If you don’t have time to go home after the gym, you need to find a gym with proper facilities.
Planet Fitness is one of the most popular gym franchises in the country.
Of course, before you sign up for a membership, you need to know if they have a shower.
Does Planet Fitness Have Showers?
Yes, Planet Fitness has showers.
While they’re not overly luxurious, every Planet Fitness does indeed have multiple clean showers with privacy curtains you can use after you exercise.
However, they do not have shower towels, and the small towels they provide to wipe down machines and your face won’t do the job.
Carry a towel in your gym bag if you plan to use the shower at Planet Fitness.
You will also need to bring your own toiletries, such as a travel-size bar of soap or body wash.
Naturally, you will need to put your bag and other items into a locker while you shower.
Planet Fitness Locker Policy
Planet Fitness provides single-use lockers for members to use during their visits.
When you sign up for Planet Fitness, you agree to and sign the locker policy (whether you read the entire thing at signing or not).
Luckily, the policy seems rather reasonable.
Keep in mind that the lockers are not intended for extended use, and you will need to provide your own lock.
Planet Fitness enforces its policy regarding single-use lockers.
If they notice a member taking a locker and keeping a lock on it when they miss their workout for a couple of days, the staff will cut the lock.
Here is the Planet Fitness lock policy in its entirety:
- Lockers are provided to store your personal items.
- You must bring your own padlock.
- Even if you have your stuff locked up, theft or damage to your property can happen.
- A supervisor has the right to open your locker if they have a reasonable excuse that you are using your locker to store things other than your clothes or gym gear.
- If you leave your stuff in a locker overnight, management is able to cut your lock and hold your belonging as lost property.
- Always watch your stuff.
- If your stuff gets stolen or damaged, Planet Fitness will not pay for your stuff.
- It is your responsibility to have your personal stuff covered by insurance.
Planet Fitness Dress Code
Planet Fitness aims to be as inclusive as possible, so the dress code is relatively relaxed.
With that being said, they will ask guests to wear appropriate footwear to avoid getting hurt.
They also don’t allow work boots since they can damage the machines.
They may also say something if they see someone wearing something obscene.
Also, while they may not say anything, it’s just polite not to wear merchandise from competitors.
Tips For Using The Lockers And Showers At Planet Fitness
You should feel comfortable using the showers at the gym.
Planet Fitness provides them for a reason.
However, you should use them properly so that you follow gym etiquette and keep yourself healthy.
1. Keep The Code To Your Lock In Your Car
It can be easy to forget the code to your lock, especially if you don’t use it regularly.
You can store the code in your phone, but you will probably have your phone in your locker when you take a shower.
Instead, keep the code in your car in case you can’t seem to remember it when you need to get your items from your locker.
2. Condense Into Small Bag
Keep your items in a small bag that will actually fit into the lockers.
You won’t get to use the lockers at all if you can’t fit your items in them.
The locker sizes may vary at each location.
3. Keep Valuables At Home
Many of us can’t possibly imagine taking off our wedding rings, even at the gym.
However, you should really think about leaving it at home.
If something happens, such as the ring falling down a drain or gets stolen, Planet Fitness does not have any responsibility.
You will need to handle the situation through your own insurance.
4. Wear Shower Shoes
Showers provide the perfect conditions for the condition known as “athlete’s foot.”
Athlete’s foot refers to a fungal infection that causes extreme itchiness and discomfort.
You should wear flip flops when you shower at the gym, similar to wearing flip flops in a dorm shower.
5. Cool Down First
It’s best to allow yourself to cool down before jumping in the shower.
Otherwise, the shower may keep your body temperature too high and create shock when you encounter cool conditions.
6. Be Quick
Other people may need to use the showers, too, so keep your shower time to a minimum.
You don’t need to wash your hair and shave.
Instead, rinse off and get out.
7. Use Warm Water
Hot and cold water both have their advantages.
Hot water soothes tight muscles, and cold water reduces inflammation.
However, hot water can dry out the skin, and cold water can shock the system.
Stick with a compromise of cool water.
Alternatively, you can alternate between hot and cold.
