If you’ve ever walked past a tall, glowing red booth tucked in a side room at Planet Fitness and wondered what on earth it does, you’re not alone. It’s called Total Body Enhancement (TBE), and it’s quietly become one of the most talked-about — and misunderstood — perks of a Black Card membership.
So, what is Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement, exactly? In short, it’s an enclosed, stand-up booth that combines red light therapy with a vibrating footplate. It’s not a sauna, it’s not a tanning bed, and it’s not magic—but it does have a real, science-backed purpose. In this guide, we’ll break down how it works, what it actually delivers, whether it’s safe, and how to get the most out of it if your gym has one.
What Is Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness?
The Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement machine is a vertical booth, roughly the size of a stand-up tanning unit, manufactured by Beauty Angel. Most clubs use the Beauty Angel RVT30 model. Inside, LED panels surround your body and emit red light, while a footplate underneath vibrates to add a whole-body toning element to the session.
A full session lasts about 12 minutes: roughly 10 minutes of vibration paired with continuous red light exposure. Planet Fitness recommends using it 2–3 times per week for the first 90 days, then tapering to once or twice weekly for maintenance.
One important clarification: TBE is often mistaken for an infrared sauna, but it isn’t one. The Beauty Angel emits red light in the 620–700nm range, which sits below the 900nm threshold that defines infrared wavelengths. Infrared saunas rely on heat generated by wavelengths of 1000nm or higher. TBE, by contrast, doesn’t heat the body the way a sauna does — it’s light-based, not heat-based.
How Does the Total Body Enhancement Machine Work?
The “total body” part of the name comes from how red light therapy interacts with your cells. Red light penetrates the skin’s surface and is absorbed by mitochondria—the energy-producing structures inside almost every cell in your body. That absorption boosts production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the molecule your cells use as fuel for repair and regeneration.
In practical terms, this process is thought to support:
- Faster cellular repair and recovery
- Increased blood flow to the treated area
- A mild anti-inflammatory effect
The vibrating plate adds a second mechanism. Whole-body vibration has been studied as a recovery and toning tool on its own, separate from red light. Standing on the vibrating footplate engages stabilizing muscles and is thought to support circulation and lymphatic drainage, which is where some of the “toning” and “fat loss” claims originate—though it’s worth noting the vibration component is considered mild and supplementary, not a replacement for actual training.
Total Body Enhancement Benefits
Based on how red light therapy and vibration technology are generally understood, here’s what regular Total Body Enhancement use may offer:
Skin-Related Benefits
- Support for collagen and elastin production, which can improve skin firmness over time
- Reduced appearance of fine lines and improved overall skin tone
- Support for acne healing and reduced redness
- A possible reduction in the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks with consistent use
Recovery and Performance Benefits
- Reduced muscle soreness and stiffness after workouts
- A temporary boost in energy, which is why some members use TBE before training rather than after
- Support for circulation, which can aid the muscle repair process
The Realistic Caveat
Most of the skin and recovery benefits associated with red light therapy come from studies using near-infrared wavelengths (typically 810–850 nm) alongside red light. Since the Planet Fitness unit uses red light only, results tend to be more noticeable at the surface (skin) level than deep in muscle tissue. That doesn’t make it useless — it just means expectations should be realistic. Think “nice bonus to a good workout and skincare routine,” not “miracle machine.”
Visible skin changes are generally reported within 4–8 weeks of consistent, multiple-times-per-week use. This isn’t a one-and-done treatment — like most gym habits, consistency is what drives results.
Is Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness Safe?
Generally, yes. Red light therapy has a strong safety profile because it doesn’t use UV light — there’s no tanning effect and no increased risk of skin cancer. That said, “safe for most people” doesn’t mean “safe for everyone,” and Planet Fitness maintains a specific list of contraindications.
Who Should Avoid Total Body Enhancement
- Have a pacemaker or heart condition requiring cardiac medication
- Have epilepsy (the lights can flicker)
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a photosensitivity condition, or take medication that increases light sensitivity
- Have had recent invasive surgery or chemical skin treatments
- Have deep vein thrombosis or osteoporosis
- Are undergoing chemotherapy
- Weigh over 300 lbs (equipment weight limits)
- Experience vertigo or get easily disoriented
- Have a limited mental or physical capacity that would make using the booth independently unsafe
Minor Side Effects Some Users Report
Include mild eye strain, headache, dizziness, or skin irritation — most of which are linked to skipping the protective goggles Planet Fitness provides or overusing the machine beyond the recommended frequency. Always wear the goggles; the LED panels are genuinely bright, and eye protection isn’t optional despite how casually some locations present it.
If you have any underlying health condition, it’s worth a quick check with your doctor before adding TBE to your routine — this is standard advice for any new wellness treatment, not a red flag specific to this machine.
Total Body Enhancement Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Included free with Black Card membership (no extra per-session fee) | Only available with Black Card membership (~$24.99/month) |
| No UV exposure — no tanning or skin cancer risk | Red-light-only, so results are more surface-level than deep-tissue |
| Quick — just 12 minutes per session | Not available at every Planet Fitness location |
| Private, lockable room for each session | May involve waiting during peak gym hours if the booth is busy |
| Backed by legitimate red light therapy and vibration research | Requires consistent, repeated use (3x/week+) to see real results |
| Zero cardio or strength effort required | Not a substitute for a real workout or skincare routine |
The honest takeaway: Total Body Enhancement is a solid bonus if you’re already paying for Black Card access, but it’s not, by itself, a reason to upgrade your membership. It works best as a complement to a workout and recovery routine you’re already following.
