Does Planet Fitness have a sauna? Learn why most locations lack saunas, available amenities, Black Card benefits, and alternative gyms with sauna facilities.
Planet Fitness is a highly sought-after, inexpensive gym chain that offers fitness centers, exercise equipment, cardio machines, strength-training spaces, and easy-to-use workout rooms. The chain is mainly concerned with affordably providing fitness.
A sauna is basically a room that is heated up for purposes of relaxation and general well-being through the high temperature experienced. It is common practice to use a sauna after working out to help relax the muscles and relieve stress. Some fitness clubs have saunas; however, this is dependent on the particular Planet Fitness center.
Does Planet Fitness Have a Sauna?
Planet Fitness is a highly popular and cost-effective gym franchise, but it does not have sauna facilities in the majority of its branches. The business ensures that its branches have all the basic facilities needed for workout like strength training section and cardiovascular equipment, among others. While there are premium gyms that have saunas, this is not one of them.
Why Doesn’t Planet Fitness Have Saunas?
Planet Fitness rarely offers saunas for the following reasons:
1. Affordable Membership Model
One of the biggest advantages of Planet Fitness that makes it successful is its affordable membership. The maintenance of saunas is associated with some extra costs, such as building, energy, cleaning, repairing, and safety issues. Therefore, Planet Fitness avoids offering these facilities to reduce membership costs.
2. Focus on Essential Fitness Services
Planet Fitness stresses the importance of equipment and amenities that help members work out daily. These include:
- Cardio machines
- Weight training equipment
- Free weights
- Stretching areas
- Fitness training guidance
- Locker rooms
- Tanning and massage chairs at some locations
Planet Fitness emphasizes providing the basic needs of its customers, not luxuries like recovery services.
3. Space and Maintenance Requirements
Having a sauna would need dedicated space, good ventilation, proper temperature control systems, and maintenance. For this reason, many Planet Fitness centers are built in such a way that maximizes the space used for working out.
What Amenities Does Planet Fitness Have?
Planet Fitness normally lacks saunas but boasts of various facilities that facilitate members’ achievement of their fitness objectives.
Cardio and Strength Equipment
There are various machines in Planet Fitness centers, depending on the level of fitness that one is targeting. The machines include treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bicycles, weights, and free weight machines.
HydroMassage Beds
HydroMassage beds are also common in some Planet Fitness centers. These use water pressure to create a soothing massage experience and are mostly found in facilities offering Black Card memberships to their members.
Massage Chairs
In some facilities, there are even massage chairs where people have an opportunity to relax after working out. They could be useful in helping members relax their muscles.
Tanning Services
Some Planet Fitness locations provide tanning booths along with other amenities available in the facility. This is subject to availability at individual facilities.
Locker Rooms and Showers
Locker rooms and shower facilities are typically provided in most Planet Fitness gyms for members to be able to wash up after their workout routines. Saunas and steam rooms are not typically offered, however.
Can You Use a Sauna After a Workout?
While Planet Fitness does not provide saunas most of the time, there are many fitness lovers who love to use saunas after working out at their gyms, where sauna facilities are provided. Some advantages of saunas are:
- Promoting relaxation after physical activity
- Supporting a comfortable recovery routine
- Helping muscles feel relaxed
- Encouraging stress reduction
Nevertheless, a sauna cannot be used as a substitute for water consumption, stretching, nutrition, and rest after exercise.
Benefits of Using a Sauna After Exercise
Though Planet Fitness generally lacks a sauna facility, there are many individuals who prefer to join fitness centers that have a sauna.
Muscle Relaxation
Heat exposure from the sauna can be beneficial to relax muscles that are strained due to excessive workouts. Heat boosts blood circulation, thus leading to a relaxing effect on muscles.
Stress Reduction
Sauna is used by many people for their health regimen because heat and relaxation can be helpful in reducing stress levels and creating a calming atmosphere.
Improved Post-Workout Recovery
Heat exposure from the sauna can induce relaxation after exercising through increasing body temperature and promoting blood circulation. Nonetheless, it is advisable to avoid replacing other recovery processes with heat exposure from the sauna.
Sweating and Detox Myths
Though saunas induce sweating, it does not mean that toxins are eliminated from the body as many ads claim. Detoxification takes place in the body through the liver and kidneys.
What Gyms Have Saunas? (Planet Fitness Alternatives)
If you require access to saunas for your health and fitness needs, then there are many nationally available gyms that will provide such an opportunity for you. Here is a comparative study:
1. LA Fitness
LA Fitness centers have saunas and steam rooms along with pools, racquetball courts, and group exercise classes available at their centers. Monthly membership fees are relatively high, about $25-$35 per month; however, they provide many more amenities than Planet Fitness.
2. 24 Hour Fitness
The 24 Hour Fitness centers offer saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs in their facilities. 24 Hour Fitness is always available for the customers all day and night long, providing the customer with the choice to visit the sauna facilities during non-peak hours.
3. YMCA
YMCA is community-based, and its centers often have saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, and hot tubs, along with fitness classes and family-oriented amenities. There is great variation in membership costs between different facilities and among families.
4. Equinox
Equinox is an upscale gym chain that provides its members with complete spa facilities, such as eucalyptus steam rooms, saunas, and luxurious locker rooms. The monthly fee for membership at this chain is usually around $200+, which makes it stand out from Planet Fitness.
5. Life Time Fitness
Life Time is designed as a comprehensive health club and spa center featuring sauna, steam rooms, pools, racquetball, and lots of wellness programs at most facilities. The membership price is much higher than Planet Fitness because Life Time offers a completely different product.
6. Gold’s Gym
The Gold’s Gym facilities differ, but most offer access to saunas and steam rooms. This fitness chain targets those looking for a hardcore workout facility; hence, it appeals more to bodybuilders who work out intensely.
How to Find a Gym With a Sauna
Here are some tips before buying a gym membership:
Check the Gym Website
Most gyms advertise their facilities on the internet. You should try finding descriptions of their wellness facilities or member perks.
Contact the Location Directly
As different locations of the same gym may have varying amenities, the quickest way to find out about the sauna is to call the particular gym.
Visit the Facility
A tour of the gym enables you to view the equipment, locker rooms, and other facilities before becoming a member.
Does Planet Fitness Black Card Include Sauna Access?
No, the Planet Fitness Black Card membership plan does not typically provide access to a sauna, as Planet Fitness gyms rarely have a sauna. It is worth mentioning that the membership offers some premium services such as guest visits, HydroMassage, tanning, and multi-club access, where available.
FAQs
Are Planet Fitness gyms good for beginners?
Yes, Planet Fitness has been made to cater to beginners. It has low membership prices, a welcoming ambience, and basic workout equipment for fitness workouts.
Can I relax after a workout at Planet Fitness?
Yes, members can unwind themselves with the help of stretching and cooldown activities, hydro-massage at the places that offer it, and with massage equipment where available.
Does Planet Fitness have a steam room?
Planet Fitness does not usually offer steam rooms. Planet Fitness is all about affordable fitness options such as exercise machines and cardio equipment, among others, but not steam rooms, which are considered luxuries.
Final Thought
Planet Fitness can feel like a budget-friendly gym option, but most of the time, it does not really come with sauna facilities. Members can still use good workout equipment, plus HydroMassage, massage chairs, and other comfort features. If someone is after a sauna, they might have to look for another type of gym. Also, it’s best to confirm what’s on site at each location, because the services can be different from place to place.
