How useful are the massage chairs at Planet Fitness?
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The fact that you phrase this issue as "what other people choose to do bothers you so much" shows that you completely miss the point of my question.
As I've taken great pains to point out, I could have posted an angry rant about PF... but I didn't. Instead, I explain why I think that there's little value in these massage chairs, even as I acknowledge that I might not be seeing the entire story. So far, none of the justifications offered seem to be well grounded.6 -
herrspoons wrote: »PF. The gym for people who don't want to get fit.
bahahahahahahaha3 -
I was really hoping that someone would give me a good reason for these massage chairs to exist within a "gym." As you may have noticed, I try to be very fair when discussing Planet Fitness. I think that there are lot of problems with their philosophy, but I also want to acknowledge the positive things that they do.
Honestly though, I think that the whole concept of a "relaxation zone" within a gym is foolish. That's no way to get results. Some exercises can be relaxing -- a leisurely stroll, for example -- but these tend to be low-effort activities that produce only minor results.
Heck, at the risk of offending some people, I daresay that the obesity problem in this country stems largely from an excess of relaxation. Stress does admittedly come into play, but by and large, poor dietary habits and the avoidance of physical activity are what make people fat.
Tanning beds? Red light therapy? Massage chairs? IMO, none of those things will help people get fit. They just help perpetuate the notion that Planet Fitness only wants to attract people who don't really want to get into shape.
you answered your own question ..
end thread/3 -
...snip...
The tanning beds are clearly inappropriate, given that they're unhealthy and do nothing to promote physical fitness. These amenities, I daresay, only help fuel the notion that PF caters to people who want a relaxing "workout" and aren't really interested in getting fit.
..snip...
When I lived in CT, I was a member of a gym that is your classic meathead gym.
It was one of the first Gold Gym's in the country, I'm pretty sure the owners used to do roids, they host a lot of the fitness competitions in CT, and I think NPC-CT is based out of there. That said, they have tanning beds. And a sauna. It's not just a PF thing.
Other gyms I've been to have tanning beds and/or saunas. It's really not that uncommon.
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Actually, if you look at this thread, I didn't question the use of saunas. Quite the contrary; I posted a link that described their fitness-related benefits.
As for tanning beds though, they are unhealthy and should have no place in a gym. I stand by that.
BTW, I don't think that a single example is sufficient to establish that they are "not that uncommon." At best, this only shows that there is ONE other gym that uses them in addition to PF.7 -
If the before/after pics are any indication, no bodybuilder makeover is complete without tanning and hair removal.7
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I've been to 2 different gyms over the last few years - one a large chain and one the local council-run leisure centre - and they both had tanning booths. The centre was cheap and my current gym is sort of mid-range price wise.
I've also been to a fancy pants golf club on a day pass with a friend who is a member and they had tanning booths. In the north of England, the only way to cheer us up in the constant rain is to take on the colour and texture of a gnarly walnut.
I happen to agree with you that sunbeds aren't conducive to health and fitness, but neither are the muffins and mars bars they sell in the cafe. It's rather irrelevant what those who do not approve of them think.
I would hazard to say that sunbeds are very common in gyms, here, at least. They are frequently used in my gym and there are plenty of bright orange people about to convince me that the facility may even be selling point for some people.
Hope that this convinces you that the tardis of melanoma is widespread and not particular to PF.3 -
I happen to agree with you that sunbeds aren't conducive to health and fitness,
No, they're not. With that said though it is probably more convenient to use a sunbed in the gym where one works out if they are training for a competition.
Also in areas where one can't get outside and enjoy the benefits of the sun for half the year a tanning salon -- for me any way -- provides a quick way to get a vitamin d boost and improve my mood.
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LULZ- we have tanning beds at my gym- and we are about as far away from Planet Fitness as you can get in terms of "type of people that go here"
- #everyonesongearatmygym3 -
Actually, if you look at this thread, I didn't question the use of saunas. Quite the contrary; I posted a link that described their fitness-related benefits.
As for tanning beds though, they are unhealthy and should have no place in a gym. I stand by that.
BTW, I don't think that a single example is sufficient to establish that they are "not that uncommon." At best, this only shows that there is ONE other gym that uses them in addition to PF.
I gave you 2 examples actually.
Montanari Brothers in CT and all of The Edge Fitness Clubs in CT have tanning beds.
Montanari Bros and North Haven Health and Raquet have saunas.
I'm in Maine and if I was getting ready to a fitness comp, I'm not going to polar tan (reference to an episode of NCIS). Yeah, tanning beds aren't ideal but they aren't going away2 -
see my above post- it's pretty common- even in heavy oly/power gyms.1
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The short answer: they are there because they attract customers which means more money.
The slightly longer answer: because it's relaxing. It's common sense to want to rest and relax after a hard workout session. PF recognizes that desire, and tries to provide added value by catering to it. Fitness benefits are not only physical, but also mental, and massage chairs are a good way to destress and relax. I think they fit right in.7 -
WalkingAlong wrote: »There is no fitness reason for a gym to have restrooms either.
People join gyms for many non-fitness reasons-- social, aesthetics, stress relief, etc.
If you don't like it, join a different gym, one that suits your business/moral sense better.
LOL, you must have never squatted once in your life.2 -
or done double unders.0
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Hi, It sounds like you are doing some kind of sociology experiment or psychology experiment to engage people in discussion and debate. Perhaps going to the forums on debate.org might be an interesting place to discuss the massage chairs?
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lulz.Chevy_Quest wrote: »Hi, It sounds like you are doing some kind of sociology experiment or psychology experiment to engage people in discussion and debate. Perhaps going to the forums on debate.org might be an interesting place to discuss the massage chairs?
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Lemme guess... 'restrooms'... 'squat joke'? Good one. High school rocked.WalkingAlong wrote: »There is no fitness reason for a gym to have restrooms either.
People join gyms for many non-fitness reasons-- social, aesthetics, stress relief, etc.
If you don't like it, join a different gym, one that suits your business/moral sense better.
LOL, you must have never squatted once in your life.
I do kettlebell squats. I don't need a rack.
Christmas give for you, Dave. (You've gotta be a Dave.)
http://squattypotty.com/
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sophomoric high school jokes are the best.
The older I get the funnier fart jokes get. Seriously. How could you ever leave all that behind?!?!?!
heh- behind.
get it.1 -
More like if you get a heavy weight on your back, and have anything loaded in the bottom end, it might come out during the lift. So you drop the kids off at the pool prior to getting the lift on, and thanks to caffeine, sometimes those signals come mid set. It is quite disasstrous to ignore them.
Yes, I am Dave.
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WalkingAlong wrote: »Christmas give for you, Dave. (You've gotta be a Dave.)
http://squattypotty.com/
I don't even...
... and I thought a bidet was dumb.0
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