How to Use the Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement Machine
Using TBE for the first time is simple, though most locations don’t hand out detailed instructions, so here’s what to expect:
- Check in at the front desk and ask for a Total Body Enhancement room — staff will point you to an available booth.
- Remove jewelry (rings, necklaces, piercings) and any makeup or lotion, since these can block light absorption.
- Enter the booth and stand in the center, holding the overhead straps for balance.
- Put on the provided goggles before starting the session — always.
- Select your vibration intensity and start the timer, typically around 12 minutes total.
- Bend your knees slightly during the vibration phase to avoid strain and maintain balance.
- Wait at least 24 hours between sessions, and avoid combining it with an at-home red light device on the same day.
Most people use TBE either right before a workout (for the energizing effect) or right after (for recovery)—there’s no strict rule, so it comes down to personal preference.
How Much Does Total Body Enhancement Cost?
Total Body Enhancement isn’t sold as a standalone service — it’s bundled into the Planet Fitness Black Card membership, which typically runs around $24.99/month (pricing varies slightly by location and promotions). That membership tier also includes perks like unlimited guest privileges, access to any Planet Fitness location nationwide, tanning, and hydromassage chairs.
If you’re on the basic $10/month plan, you won’t have TBE access unless you upgrade. There’s no separate day pass or per-use fee for TBE once you have Black Card status — it’s unlimited use within the recommended session limits.
Total Body Enhancement vs. Other Recovery Options
If you’re deciding whether TBE is worth factoring into your routine, it helps to see how it stacks up against other recovery and wellness tools you might already be considering.
| Method | What It Targets | Typical Cost | Session Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Body Enhancement (Planet Fitness) | Skin surface, mild circulation/recovery support | Included in Black Card ($24.99/mo) | ~12 minutes |
| Traditional sauna | Heat-based relaxation, cardiovascular stress response | $20–40/session or gym membership | 15–20 minutes |
| Cryotherapy | Inflammation reduction, deep recovery | $30–75/session | 2–4 minutes |
| Massage therapy | Muscle tension, manual soft-tissue work | $60–120/session | 30–60 minutes |
| At-home red + near-infrared panel | Skin and deeper tissue (with proper wavelengths) | $150–600 one-time | 10–20 minutes |
The clearest differentiator is cost-to-access. Because TBE is bundled into a membership you may already have, it’s essentially “free” incremental value — you’re not paying per session the way you pay for therapy or massage. The tradeoff is depth of effect: dedicated near-infrared panels and professional treatments are generally more effective for deeper muscle recovery, simply because they combine red and near-infrared wavelengths at higher, verified outputs. TBE’s biggest strength is convenience and consistency, not clinical-grade intensity.
If your goal is genuine, measurable athletic recovery, TBE works best as one piece of a broader routine — alongside proper sleep, hydration, and stretching — rather than your primary recovery method.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Try It
Good candidates for Total Body Enhancement
- Members who already have Black Card access and want to try red light therapy without extra cost
- People focused on general skin maintenance (tone, minor blemishes, early signs of aging)
- Athletes looking for a light, low-effort recovery add-on alongside stretching and proper rest
- Anyone curious about red light therapy who wants a low-commitment way to sample it before investing in an at-home device
TBE Probably Is Not For You If
- You fall into any of the contraindicated groups listed above (pacemaker, pregnancy, epilepsy, photosensitivity, etc.)
- You’re expecting significant fat loss or dramatic muscle recovery — that’s a job for training, nutrition, and sleep
- You’re claustrophobic, since the booth is a small, enclosed space
- Your closest Planet Fitness doesn’t carry the machine — not every location has one, so it’s worth calling ahead before upgrading your membership specifically for this perk
Conclusion
Total Body Enhancement isn’t the miracle machine some social media claims make it out to be, but it isn’t a gimmick either. It’s a legitimate red light therapy and vibration tool that can support skin health and workout recovery when used consistently—and since it’s already included in a Black Card membership, there’s little downside to giving it a try if your local Planet Fitness has one. Just keep expectations realistic, wear the goggles, and treat it as a complement to your training and skincare routine rather than a replacement for either.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement machine?
It’s a stand-up booth that combines red light therapy with a vibrating footplate, marketed as a recovery and skin-wellness tool available to Black Card members.
Is Total Body Enhancement the same as a sauna?
No. It’s often confused with an infrared sauna, but TBE uses red light under 900 nm and generates no meaningful heat, while infrared saunas use wavelengths of 10001000 nmhigher specifically to produce heat.
Is Total Body Enhancement at Planet Fitness safe?
For most healthy adults, yes. It carries a strong safety profile since it doesn’t use UV light. People with pacemakers, epilepsy, or photosensitivity conditions, or who are pregnant, should avoid it, and everyone should wear the provided eye protection.
How often should I use the Total Body Enhancement machine?
Planet Fitness recommends 2–3 sessions per week for the first 90 days, tapering to 1–2 sessions weekly afterward for maintenance.
Does Total Body Enhancement actually help with weight loss?
Not directly. The vibration component may support circulation and muscle toning, but TBE isn’t a substitute for diet and exercise when it comes to fat loss. Think of it as a supporting tool, not a shortcut.
Do I need a Black Card membership to use Total Body Enhancement?
Yes. It’s exclusive to Black Card members and isn’t available as a standalone add-on for classic members.