Planet Fitness Membership Costs
One of the best things about Planet Fitness is that they have very reasonable prices, and the membership comes with a lot of benefits.
It’s really a great value.
Planet Fitness has two types of memberships: the Classic Membership and the PF Black Card Membership.
Classic Membership
Classic membership costs $10/month and usually requires a 12-month commitment.
You must also pay a $39 annual fee every year, and there may be a startup fee.
(Of course, you can find promotions from time to time, so keep your eyes open.)
Classic Membership includes the following benefits:
- Access to the home club
- Free fitness training
- Free WiFi
PF Black Card Membership
PF Black Card Membership costs $22.99/month and does not usually require a commitment.
You will still have the $39 annual fee, and there may be a startup fee.
PF Black Card Membership comes with everything Planet Fitness has to offer:
- Access to the home club (and you can bring a guest)
- Free fitness training
- Free WiFi
- Use of any Planet Fitness worldwide
- Bring a guest anytime
- Use of tanning
- Use of HydroMassage
- Use of massage chairs
- Use of Total Body Enhancement
- 50% off drinks
- 20% off reebok.com
Benefits Of Working Out At Planet Fitness
There’s a lot of competition out there, so why work out at Planet Fitness?
Well, if the prices didn’t do it for you, here are some of the other benefits of working out at Planet Fitness.
1. Open 24 Hours A Day
Some people, such as nurses and law enforcement, work odd hours.
Planet Fitness wants to provide a place for everyone to exercise, including people with untraditional schedules, so it keeps all locations open 24/7.
Check with your local Planet Fitness to learn hours on the holidays.
2. Clean Facilities
Planet Fitness prides itself on maintaining clean facilities.
The staff cleans regularly, and there are numerous features to keep all guests safe, including…
- Touchless check-in: A chip in your membership card allows you to enter without touching anything.
- Cleaning stations: You can sanitize your hands in one of the numerous cleaning stations available.
- Crowd meter: A crowd meter tells you how busy the gym is in real time, allowing you to go when there aren’t as many people there.
3. Free Fitness Training
Planet Fitness staff has extensive training in fitness and nutrition.
The friendly trainers can help you come up with a personalized plan with the equipment available at the gym, and they can teach you about how to use the equipment.
To sign up for a Design Your Own Program session, you can talk to the associate behind the front desk or schedule it yourself online or through the app.
4. Judgement Free Zone
Gyms can be intimidating.
Planet Fitness does not allow guests to intimidate other guests or make them feel bad about where they are in their fitness journey.
Planet Fitness refers to intimidating people at the gym as “lunks.”
Some examples of lunk behavior include:
- Grunting
- Dropping Weights
- Showcasing
- Judging
If someone does feel intimidated, they can activate the Lunk Siren to have the situation addressed immediately.
Everyone should feel safe and comfortable.
Anything less simply won’t be tolerated.
Creating a judgment-free place to work out was one of the main reasons for creating Planet Fitness in the first place.
History Of Planet Fitness
In 1992, the first Planet Fitness opened in Dover, New Hampshire.
The owners quickly identified a large portion of the population who wasn’t being catered to: people who are just starting to work out.
Many newbies may not go to the gym since the people are already jacked and knowledgeable, and they feel like they don’t fit in.
Planet Fitness decided to cater to these beginners so that they feel comfortable.
The concept worked.
More people started going to the gym since the gym promoted a welcoming atmosphere and provided training.
Today, there are 2,039 locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Latin America.
Planet Fitness Policies
If you do decide to get a membership, you may need to know some of the important policies.
Accommodations For Disabled Members
Not only do all locations have entrances and bathrooms that accommodate disabled guests, but they also have policies in place for the people (and animals) that assist disabled guests.
Service animals are allowed in the building.
However, the staff can ask for proof of training if they find it necessary.
Also, the handler must keep the animal under control and clean up after it.
Personal aides are allowed into the club to help regular members.
They cannot work out themselves unless the PF Black Card member counts them as a guest.
NEXT: Is Judge Judy A Real Judge? (Explained)