I was encouraged by your recent piece on a women-only gym chain in Saudi Arabia (NuYu, HCM July 17, p70).
Even though that club operator is based in the Middle East, there’s also a clear need for female-only fitness facilities to be more widely available to women across the UK.
Recent studies suggest women are risking their health by exercising less than men, and self-consciousness, childcare and housework are all being blamed for this failure to exercise.
In addition, women with faith demands or personal beliefs that involve modesty and traditional dress can feel limited or uncomfortable when working out in a more conventional exercise setting, such as in a health and fitness club.
Research suggests that in-gym women-only areas are not just a cultural necessity for ensuring uninhibited workouts, but that the brains of men and women are wired differently and trigger different reactions to exercise.
This is why having a women-only gym in all 17 branches of Total Fitness across the north of England and Wales has proved to be so important.
We often see a selection of female members who use the non-intimidating environment of the women-only gym as a stepping stone to the main gym floor, while others choose to stay in there throughout their membership, due to the sense of community developed among the group of like-minded women. Some even tell me that our women-only gym is why they chose to join our facility instead of the other local health clubs.
After all, it’s not all about how women look when they exercise – how they feel is also really important.
Having a dedicated space to themselves helps to nurture this feeling of psychological and emotional wellbeing.