Best Gyms and Fitness Centers with Red Light Therapy

Looking for a gym that takes your fitness and recovery to the next level? Many fitness lovers struggle with muscle soreness, slow recovery, and stubborn skin issues.

It can be frustrating when your workouts leave you drained instead of energized. The solution? Gyms with red light therapy.

These centers help boost recovery, reduce inflammation, and improve skin health all while you train.

• More gyms now offer red light therapy to speed up muscle recovery and improve skin health.

• Major fitness chains like Planet Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and Gold's Gym provide red light therapy at select locations.

• Sessions typically last 10 to 20 minutes, with availability and pricing varying by gym.

• Using red light therapy post-workout can enhance recovery, while pre-workout use may target muscle activation.

• Future trends include AI-powered sessions, wearable red light devices, and combining red light with infrared saunas or cold therapy.

• Red Light Therapy Enhances Workout Recovery: Many gyms are turning to red light therapy because it offers proven benefits to improve workout recovery and overall fitness.

• Boosting Muscle Recovery for Fitness Enthusiasts: By boosting blood flow and reducing inflammation, red light therapy speeds up muscle recovery, which is essential for fitness enthusiasts.

• Addressing Muscle Soreness with Red Light Therapy: Around 55% to 65%  of regular exercisers deal with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), making red light therapy a solution for many.

• Gyms Are Investing in Red Light Therapy Equipment: As the benefits  become more clear, gyms are investing in expensive red light therapy equipment to meet growing demand from members.

• Planet Fitness Offers Red Light Therapy: Planet Fitness provides red light therapy through its Total Body Enhancement machine to promote muscle recovery and improve skin health.

• Included with Black Card Membership: The red light therapy service is available for Black Card members and combines vibration technology to help reduce muscle tension and stimulate muscles.

• Primarily Focused on Skin Health and Muscle Stimulation: The Total Body Enhancement machine mainly targets skin health and offers muscle stimulation, but it may not provide deep tissue recovery.

• Availability May Vary by Location: Make sure to check with your nearest Planet Fitness to confirm if they offer the red light therapy service at your location.

VASA Fitness offers affordable membership plans with access to red light therapy (RLT). The Fitness plan at $24.99/month and the Studio plan at $44.99/month both include RLT, while the Basic plan at $14.99/month does not offer this benefit.

• Club Fitness gives you red light therapy at select locations: Club Fitness includes red light therapy with membership at some of its gym locations, offering an extra recovery boost for members.

• You only need 10 to 15 minutes for a red light session at Club Fitness: Sessions are quick and efficient, fitting easily into your gym routine without taking much time.

• Prices and availability for red light therapy change depending on the Club Fitness location: Since each Club Fitness may have different rates and schedules for red light therapy, it’s best to ask at your specific gym when you sign up.

• Fitness 19 helps muscles recover faster with red light therapy: Fitness 19 provides red light therapy to improve muscle recovery and reduce joint discomfort.

• Regular members at Fitness 19 notice stronger bodies and better endurance: Many regular users have noticed long-term benefits, including improved strength, increased endurance, and faster recovery times.

• Fitness 19 offers quick red light sessions several times a week: Sessions typically last about 10 to 20 minutes and can be used multiple times per week.

• Chuze Fitness Offers Red Light Therapy for Recovery and Wellness: Many Chuze Fitness locations now offer red light therapy as part of their recovery and wellness services. Some memberships include this, though additional fees might apply.

• Walk-In Red Light Therapy Available at Select Locations: Members can use red light therapy without an appointment at select Chuze Fitness locations. Pricing and availability vary by location.

• Red Light Therapy Enhances Mood, Energy, and Sleep: Chuze Fitness highlights how red light therapy helps with mood improvement, increased energy, and better sleep.

• Affordable Memberships for Red Light Therapy Access: Memberships at Chuze Fitness start at $15.99/month, making it an affordable choice for many who want to experience red light therapy.

• Red Light Therapy Included in Premium Memberships: Some Anytime Fitness locations offer red light therapy as part of their premium memberships, while others may charge an extra fee.

• RenuvaSkin Red Light Bed Available at Select Locations: The RenuvaSkin Red Light Bed, introduced in 2024, is available at select Anytime Fitness gyms, providing members with advanced red light therapy in a private setting.

• 24/7 Access to Red Light Therapy: Anytime Fitness offers round-the-clock access to its gyms, making it easier for members to fit red light therapy into their schedules.

Gold's Gym features a Recovery Room equipped with red light therapy and other tools to support physical recovery. Members can use Hydro Massage Chairs to relieve muscle soreness, reduce stress, and improve circulation. The gym also offers Percussion Therapy Guns, Cryotherapy Chairs, and Compression Therapy Boots to aid muscle recovery and reduce pain. Some locations include infrared saunas, which can be combined with red light therapy for detoxification and enhanced recovery.

