Planet Fitness’ “Total Body Enhancement” program merges red light therapy with a whole-body vibration treatment. The fitness brand calls this machine “The Beauty Ange RVT” and makes a number of claims about just what it can do.

For starters, Planet Fitness insists this combination of therapies can bolster your skin's health and improve its overall look, amplify your muscle strength and stamina, and promote weight loss and metabolic health. However, is the Beauty Angel really everything it’s cracked up to be, or is it just another piece of overrated equipment?

In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at both this device and the claims regarding what it can do.

 

How Does the Total Body Enhancement Machine Work?

The Beauty Ange RVT machine at Planet Fitness is a stand-alone booth that bathes the user in 360-degree light from broad-spectrum CFL bulbs. Again, this device combines red light therapy lights with a vibrating platform intended to stimulate cellular response for improved muscle tone and skin renewal.

Therefore, each Beauty Angel session utilizes two treatment modes: red light therapy and vibration therapy. The sessions last about 12 minutes and are exclusively available to Planet Fitness Black Card members at select locations.

 

What is the Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness?

Produced by Ergoline, the Beauty Angel's CFL bulbs emit red light wavelengths from 620nm to 700nm. The manufacturer markets this as “red light light therapy.” However, it’s important to note that the device’s therapeutic effect is significantly less potent than modern medical-grade red light devices that can be focused at much higher intensities and have the ability to target specific spectrums.

At times, the Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement device is also marketed as a form of Infrared Sauna. This is a misstatement, as the light delivered does not reach the baseline of infrared spectrums. Although the Beauty Angel does have a relatively broad spectrum of 620-700 nm, it does not reach the needed 850nm spectrum to provide infrared treatment.

 

Vibration Exercise at Planet Fitness

The concept of whole-body vibration involves a platform that oscillates at various frequencies and directions, engaging the body in a unique form of exercise. This method has been recognized for its potential benefits, including enhanced muscle tone and strength, improved circulation, stress reduction, increased bone density, and better balance and coordination.

By transmitting energy directly to your body, the vibration forces muscles to contract and relax rapidly, mimicking the effects of physical exertion. The device manufacturers suggest that a regimen of 10-12 minutes of vibration exercise thrice a week could support weight management, muscle building, flexibility enhancement, and post-exercise recovery.

Other benefits include:

• Reduced chronic back pain
• Reduced bone loss
• Improved lymphatic drainage

 

Potential Benefits of the Total Body Enhancement Machine

The advertised benefits of the Beauty Angel are rather comprehensive. Some of  the claims made by both Planet Fitness and the device manufacturer include:

• Increased skin quality and appearance
• Increased muscle strength and endurance
• Enhanced weight loss and fat-burning
• Improved posture and alignment
• Reduced joint pain and stiffness
• Increased immune system function
• Increased mood and mental clarity
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved sleep quality

 

 

However, these claims can be attributed to full-body red light therapy, which may not be fully replicable with the Beauty Angel due to its specific light spectrums and intensity. It’s also important to note that there is no effective research on whole-body vibration and its benefits compared to activities like walking, swimming, or cycling.

 

Pros and Cons of Red Light Therapy at Planet Fitness

Despite the allure of the Red light treatment at Planet Fitness, the benefits can hardly compare to owning a personal red light therapy device. Most notable is the fact that one would be able to use the latter from the comfort of their own home.

 

Pros:

• Immediate access before and after workouts.
• Provides a form of red-light therapy, albeit within a restricted wavelength range.
• Fully enclosed for comprehensive body coverage.
• UV-free, posing minimal risk to users.
• Vibration plate for a full-body, low-impact workouts.

 

Cons:

• The form of red light therapy provided is among the weakest, with a broad but insufficient spectrum range of 620-700nm. This fails to target the most therapeutic spectrums.
• The CFL bulbs used are less intense than the LEDs in high-grade devices, lacking the capability to stimulate muscles and bones on a cellular level.
• The superficial nature of the treatment fails to penetrate beyond the skin, therefore failing to provide crucial benefits for muscles and bones.
• Privacy concerns may arise due to the device being located in a public gym and the preference for minimal clothing during sessions.
• It can be hard to use the device regularly enough to see any real benefits, even with regular gym visits.

