How useful are the massage chairs at Planet Fitness?
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Please note: This is NOT an anti-PF rant. I do have my issues with the Planet Fitness business model, but this is one situation in which I'd genuinely like to hear what others have to say.
For the sake of the uninformed, Planet Fitness offers a "relaxation zone" in its facilities. These relaxation zones have tanning beds, red light therapy machines (which are purportedly good for the skin), and massage chairs or beds. Personally, I question whether having a relaxation zone is really suitable for a gym, but I won't say that it's completely without merit.
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.
The red light therapy machines MIGHT be helpful for various skin conditions. I don't yet know what the medical community has to say about them. Once again though, they seem incongruous in a gym, and I think they'd be better suited for a vacation spa.
What about the massage chairs, though? Some would probably argue that they're good for treating tight muscles after a heavy workout. In my experience though, massage chairs generally don't do much for post-workout tension, though. Nor do relaxation massages in general, as these are best treated using actual deep tissue massage or sports massages. (Additionally, PF says that they don't really cater to the heavy lifting crowd, as they prefer to "create an environment where you can relax, go at your own pace," etc.
I realize that I might not be seeing the entire story though, so I would be interested in hearing what others have to say.
You wrote all this to ask .... WHAT???? in Fitness and Exercise.
When is your school starting?6 -
And just who are you to decide what and how I should handle my fitness and workout? If I am having a rough week and reward myself for setting a PR anyway do you have a with that? You say the result should be the reward; again, who are you to decide my reward? If I want to sit in a massage chair and kick back you certainly are not in a position to decide for me. My gym has a hair and beauty salon; should they get rid of it? What if I just want to relax after my workout by sitting in a massage chair before driving to work or home? Relaxation is not a bad thing and is part of a balanced life and life would be pretty awful without it.
If PF wants to do something and you don't like it then don't pay for it or open your own gym.7 -
Perhaps you missed the part where I said, "The fitness benefits of working out are their own reward. If people need an additional reward, they can always provide on themselves. " (Emphasis added.) So no, I'm NOT saying that the results should be your only reward. I most certainly am NOT saying that you'd be wrong to reward yourself by making use of these chairs, so please don't put words in my mouth.
Can the massage chairs be used as a reward? Sure, but I don't see much sense in saying that we should expect the gym to provide rewards for people who work out. What about watching TV, playing poker, or getting smoochy with your spouse? It would still be most incongruous for the gym to offer those as in-house services simply because they CAN be used as rewards.
Again, I'm not saying that having the massage chairs is harmful. I just don't see them as being all that useful for physical fitness.
Also, your argument would carry more weight if PF marketed the massage services as a reward for a hard workout. Instead, there's nothing to stop people from coming in and getting a massage (or pizza, for that matter) without any exercise whatsoever. That's not morally wrong, but they certainly aren't being offered as incentives to work out.
Fortunately, there are SOME people where who know how to discuss such matters in a civil and principled fashion. Thanks to some of the people here, I have learned that the use of tanning beds in gyms is a lot more common than I realized. (For bodybuilding competitions, I gather.) I still think that they're unhealthy, but I appreciate hearing this additional piece of information. Thanks, folks.5 -
Went with a friend ONE TIME.... LMAO at the "LUNK ALARM" Didnt know about the massage chairs or I might have grabbed a double mocha frappacino with extra whipped cream and added PF to one of my "people watching" places....next.. they'll offer mani/pedis...2
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I question how they can claim to have a relaxation area when they do not serve alcohol.11
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It's nice to have a sit while I wait for the tanners.3
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I approve of this message.Espressocycle wrote: »I question how they can claim to have a relaxation area when they do not serve alcohol.
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probably for a spa effect. I go to a spa that has a fitness room, work out, chill in the salt caves, get a massage, pedicure, etc. To each their own. I wish I had a planet Fitness near me. $10 bucks you can't go wrong. Just don't eat the pizza, or if you do, who cares, it's no body else's business. I don't understand why people spend so much time bitching about Planet Fitness. Get over yourselves.8
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Salt caves?
I'd get kicked out for licking the walls.
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Is it less a spa, more a mine?2
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Sounds like an anti-PF rant to me. I thought the tanning beds were the only good thing at PF. Gym and tanning goes together like peanut butter and fluff. But I guess it's not for everyone. As for the massage chairs... I've used it but was not entirely impressed. I've sat in much nicer massage chairs while getting a pedicure. All in all, canceling my PF membership was the smartest thing I've done this year.2
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I’m no fan of PF, but...
Technically, if it helps relieve stress, then it does bring some health value. Cortisol is catabolic and can wreck an otherwise good program. Not to mention that some folks are stress eaters.3 -
Heh, I think there is Lunk Pride among some here. I hear the lunks talking in the radio commercials for PF and I have to admit I picture a couple of the frequent posters here.
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I enjoy my pizza on the massage chair. PF used to have those funky hand chairs till some one sat on it wrong and broke it. I feel that I get a great workout and deserve a treat after a hard workout on the elliptical. I keep my workouts under 20 minutes to not hog the machine and then chit chat with the nice folks. I'm really not sure what all this hate is about. Some of you guys seem like you are not really into reasonable fitness and are some sort of fanatics.1
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AllanMisner wrote: »I’m no fan of PF, but...
Technically, if it helps relieve stress, then it does bring some health value. Cortisol is catabolic and can wreck an otherwise good program. Not to mention that some folks are stress eaters.
What if I just take an AI and cortisol inhibitor?2 -
herrspoons wrote: »PF. The gym for people who don't want to get fit.
Actually, Planet Fitness is a great gym for people who are dedicated to getting healthier, just like any gym or fitness program. I personally love Planet Fitness and can be found there a good 5 days a week. If you're a body builder it probably isn't a place for you, though. Granted, some of the people who go spend more time standing around talking, eating or texting then working out. There are a good number of people who are there for weight loss and fitness. It's not the only gym in my town but it is the largest and cheapest. It has more equipment then even the smaller, more expensive gyms. It even has more free weights to be used.
I rarely use the "relaxation zone" simply because it does me no good. I don't go to the gym to relax, I go to work out and get sweaty. The chairs have never helped me with tense or sore muscles, either. Ours has hydromassage beds and normal massage chairs and they are both good if you just feel like relaxing, nothing to do with a work out. When we joined they explained the black card room to us as "a place to go after a hard day at work" and not a place to go after a work out. If I don't have to get home to cook dinner or take care of something I enjoy spending some time in there. There are a ton of people who get on an elliptical for five minutes then go in there huffing and puffing. I refuse to tan, though. I prefer pale and healthy.2 -
Salt caves?
I'd get kicked out for licking the walls.
It's not my regular gym, but a place I go for treat. I tend to work out while I am there, then relax. I do skip the naked pool though. lol
spaworldusa.com/
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I’m not sure why you’d take something rather than use natural remedies. A good massage is an awesome gift you can give yourself to improve your health.2
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