• Planet Fitness Offers Red Light Therapy: Planet Fitness provides red light therapy through its Total Body Enhancement machine, but it’s available only with the Black Card membership and may not be offered at every location.

• Club Fitness Includes Red Light Therapy in Premium Memberships: Club Fitness provides red light therapy with its premium and platinum memberships, but again, its availability differs by location.

• Check Local Gym Availability for Red Light Therapy: It's essential to contact your local gym to confirm if red light therapy is available and to learn about any membership requirements or costs.

• Use FDA-Approved Devices for Safety: Ensure the red light therapy device you use is FDA-approved or has proven clinical effectiveness.

• Choose Between Full-Body or Targeted Devices: Full-body devices provide broader coverage, while targeted devices focus on specific areas for more concentrated treatment.

• Keep Sessions Between 10-20 Minutes: When deciding how often to use Red Light Therapy, it's important to tailor the frequency to your fitness goals and body type. Generally, sessions should last 10-20 minutes, 3-5 times per week, to see the best results.

• Stick to a Consistent Routine for Best Results: Consistency is key, as it can take several weeks to notice noticeable changes. RLT works by stimulating the mitochondria in your cells, boosting energy production and enhancing fat metabolism, which helps in targeting stubborn fat areas and speeding up your weight loss journey.

• Adjust Your Sessions as Your Body Responds: As you progress, you can adjust the frequency and duration of your sessions based on how your body responds, ensuring you get the most out of each treatment.

For better results, clean your skin before your session and avoid applying lotions, oils, makeup, or sunscreen. 

Since sunscreen can block red and near-infrared LED lights, removing it ensures the red light penetrates effectively . This ensures the red light penetrates effectively.

For better results, clean your skin before your session and avoid applying lotions, oils, or makeup. 

This ensures the red light penetrates effectively. Also, be mindful of your clothing, thick, dark, or shiny fabrics can block the light, reducing its effectiveness. 

To maximize benefits, choose loose, light-colored, breathable materials like cotton, which allow the light to reach your skin more efficiently.

Many people find that using red light therapy post-workout speeds up muscle recovery.

You can also use it before exercise to target specific muscle groups. If using it before, wait about 10 minutes before starting your workout.

Avoid staring directly into the lights, as prolonged exposure can harm your eyes. Some people, including those with specific eye conditions or pregnancy, should consult a doctor before use.

Always wear protective eyewear during sessions, especially in self-service booths or with high-intensity devices.

Drinking water before and after your session helps with circulation and enhances therapy effectiveness.

Wearable red light therapy devices are gaining popularity, offering on-the-go recovery.

These portable devices can be discreetly worn under gym clothes to target sore muscles. 

However, avoid overuse, as excessive exposure may cause skin irritation.

Some modern red light therapy devices use AI to customize treatment intensity based on your skin type and wellness goals. This technology helps track progress and optimize results.

• Red Light Therapy Works Better After an Infrared Sauna: Using red light therapy after an infrared sauna session enhances its benefits. The sauna boosts circulation, helping the red light penetrate more effectively.

• Sauna and Red Light Therapy Together Help Your Skin and Muscles: The combination of sauna and red light therapy increases collagen production and helps your body heal faster, making the two treatments work well together.

• Experts Recommend Combining Red Light and Infrared Sauna: "Red light therapy is a reliable, non-invasive option, especially when combined with other treatments," says  Dr. Michelle Henry  , a board-certified dermatologist and Harvard-trained Mohs surgeon.

• A Growing Trend for Better Fitness and Skin Health: This combination is becoming popular in gyms, offering full-body benefits for muscle recovery and improving skin health.

• Red Light and Sauna Together Speed Up Healing and Recovery: The synergy between the sauna and red light therapy helps detox your body, reduce muscle soreness, and speed up the recovery process after a workout.

Self-service red light therapy booths offer targeted treatment by allowing users to stand or sit in front of red light panels.

Most booths require protective eyewear. Using the booth multiple times per week maximizes benefits.

Some gyms now offer a combination of cold therapy and red light therapy for improved recovery. Cold therapy reduces inflammation, while red light therapy promotes healing.

Red light therapy is becoming a staple in modern fitness centers, offering a range of benefits from muscle recovery to skin health.

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or a beginner, incorporating red light therapy into your routine can enhance your overall wellness.

With gyms like Gold's Gym DC Metro, Crunch Fitness, and Chuze Fitness leading the way, it’s easier than ever to find a gym that meets your recovery needs.

Don’t forget to take advantage of free trial passes or complimentary day passes to experience red light therapy before committing to a membership.