 

Red Light Therapy Lights Explained

Red light therapy is a type of Phototherapy that uses red 660nm and near-infrared 850nm light spectrums designed to stimulate the body on a cellular level. Like plants, we react to light and absorb in order to power a variety of biological processes.

Red Light Therapy helps your body produce more energy (in this case, known as ATP) by penetrating your skin, muscles, and bones. Essentially, our bodies are constantly repairing themselves on a cellular level, and red light therapy boosts your body’s ability to regenerate cells.

 

Some of the benefits related to red light therapy include:  

• Cardiovascular system support
• Increased longevity
• Reducing inflammation
• Improved ability to fight degenerative conditions
• Improved collagen production
• Increased skin elasticity
• Lightened sun spots
• More balanced skin tone
• Reduce surgery and injury healing times (often by as much as 100%)
• Increase bone and muscle density
• Reduced joint pain, body pain, and arthritis,
• Reduced water retention
• Improved immune system response
• Increased protection against retinal deterioration, cataracts, and retinopathy
• Lowered blood pressure
• More balanced glucose levels

 

Is Planet Fitness's Red Light Therapy the “Real Deal?”

While the Beauty Angel does offer a form of red light therapy, its effectiveness pales in comparison to specialized, medical-grade RLT devices. This is mainly due to its inadequate spectrum accuracy and intensity.

 

Who Can Benefit From Using the Total Body Enhancement Machine?

 

Access to this innovative machine is a privilege reserved for Planet Fitness Black Card members.

There are two membership tiers available. The first tier offers entry to the essential range of equipment. Following that is the Black Card membership, which entitles you to additional privileges such as the ability to bring guests, complimentary fitness coaching, HydroMassage loungers and beds, PF tanning options, and, importantly, the chance to utilize the Total Body Enhancement machines. As of the latest update, a Black Card membership fee is $24.99 per month with a $50 annual fee.

 

Guidelines for Using the Beauty Angel

The Beauty Angel is designed for both pre and post-exercise use, and Planet Fitness claims it helps prepare the body for physical activity or aid in recovery. Sessions last around 12 minutes and can be tailored to individual needs and goals, from relaxation to fitness enhancement.

Planet Fitness states that it’s important to wear protective eyewear during use to avoid eye strain and ensure your skin is clean and free from lotions, makeup, or sunscreen, which could interfere with the light's efficacy.

• Program 1: Relaxation — Aimed at helping you unwind and relax, this program combines low-intensity vibration with calming red light.
• Program 2: Wellness — Designed to enhance overall health and well-being, this program features medium-intensity vibration paired with stimulating red light.
• Program 3: Fitness — Focused on boosting fitness and performance, this program offers high-intensity vibration and energizing red light.
• Program 4: Beauty — Targeted at improving your appearance and boosting confidence, this program utilizes variable-intensity vibration and beautifying red light.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness safe to use?

The Total Body Enhancement available at Planet Fitness is safe and free from any adverse effects, provided you adhere to the specific guidelines set by Planet Fitness and limit your sessions as instructed.

 

How does the Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness benefit users?

The Beauty Angel system reportedly blends the advantages of a vibration plate along with low-level red light therapy. Whether it's effective is another matter. Given the scarcity of data on the efficacy of vibration plates and the minimal intensity of the red light therapy offered, it's hard to determine if there are any real benefits. The optimal approach to see results from this machine would require you to use it about twice a day.  

It's advised not to rely on this device as your sole source of red light therapy since it may not provide the necessary intensity for achieving broader cellular benefits and the increase in cellular energy necessary to support your biological functions.

 

Should the Beauty Angel be used after tanning or before spray tanning?

