Combining a gym workout with a sunbed session can enhance your physical transformation and boost your mood. 

Maybe you already do one or the other, or even both separately? But tanning and toning in the same session can bring out the best in your body, complementing one another by highlighting your hard-earned muscle definition and relaxing your body post-workout. 

Let’s explore these benefits a little more. 

What is tanning and toning?

Toning refers to workouts and exercises that strengthen, define and enhance your muscular physique. Tanning means using a sunbed to develop a healthy and sunkissed glow without the need for sunlight. 

Performing both in the same session can really bolster the benefits of the other, so let’s discover how.

Physical benefits

The three main physical advantages of tanning and toning are: 

• Muscle definition: Putting in all that work at the gym will reward you with a body to be proud of. A tan will then further define and spotlight your muscles and leave you with the perfect combination of a healthy toned body with a natural sunkissed glow, even in winter. 
• Evens out skin tone: There’s a reason why professional bodybuilders tan before a competition, smoothing out their skin tone so their body can be displayed at its peak appearance. Stretch marks, uneven skin tone and scars can all be evened out with regular sunbed tanning, allowing your muscles to speak for themselves without vying for attention with blemishes. 
• Quicker recovery: A gym session can be tough on your muscles. Popping onto the sunbed afterwards can really help your body to relax and recover after a workout, easing stiffness and pain and improving blood circulation to hasten recovery.
  
• To discover more about why tanning after a workout is preferable to beforehand, check out our previous article on the subject.

Mental benefits

Tanning and toning in tandem also has benefits on your mental health too, including:

• Confidence boost: As explored above, tanning enhances the aesthetic look of your body, especially when used in partnership with a good workout regime. This increases body confidence and motivates you to keep on with regular exercise, spurring you on to live a healthier life to look and feel great long into the future. 
• Reduced stress: Tanning does more than just relax the body. Sunbeds also relax the mind, allowing you to close your eyes and let the stress melt away. It’s thought by some people that tanning beds may even mimic the endorphin-releasing effect of natural sunlight too. 
• Improved holistic well-being: When mind and body are in balance and well taken care of, your overall holistic wellbeing will also improve. Toning and tanning support one another, and doing them together is the ideal way to enhance both your physical and mental health at the same time and also in the same location if you’re in Nottingham and use Formula One Gym.

Now you’ve discovered the benefits, let’s walk you through some tips to get started.

Practical tips

These are our three top tips for getting yourself ready for a sunbed visit but please read our full article for a comprehensive look. 

• Tan after your workout: After you workout, your skin pores are more dilated and your blood circulation is better, helping the UV to penetrate effectively. You can certainly do it the other way around too but the benefits may not be as significant. 
• Take care of your skin: Don’t immediately hop onto the sunbed after a workout. You need to take the time to rehydrate by drinking plenty of water and attending to your skin. Preparing for a sunbed session is very important for your safety and enjoyment. 
• Get the perfect outfit: Showing off your body is a superb reward for all your hard work but you also need to think about what you wear on the tanning bed to get maximum coverage. Wearing a bikini or briefs will help your tan develop nice and evenly over your body. If you would rather enter the tanning bed naked, you will need to consult with your chosen tanning bed provider to make sure this is allowed.

The most important actions are to protect your skin and eyes when using a sunbed which our staff can help you with during your visit.

How do I get started?

So, how do you get started on your sunbed tanning journey? 

First, you need to find a gym that provides all your workout equipment and tanning beds in one place, like here at Formula One Gym. If you’re looking for a sunbed in Nottingham in the same place as extensive gym facilities, we can help. 

First time tanning? Don’t worry, as our friendly staff are here to guide you through all our facilities and offer friendly tips. You can also read our past article on tanning beds for beginners to get prepared. 

Looking for a one-stop location for your gym and tanning needs? Here at Formula One Gym, we provide local Nottingham tanning facilities in the same place as our comprehensive gym. Situated in the heart of Nottingham city centre, it’s never been easier to look after your body in a holistic way and in a single convenient location. Our sunbed tanning in Nottingham is even open to those who aren’t signed up for our gym. Pay us a visit today and we’ll get you started.