Kayla Young
A gym membership is the first step to a healthier, fitter you, but it’s just the start. Once you’ve signed up, you need to build up the habits and learn the best ways to train to meet your goals.
Have you finally decided to get a membership at Planet Fitness? Fantastic! They have a great ethos, lots to offer their members, and of course a very inexpensive fee structure.
In this article, we’re going to discuss Planet Fitness rules and give you an insider’s guide to behavior, etiquette, and life at your local PF.
Let’s get started!
Contents
Planet Fitness Rules: What Should You Know?
Have you ever been a member of another gym or fitness facility? Each gym will have its own set of rules, but there are many similar rules.
Planet Fitness is a unique gym, catering to everyone except the gym rats. They are very welcoming, but many hardcore gym-goers find some of PF’s policies very strange and counterintuitive.
In order to make the most out of your gym membership and to prevent you from getting kicked out of Planet Fitness, we’ll discuss the most important things you should know about how to behave at PF.
In this article we’ll talk about the rules regarding the following:
- Membership Rules
- Dress Code
- Lunk Alarm Rules
- Banned Exercises
- Tanning Rules
- Guest Rules
Planet Fitness Membership Rules
First of all, let’s talk about membership at Planet Fitness. If you simply want to work out using the gym equipment, then you can just go for the classic membership. This will grant you access to your home gym only.
However, if you want full access to the different amenities available, then you should go for the Black Card membership. This gives you full access to your home gym or any other Planet Fitness location you want to visit.
There are about 2000 PF franchises worldwide! So if you tend to travel and would still like to work out, then the Black Card membership is an absolute must.
Apart from the gym equipment, Black card membership holders will have access to tanning beds, hydromassage chairs and beds, and Total Body Enhancement machines (more on these later). Black card members are also able to bring a guest whenever they work out.
Apart from the gym equipment, Black card membership holders will have access to tanning beds, hydromassage chairs and beds, and Total Body Enhancement machines.
In case you lose your Planet Fitness card, don’t panic. Your membership is still valid but it would be best to call your home gym for instructions on what to do.
Some may require you to provide a valid ID to confirm your identity, while others could simply ask for your name and some other information.
You’d be pleased to know that Planet Fitness participates in the SilverSneakers program. Those in this program can freely use the gym facilities. And there may be classes, especially created and designed for SilverSneakers members too.
However, most Planet Fitness facilities may not allow the use of the spa amenities for SilverSneakers members. You may try to ask specific Planet Fitness locations because some might allow it.
Dress Code
It would be nice to be able to wear simply anything you’d like and work out. For some, this could push them to be more motivated and not to worry about what to wear during their workout.
It’s one less thing to focus on.
However, Planet Fitness does have a dress code that you should follow so you won’t be asked to leave. The good news is that their dress code isn’t very strict and isn’t limited to the stuff they have in their shop.
Planet Fitness simply requires you to wear proper attire for working out. Nothing too revealing or intimidating, because you have to remember that they want to create an inclusive environment where beginners feel comfortable going to exercise.
Additionally, safety is a major concern at PF. They will require you not to wear very loose tops that could snag, and no jewelry or anything else that might get caught in a machine.
Safety is a major concern at PF. They will require you not to wear very loose tops that could snag, and no jewelry or anything else that might get caught in a machine.
Typical workout clothes that wick away moisture are ideal. You should be wearing closed-toe shoes to protect your feet too.
Lunk Alarm Rules
This is one of the things that mystifies gym rats.
Planet Fitness is famous for the presence of a lunk alarm. It sets PF apart from other gyms.
When people grunt, make lots of noise, drop weights, or bang weights because they are trying to motivate themselves to finish their reps, an employee may trigger the lunk alarm.
In PF’s view, noises like these are intimidating or disturbing to other people who are using the gym.
The lunk alarm is there to make sure that Planet Fitness remains a judgment-free zone and welcoming environment. It could help those who are new to working out feel more comfortable without being intimidated by more experienced gym enthusiasts.
