let’s find out.
What Will I Learn?
Does Planet Fitness Have a Sauna?
Unfortunately, Planet Fitness gyms typically don’t have a sauna section where members can relax and recover after their workouts.
Saunas can be considered a luxury that is available only in high-end gyms that charge premium fees from their members.
Since Planet Fitness is one of the most affordable fitness franchises globally, it’s quite understandable that they would not spend a huge chunk of their running expenses on maintaining a sauna in each of their locations.
Does Planet Fitness Have a Steam Room?
No, Planet Fitness does not have steam rooms either. Just like a sauna, steam rooms are quite expensive to build and maintain. If Planet Fitness were to install sections for steaming within their premises, they would have to increase their membership costs by a significant margin to still remain profitable.
As affordability is one of their primary slogans for attracting fitness enthusiasts, it makes perfect sense why Planet Fitness does not have steam rooms.
Does Planet Fitness Have an Infrared Sauna?
Planet Fitness does offer a section for infrared saunas using a machine called Total Body Enhancement. It’s one of the most popular attractions at Planet Fitness gyms and has become a regular part of many members’ post-workout and pre-workout routines.
Total Body Enhancement is basically an enclosed booth that uses the concept of Red Light Therapy and Whole Body Vibration to help members imitate the health benefits and experiences of getting a sauna or a steam room session.
In this kind of therapy, near-infrared light waves are used to treat a variety of conditions, including inflammation, muscle pain, skin problems, and so on. At the same time, a vibrating footplate is used to imitate the healing effects of massages on the body.
It should also be noted that Total Body Enhancement is only accessible to Black Card holders at Planet Fitness. It is an exclusive amenity that is not accessible to people who have purchased the basic, Classic membership.
So, What Are These Infrared Saunas, And How Do They Work?
Infrared saunas provide a comfortable and convenient alternative to traditional steam rooms and heat-based saunas. Here, infrared radiation is used to heat the body’s core temperature rather than warming up the atmosphere and air around the user.
The infrared radiation inside the Total Body Enhancement booth is emitted from the bulbs. The radiation is further absorbed by the body’s tissues. The deep, penetrating effect is enough to cause light sweating, muscle relaxation, and improved blood circulation.
There are numerous health benefits to using Total Body Enhancement. The healing properties of near-infrared light waves can help with relaxation, detoxification, pain relief, and increased blood circulation.
Why Doesn’t Planet Fitness Have a Sauna or a Steam Room?
Planet Fitness has many premium amenities apart from its well-equipped cardio and weightlifting sections. But PF gyms do not have any saunas or steam rooms, with the exception of the Total Body Enhancement booth that uses infrared radiation.
So, why does Planet Fitness not add steam rooms or saunas to its already-impressive lineup?
There are plenty of reasons behind this exclusion.
To Keep Memberships Affordable
One of the primary selling points of Planet Fitness is its low membership costs. At just $10 a month, you can make use of all their basic facilities and enjoy a good workout each day of the month.
But if Planet Fitness gyms had saunas or steam rooms, they would be forced to increase their prices. That’s because the costs of setting up and maintaining these heated rooms are astronomically high.
To keep its profits consistent, Planet Fitness would have had to raise its traditional $10/month markup, which would make a lot of its existing and loyal members unhappy.
Planet Fitness has been offering the same classic $10/month plan for more than thirty years now. It’s understandable that they don’t want to break the tradition just for the sake of installing steam rooms or saunas within their premises.
To Save Space
Planet Fitness gyms make good use of the space that is available to them. But it goes without saying – they don’t have the largest of premises when compared to luxury fitness clubs that have swimming pools, steam rooms, and so on.
Because of the limited space available, the thought of expanding and installing saunas or steam rooms is almost improbable. Even if some of the locations were big enough to adjust heated rooms within them, the space would become too cluttered and uncomfortable for the members.
Thus, the lack of available space is also a big reason why Planet Fitness will not and cannot have saunas and steam rooms.
To Prevent Additional Staffing Requirements
Most fitness clubs have attendants and staff members in saunas and steam rooms to monitor all the members and ensure that the facilities are being used safely.
Additionally, a vigilant cleaning staff is also required as saunas, and steam rooms need to be spotless at all times for the comfort and convenience of users.
