Best Gyms and Fitness Centers with Red Light Therapy

The best gyms and fitness centers with red light therapy include Planet Fitness, VASA Fitness, Club Fitness, Fitness 19, Chuze Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Gold's Gym, Crunch Fitness, Equinox, Edge Fitness, YMCA, and One Life Fitness. 

Choosing the right gym also depends on membership costs, equipment, recovery amenities, availability, and proper usage. 

Read this article to compare every gym and find the best option for your fitness goals.

• 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.

At select Planet Fitness locations, if you have a Black Card membership, you can use the Total Body Enhancement machine, often referred to as the Beauty Angel RVT 30. This standing booth surrounds you with red light therapy panels on all sides while you stand on a built-in vibration plate. During a session, you receive the benefits of red light therapy and whole-body vibration therapy at the same time, allowing you to combine both treatments in a single workout recovery or wellness session.

You can use the Total Body Enhancement (TBE) machine either before or after your workout. Both options have their own benefits, and Planet Fitness does not require you to use it at a specific time. You can choose the order that works best for your fitness routine.

The Total Body Enhancement machine is usually located in a private room, giving you a more comfortable and personal experience.

Inside the room, you'll typically find the Total Body Enhancement machine, a chair, a spray bottle, and a paper towel dispenser for cleaning the equipment after use.

Many Planet Fitness locations provide protective eyewear to help shield your eyes from the bright light. However, not every location offers safety glasses. If your gym allows it, you can bring your own protective eyewear. Some people also prefer to keep their eyes closed during the session.

In addition to red light therapy and whole-body vibration, the machine also includes built-in fans to help keep you cool during your session. Some machines also play music, making the experience more comfortable and relaxing.

Below are the step-by-step instructions on how to use the Total Body Enhancement machine.

You can find red light therapy in the Light Therapy section at VASA Fitness. It's available in a private standing booth that surrounds your body with red light from multiple angles for full-body coverage. 

The booth also has a cooling fan at the top to help keep you comfortable during your session.

How to Use the Red Light Therapy Machine

• Check in at the front desk.
• Tell a VASA team member that you'd like to use the red light therapy machine.
• Enter the private room.
• You have 3 minutes to get ready and remove any necessary clothing before your session begins.
• Step into the booth.
• Press the power button to start your session.
• The session runs automatically for up to 12 minutes.

Club Fitness offers one of the widest selections of red light therapy options compared to many other gyms. 

Depending on your membership, you can access up to four different recovery systems, each designed to support your health and recovery in a unique way. 

While the standard Red Light Therapy Booth is available to members, the other three advanced therapies are included with the Elite Wellness Membership, which provides unlimited access. 

According to Club Fitness, each recovery session lasts a maximum of 15 minutes. You can choose from the following red light therapy options:

• Red Light Therapy Booth – A standard standing booth that provides full-body red light therapy.

• Elite Wellness Pod (Elite Wellness Members Only) – Combines supplemental oxygen, infrared heat, therapeutic massage, and targeted red and blue light therapy into one full-body recovery session.

• RedZone Red Light Therapy Sauna (Elite Wellness Members Only) – Combines red and near-infrared light with infrared heat.

• HaloRed Therapy Booth (Elite Wellness Members Only) – A patented recovery system that combines red and near-infrared light (630–1,050 nm), pharmaceutical-grade dry salt therapy, and supplemental oxygen into one advanced recovery session.

Each therapy uses different technologies, so the benefits can vary depending on the option you choose. This allows you to select the recovery experience that best matches your wellness and fitness goals.

At participating Fitness 19 locations, you can use a red light therapy booth as part of your recovery routine. 

After checking the Fitness 19 website and multiple locations that offer this amenity, we found that most clubs provide a private standing booth equipped with red light panels that surround your body from multiple angles for full-body light exposure.

Inside the booth, you'll also find overhead handles to hold onto, helping you stay in the correct position so the red light can cover your body more evenly, including your sides. A built-in cooling fan helps keep you comfortable throughout your session.

Here are a few things you can expect:

• A private standing booth designed for full-body red light therapy.

• Red light panels surrounding your body from multiple angles.

• Overhead handles to help you maintain the correct position for more even light coverage.

• A built-in cooling fan to keep you comfortable during your session.

• Protective goggles are recommended while using the booth.

• Eligible members can use the red light therapy station once per day.

You can use red light therapy at Chuze Fitness in a private standing booth. Simply step inside, close the door, and receive full-body red light exposure from multiple sides. You’ll typically find these booths in the Recovery Studio, available at around 16–20 Chuze Fitness locations.

• Red light therapy is located in the Recovery Studio.
• Often paired with compression boots, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and other recovery amenities.
• Guest passes do not include access to red light therapy.

Some Anytime Fitness clubs even combine red light therapy with an infrared sauna, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of both therapies during the same session.

Here are a few things you should know before using red light therapy at Anytime Fitness:

• Wear protective goggles during your session. You can bring your own or purchase a pair at participating Anytime Fitness locations.
• You do not have to pay an extra fee if your membership includes access to red light therapy.
• Typical red light therapy sessions at gyms last 10 to 20 minutes, although session times may vary by location.
• The type of equipment available, such as a lay-down red light therapy bed or an infrared sauna with built-in red light therapy, depends on the club you visit.

For the most accurate information about equipment availability and session times, contact your nearest Anytime Fitness location.

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.

If you're looking for a gym that offers red light therapy, there are several easy ways to find one. 

The simplest method is to check the official websites of gyms in your area, as many locations list their available amenities, including red light therapy. 

If you find multiple gyms that offer it, compare them before making a decision. Look at factors such as membership costs, whether they provide other recovery amenities like saunas or cold plunges, and the quality of their red light therapy equipment. 

This will help you choose the gym that best fits your needs. If the information isn't available on the gym's website, check the social media pages of that specific location.

You can also send them a message to confirm whether they offer red light therapy. If they don't have an active online presence, the best option is to visit the branch in person or call them directly to ask about their facilities.

• 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. 

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.

When you use red light therapy after an infrared sauna session, you can enhance the benefits of both treatments. 

The infrared sauna increases your blood circulation, which helps the red light penetrate your body more effectively. 

Together, red light therapy and an infrared sauna support your skin by boosting collagen production while also helping your muscles recover faster and promoting your body's natural healing process. 

This combination can also help detox your body, reduce muscle soreness, and speed up recovery after a workout, making it a great option for fitness and overall wellness. 

According to Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist and Harvard-trained Mohs surgeon, "Red light therapy is a reliable, non-invasive option, especially when combined with other treatments." 

Because of these combined benefits, using red light therapy with an infrared sauna has become a growing trend in gyms and wellness centers for improving both muscle recovery and skin health.

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.