The lunk alarm is meant to make sure that Planet Fitness remains a judgment-free zone and welcoming environment.
Sometimes, they don’t physically sound the alarm, but may just get the attention of the person who is considered to be “lunking”. An employee may serve a warning to stop the grunts, loud noises, and unnecessary banging of the weights.
Repeated lunking can get you kicked out of the gym.
The Dissenting View on Lunking
Many gym enthusiasts from other gyms mock the lunk alarm. Lots of other gyms welcome the banging and grunting as someone is achieving a personal record or hitting a goal of a new deadlift record or whatever. That’s why the person is at the gym in the first place!
These grunts and expressions serve to motivate other gym-goers to do better and achieve.
Banned Exercises
Did you know that there are banned exercises at Planet Fitness? As a fitness facility, it can be surprising that there are exercises that you can’t do there. However, there is actually a list of exercises that you can’t do.
Like the lunk alarm, this is counter-intuitive to many gym enthusiasts.
Among the exercises that are banned at Planet Fitness include:
- Jerks
- T-rows
- Deadlifts
- Overhead presses
- Super setting
The reason why there are banned exercises at Planet Fitness is because of their aim to be a judgment-free zone.
Most of the exercises that are banned are usually those that are done by serious bodybuilders. Those exercises may also cause you to “lunk” in the hopes of finishing your set and hitting that PR.
The target market for Planet Fitness isn’t the bodybuilders but the rest of the population who may not have the knowledge on how to safely do those exercises. Such exercises may be too intimidating for those who are starting to work on their fitness.
Although Planet Fitness bans those exercises, they offer alternative machines that are considered safer alternatives.
For example, they have Smith machines in place of bench presses. Although they are similar, they may not be exactly alike. Smith machines are considered safer and are more beginner friendly.
Tanning Rules
Planet Fitness is one of the gyms that has tanning beds available for its members. However, at Planet Fitness, only those who have a Black Card membership have access to the tanning beds.
The availability of tanning beds makes Planet Fitness more attractive to many people who love tanning as well as working out. It saves a trip, and also saves money!
With your Black Card membership, you have unlimited access to the tanning booths or tanning beds at Planet Fitness.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can use the tanning bed multiple times a day for however long you like!
Due to safety reasons, there is a limit to the use of tanning beds and tanning booths.
Members are only allowed to use the tanning equipment once per day. Remember that excessive exposure to UV light can increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Rules such as this limit can help with the safety of their members.
Members are only allowed to use the tanning equipment once per day. Remember that excessive exposure to UV light can increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
Additionally, guests aren’t allowed to use tanning beds. It’s only the members who could use the tanning equipment at Planet Fitness.
Guest Rules
One of the best things about getting a Black Card membership at Planet Fitness is being able to bring a guest every time you work out. This is such a good thing for many members.
It’s way easier to motivate to go when you have a buddy!
However, there are rules that apply to the guests. One of the main rules is that the guests can only have access to the facility if the member is also there at the same time. So although you can bring your guest anytime you go to Planet Fitness, your guest cannot work out there if you are not physically present too.
Guests can only have access to the facility if the member is also there at the same time.
Another thing to note is that guests are only allowed to use the gym equipment. Even if the Black Card membership gives you access to the other amenities at Planet Fitness, that is only limited to the member and not the guest.
A Black Card holder’s guest must be of legal age and should bring an ID with a photo in it to verify their identity. Guests who are between 13-18 years old are allowed into PF, as long as the member is their parent or guardian. They have to stay with their parent or guardian at all times.
Just like the Planet Fitness members, guests should also follow the rules in Planet Fitness regarding the dress code and those that have to do with the lunk alarm.
Members can bring different guests each time they go and work out but the guests have to show their identification in order to get in. In some locations, PF is more lenient with access to the Black Card spa area. If your guest really want to try something out, it’s worth asking if it’s possible.