The cost of hiring these additional staff members might be too much for Planet Fitness, given how low their membership costs are.
To Avoid Liability Issues
Saunas and steam rooms appear innocuous enough. But they come with their own risks. Potential hazards like dehydration, overheating, and fainting are scarce but not impossible within such heated rooms.
As such, Planet Fitness would be liable if any accidents were to occur within their heated rooms. Such liability issues could prove to be a massive problem for a chain as big as Planet Fitness.
Fulfilling Customer Demands
Planet Fitness’s primary branding strategy includes attracting newbies in the fitness industry to work out at their gyms. They create a judgment-free zone and welcoming environment to help the newbies not feel intimidated by any hostile traditional gym element.
Thus, they only focus on delivering the right cardio and strength equipment to support their workouts while minimizing distractions or frills. The philosophy also extends to the amenities offered by the gym, which are mainly designed to provide functional benefits rather than fulfill the individual desires of some members.
As such, adding saunas or steam rooms to their lineup wasn’t considered a necessity but only a luxury that some members wanted.
Alternatives to Planet Fitness with Saunas and Steam Rooms
If having a sauna or a steam room is that important to you, there are some alternatives that you could explore:-
Equinox
Equinox is one of the most premium and well-equipped gym franchises in the United States. It has more than 100 branches across the country, and most of them include saunas and steam rooms that can be used by members with premium plans.
Price: Membership costs start at around $160 per month and end at around $260 per month. An initiation fee is required, which might range from $200 to $300.
LA Fitness
No matter where you are from, you must have heard of LA Fitness. The giant franchise has more than 550 locations across the entire United States of America. They offer some premium amenities, including swimming pools, heated rooms, tanning beds, and so on.
Price: The general membership costs around $39.99 per month with an initiation fee of $100.
YMCA
The YMCA is a global brand. It is spread in more than 100 countries and serves 64 million people worldwide. In terms of reach and success, it’s definitely one of the largest gym franchises in the whole world.
From swimming pools and sports courts to steam rooms and saunas, YMCA gyms are equipped with all premium amenities.
Price: Average membership fee is $63 per month to enjoy most of the benefits and amenities. The initiation fee can be as low as $69 but may increase depending on your core plan.
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Is Planet Fitness a Good Gym Even Without Saunas and Steam Rooms?
Planet Fitness is one of the largest and best gym franchises in the whole world in terms of affordability and the quality of amenities offered.
They don’t have saunas or steam rooms on their premises for various reasons. But they have many other high-end machines and equipment like Total Body Enhancement booths and HydroMassage beds that members can use at will.
At a low price of just $10 per month, Planet Fitness offers the most comprehensive fitness club experience that you could ask for.
What are Planet Fitness Sauna Amenity Alternatives?
PF gyms might not have steam rooms or saunas. But they have many other alternatives that you can use in their stead.
Please note that you must be a Black Card holder to experience most of these exclusive amenities.
Total Body Enhancement
The TBE booth is simply an infrared sauna section that uses Red Light Therapy and Whole Body Vibration to imitate the healing properties and health benefits of heated rooms.
Many members use Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness following their workouts to accelerate muscle recovery, help in muscle relaxation, ease inflammation and pain, and detoxify their bodies.
HydroMassage
HydroMassage is a convenient machine where users can simply lie down and experience a relaxing massage session in seclusion.
The machine uses the pressure from water jet sprays to work on affected regions and massage the body to provide healing effects.
Massage Chairs
If you want a quicker massage session, you can simply opt for one of the many Massage Chairs available at Planet Fitness.
They are good for treating muscle soreness and inflammation following workouts. They can also be a relaxing treat to your body following intense training sessions.
Tanning Beds
Another premium amenity offered by Planet Fitness gyms is free access to high-end tanning beds to their Black Card members.
The tanning beds at Planet Fitness provide efficient and consistent results because the UV rays from the bed lamps work quickly and effectively.
Getting tanned at Planet Fitness is a great way to make your muscles and contours stand out because of the golden-brown texture.
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Wrapping Up
There are many reasons why Planet Fitness does not have a steam room or a sauna. But they have a multitude of other premium amenities that can be used by their Black Card members.
Even without heated rooms, Planet Fitness remains one of the most well-equipped gym franchises of all time.