A popular routine among Planet Fitness clients is the ”Beauty Cocktail,” which involves a tanning session followed by a Beauty Angel treatment. The red light aids in the skin's recovery, offering a sort of “guilt free” tanning session. For those opting for our Spray Tans, the Beauty Angel is recommended beforehand as it can help dilate pores and enhance circulation, leading to a more effective spray tan.

 

Is it better to use Total Body Enhancement before or after exercising?

While the common preference is to use the Total Body Enhancement machine post-exercise for its rejuvenating and restorative effects, it's perfectly acceptable to use it beforehand.

 

Is the Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness a tanning device?

No, red light therapy does not result in tanning. The term "red light tanning" is merely used to describe the process of engaging in red light for its restorative benefits without any UV light exposure, thus not activating melanin. Infrared light is on the opposite spectrum from UV light, and therefore poses no danger.

 

What should you wear in the Total Body Enhancement machine?

If your aim is to utilize the machine primarily for its vibrating feature without focusing on the red light therapy, you can wear anything you want. However, if you wish to fully benefit from the machine, you want to maximize skin exposure to the red. Ideally, minimal to no clothing is best.

 

What should you do with your hair?

For those with long hair, securing it in a bun is the best option. This will ensure it doesn't obstruct any part of your body.

 

Do you need eye protection?

No, there's no requirement for goggles, sunglasses, or other eye protection while using the machine since it utilizes red light rather than harmful UV light. However, if the brightness bothers you or if you have sensitive eyes, feel free to use personal protective eyewear.

Can a person use the Total Body Enhancement system if they have tattoos?

Red light therapy is harmless for tattoos and does not cause fading. This is because the therapy at the 660nm and 850nm wavelengths does not include UV or UVB light spectrums known for causing tattoo pigment to fade.

 

 

Potential Side Effects of Planet Fitness Body Enhancement

 

Users may experience mild itching, dizziness, or light sensitivity initially, which typically subsides with continued use.

 

Usage Precautions

 

Certain individuals are advised against using the machine. This includes:

• Persons weighing over 300 pounds.
• Pregnant women.
• Persons with epilepsy.
• Anyone with a condition that results in sensitivity to light.
• Those with medical conditions that could worsen with light exposure.
• Persons under the age of 18 without consent from a guardian.
• Individuals with Deep Vein Thrombosis.
• Anyone who has recently had surgery.
• Those who use pacemakers.
• People at risk of or experiencing retinal detachment.

It's also essential to recognize that everyone's body is distinct, and what benefits one person may not necessarily benefit another. It's crucial to pay attention to how your body reacts to any sort of therapy. If you experience any discomfort, it's wise to pause and consult a professional.

 

So, should I plan to use the Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement machine for my red light therapy?

Unfortunately, Planet Fitness red light therapy is not what it reports to be. For those seeking the full spectrum of benefits from red light therapy, authentic red light devices offering higher intensity and targeted spectrums are recommended over Planet Fitness’s Total Body Enhancement program.

But don’t be disappointed! The You made it here, and you were right about the benefits of adding red light therapy to your daily routine. Authentic red light treatments cause no discomfort and require no downtime. During treatment with our devices, red light is distributed uniformly across the body's surface, prompting cellular regeneration.

Red Light Therapy is among the most pleasant and natural forms of treatment available, and we're confident you'll appreciate it once you experience it. In fact, here are just some of the many benefits:

 

• Increase your overall health and improve the way you look and feel
• Stimulate your skin, muscles, and bones on a cellular level
• Rejuvenate your skin
• Enjoy amazing anti-aging effects,
• Promote higher bone and muscle density
• Strengthen and protect your immune system
• Weaken potential degenerative diseases
• Improve your metabolism
• Support your body’s many biological processes
• Sooth joint and body pain
• Decrease surgery healing time with less scarring
• Treat migraines
• Reduce water retention
• Increase eye health
• Improve circulation
• Lower blood pressure

 

Now is the time to explore and spread the word about full body red light therapy at home! Embrace 100% natural healing that stimulates your skin, muscles, and bones on a cellular level!