Why Planet Fitness Classes May Not Deliver Results

Introduction: More Movement, But Not Always Progress

Planet Fitness has built a massive following by offering something most gyms don’t: an ultra-low monthly cost, a “Judgement Free Zone,” and a stress-free space for people who are new to exercise. At face value, it’s a solid option for beginners who need a place to start. But if you’ve ever wondered why the results don’t seem to match the effort—or why your workouts feel stale just a few weeks in—you’re not alone.

This article explains why Planet Fitness classes often fall short and what’s missing from the standard gym model. If you care about how you move, feel, and perform, this will help you understand where generic group fitness fails and what alternatives actually lead to change.

An Overview of Planet Fitness Classes

What Are Planet Fitness Classes?

Planet Fitness offers small-group classes called PE@PF—short for “Physical Education at Planet Fitness.” These classes teach gym members how to use equipment, guide them through basic movement patterns, and get them comfortable working out.

Each session is led by a floor trainer and usually lasts about 30 minutes. The format varies slightly from location to location, but most involve circuits using machines, light cardio intervals, and simple strength exercises. There’s little-to-no emphasis on free weights, mobility, or movement quality.

Features of Planet Fitness Classes

• Included in the base membership
• Typically 30-minute durations
• Focused on basic machines, not free weights
• Staffed by floor trainers, not personal coaches
• Offered at convenient times—but not necessarily with a progression model

The structure is meant to remove barriers to entry. But with low commitment comes low complexity—and low reward.

Why Results May Be Diminished

Generalization of Classes

A standardized class is fine when you’re just learning to show up. But once you have some experience under your belt, the one-size-fits-all structure quickly becomes a ceiling.

No two bodies move the same. Some people struggle with hip rotation. Others can’t raise their arm overhead without pain. Putting everyone through the same routine on a fixed set of machines ignores the real reasons people seek fitness in the first place—to move better, feel better, and stay out of pain.

That’s where individualized training makes all the difference. At Motive Training, we assess how each client moves, then program around what needs to change—not what’s convenient to scale.

Lack of Personalization

Planet Fitness trainers don’t customize your program. They don’t test your range of motion, assess your squat, or walk you through mobility drills specific to your joint limitations. Their job is to facilitate—not to coach.

There’s no progressive overload, no long-term plan, and no detailed attention to form beyond the basics. You’re doing “movement,” but you’re not doing what your body needs. Over time, this creates a gap between activity and actual progress—and for many members, that’s where the frustration sets in.

User Experience and Feedback

What Members Say About Planet Fitness Classes

Across forums, reviews, and fitness communities, feedback about Planet Fitness classes is largely the same:

• “It’s a good place to start, but it gets boring fast.”
• “They showed me how to use the machines, but no one corrected my form.”
• “I didn’t really feel like I was progressing—I just went through the motions.”

These aren’t outliers. They reflect a structural issue: the system isn’t designed to meet you where you are. It’s designed to introduce you to the gym environment, not to refine how you move or guide you toward specific performance goals.

Compared with Other Gym Chains

Other Chains Offering More Structure

Some gym chains offer more robust training environments. Equinox, LifeTime, and even certain YMCA branches provide structured strength programs, personal training packages, and small-group coaching with real progressions.

But structure still isn’t the same as personalization.

Even at the higher-end gyms, the gap often remains: assessments are surface-level, mobility is ignored, and classes are optimized for time slots—not individuals. There’s rarely a system for addressing joint dysfunction, previous injuries, or movement deficiencies in a meaningful way.

Motive Training differs because our systems were built because of those gaps. Every program is grounded in Functional Range Conditioning, mobility-first thinking, and training that evolves as you do. We’re not trying to entertain you for 30 minutes. We’re trying to change the way you move for the rest of your life.

If you’re interested in how our group classes differ, check out KINSTRETCH.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Planet Fitness classes might get you off the couch but won’t take you much further. And if you’ve already hit a plateau—if your shoulder still hurts when you press or feel tight even though you stretch daily—it’s probably time for something more intentional.

Group fitness isn’t bad. But group fitness without context, without strategy, and without progression? That’s just movement without purpose.

At Motive Training, we do things differently. We assess. We adapt. We load strategically. We train your joints before your muscles—because function matters just as much as form. If you’re ready to move, feel, and get stronger in a way that lasts, we’d love to show you how.

Written by:

Brian Murray, FRA, FRSC

Founder of Motive Training

We’ll teach you both how to move with purpose so you can lead a healthy, strong, and pain-free life. Our headquarters are in Austin, TX, but you can work with us online by signing up for KINSTRETCH Online or digging deep into one of our Motive Mobility Blueprints.