The Arc Machine at Planet Fitness: How to Use the Arc Trainer at Your Gym

1. What Is the Arc Machine at the Gym?

If you've seen a machine that looks like an elliptical but moves your feet in a flatter, curved path, it's almost certainly an Arc Trainer. Many gyms, including many Planet Fitness locations, keep Arc Trainers in their cardio area alongside treadmills, ellipticals and bikes. Members often call it the arc machine or simply "the Arc".

Note: we're an independent marketplace and aren't affiliated with Planet Fitness. Equipment varies by club, so the exact Arc Trainer model at your gym may differ.

2. How to Use the Arc Trainer at Planet Fitness

The steps are the same on almost every gym Arc Trainer.

• Hold the fixed handles and step onto the pedals one foot at a time
• Start pedaling to turn on the console, then press quick start
• Begin at a low to middle incline and low resistance for a five-minute warm-up
• Stand tall with your weight over your heels and midfoot
• Use the moving arms if your machine has them; otherwise hold the fixed handles lightly
• Raise resistance or incline gradually once you're warm
• Slow down gradually for a cool-down before stepping off

3. A Simple 20-Minute Arc Machine Workout

Warm up for five minutes at low incline and resistance. For the next ten minutes, alternate two minutes at a moderate pace with one minute at higher resistance. Finish with a five-minute cool-down. It's an easy way to try the Arc Trainer without guessing at the settings.

4. Arc Trainer vs. the Elliptical Next to It

The elliptical moves your feet in an oval; the Arc Trainer moves them along an arc designed to keep your knees from drifting forward. Many people find the Arc Trainer gentler on the knees and harder on the glutes. If one bothers your joints, try the other.

5. Getting an Arc Trainer for Home

If you love the Arc Trainer at your gym, you can get one for home. Options include home-rated models such as the Life Fitness Club Series+ Total Body Arc Trainer, or used and refurbished commercial Arc Trainers retired from gyms. Commercial machines are large, so measure your space first.